Geriatric physician Dr Natarajan
Considered the Father of Geriatrics in India, he provides holistic medical and psychological cures for the elderly. Interestingly, his foray into medicine was not a long-cherished dream.
Graduated: 1964, Tanjore Medical College
First Call
Medicine was never a childhood ambition for me. I had perfect scores in my PUC and naturally got an admission into a good college. It became an ambition since then.
Looking Back
I have never once felt bored about working around the elderly. They need extra support and care, medically and psychologically. I want my patients to be cured as early as possible.
Turning Point
It’s a wonderful feeling to know that I have given back to my society. Once when I visited my village, the people recognised me as one of their own who is doing well in medicine. Since I was the first doctor in my family, the recognition and love I received will be cherished forever.
Obstetrician and Gynecologist Dr Kamala Selvaraj
Ever since she commissioned the first test tube baby in 1990, Kamala Selvaraj has been in the limelight for her contribution to gynaecology.
Graduated: 1969, Kasturba Medical College
First Call
When I finished school, my father asked me if I wanted to get married or study further. I chose to study and become a doctor and since then, there was no looking back.
Looking Back
I have earned enough to can sit back and enjoy life, if I choose to. But when I look at the pain writ on every patient’s face, it is heart wrenching.I feel they need me and with all my experience, I can treat them like no one else.
Turning Point
Something that keeps striking me is that I have never faltered in my profession, nor have I advertised myself. The fact that the junior gynaecologists idolise me and consider me their role model is a testimony to my work.
Admin Acolyte Dr V Kanagasab
The ever-present Dean of the Madras Medical College till he retired recently and the Director of Medical Education for a brief period, he has spent his life teaching and practising in government hospitals across Tamil Nadu. He is one of the people who contributed to putting MMC on the map during his tenure here.
Batch: 1980/ MMC and Stanley
Origin Story
It was a two way thing. I wanted to be a doctor and my parents were quite happy with my decision. My father tried to become a doctor in his day, but he wasn’t able to get in and settled for the agriculture department — so I still have the tag of being a first-generation doctor in my family.
Service Trip
Every single day, it was a lesson to go to whichever college I was at and not only serve people, but also spread knowledge to students. It is a great boon to be able to serve people who are oppressed, poor and often without education. That is a lesson that I had been trying to impart to my students in the 31 years of service that I’ve put in – to teach and serve people who require it. I gave up a lot of monetary benefits when I quit private practice and entered hospital administration, but I have no regrets today.
High Point
It was in 2010, when the MCI and the Government of India delayed the permits for the Dharmapuri Medical College, that we prepared a case and went to fight it out in Supreme Court. It was tough and we had doubts, but we had already admitted 100 students and their futures depended on it. Winning that case and laying those students fears’ to rest, is something that stays with me.
Eye Enigma Dr Amar Agarwal
Chairman and chief surgeon at Dr Agarwal’s Group of Eye Hospitals. He has been responsible for taking the group global and providing affordable and high quality eye care for people of all economic strata. His life is an eye-opener.
Graduated: 1983, Madras Medical College
First Call
I always knew that I wanted to be a doctor. When I was nine, my parents, who were eye surgeons themselves, would make me practice how to do sutures on the leaves of an onion, because it was very close to a human eye. I loved it then and knew that this is what I wanted to do.
Looking Back
At any point of time, I am in my scrubs and I’m always thinking of ophthalmology. I have never wanted to do anything else. You see, when you live and breathe and love what you do, it is not work. That way I can proudly say that I’ve never ‘worked’ a day in my life!
Turning Point
One thing that stands firmly implanted in my mind is the day my parents died. Three hours after I grieved, I took their eyes and transplanted them myself into a poor patient who had been blind for ages. When he opened his eyes and looked at the world with my dad’s eyes, I looked at his wife’s face — the happiness I saw there, will stay with me as a reminder of why I do this every single day
Diabetologist Dr Vijay Viswanathan
Dr Vijay,carrying on the family lineage, is a diabetologist at the M V Hospital, Royapuram. Becoming a doctor was an ambition instilled into him since the age of 11.
Graduated: 1982, Stanley Medical College
First Call
My father was a doctor – a diabetologist. I was inspired by him and since I was a student of class six, I wanted to follow his footsteps
Looking Back
I’ve been a doctor for 24 years, and I have been living my dream ever since I graduated. I am completely content with whatever I do and never have I stopped to think of options.
Turning Point
Patients from far flung areas such as Arunachal Pradesh come here to get treated for diabetes. It is a huge responsibility on me and my hospital. To know that I have to do my best to treat them is something that I cherish and this makes me feel content. The knowledge that patients can bank on me, and that I can do justice to it, makes me feel I am doing the right thing.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Chennai / by Daniel Thimmayya & Aparna Deiskan / July 02nd, 2014