Journey of a back bencher to chest surgeon: all In a day’s work of a woman !
On the occassion of women’s day I look around each year and see celebrations, pink dresses, sudden appreciation of the work a woman does everyday and a lot of sarcasm from the male counterparts. As if women want this ….naahhhh. all women want is equality, an equal chance to do good work , to show their worth, to make a difference in their lives, to be seen as a equal , no special favours asked and not to be looked down
While i Was thinking my mind went off to my 9th standard. A classic layback attitude, back bencher, floating around somewhere in the middle of the batch. On a whim put my head down and started climbing up the wall slowly and steadily. So the story began. Went on to come 3rd school level in my boards.
Next few years strguggled along and got into MBBS. Since my internship days surgery has fascinated me and beckoned me. It took me a year or two but i got through DNB General surgery.
I handled lot of phone calls and messages the day i got the news, not for congratulating but for well meaning advice that it’s not going to be a smooth road ahead. Pediatrics or Dermatology or Radiology would be better for me as Surgery is a “man’s” branch and it would be difficult for me to fight the odds.
Being passionate about surgery helped me go ahead towards my goal.
I was fortunate to be trained in a department where what gender you are did not matter. Work was work. And i am still grateful for the solid foundation it laid for me.
Post surgery degree I did a few years of residency in various well known prestigious hospitals. All of them made me stronger as they confirmed my beliefs…. This is a long war… Bahut door Jana hai.
The more they resisted the better i became.
I was interested in surgery of digestive system since my PG days and was intent on taking that as my Superspeciality.
In this pursuit i joined a fellowship of surgical oncology. In the second year when i had to give a choice , like my other male colleagues i asked for a year of Gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
Lot of people including a senior surgeon advised me against it. It was a repeat show for me after a good 8 years. I was advised to take breast surgery as my main speciality as even though i am good ,people not yet ready for women in this field. It’s a “man’s” branch yet again.
I want to thank that one senior lady surgeon who advised me to follow my dreams whatever they were. Regardless of what people say.
My passion won the battle of my mind, and i went on ahead to finish my second year in GI surgery.
When i got a chance to be the first certified thoracic (chest) surgeon of national board (DNB) one of the most significant reasons of me taking it was the challenge to the social mindset.
But i did it anyways. I am the country’s first certified DNB Thoracic surgeon.
Starting this journey in 2003 as General surgery resident to now, a senior consultant in Onco surgery with speciality in chest surgery I have come a long way.
I wish the society changes more though . if someone has to refer a chest, lungs, food pipe surgery case …. And if there are 2 options… A female ( though highly trained and skilled like me) will always be the second choice! On rounds with 10 male juniors, u will still be the sister for the patient. Whether it’s common man or its a hospital staff all sail the same boat.
Colleagues (of both genders) have not. For many women cancer surgeon is either a breast or a gynec Onco Surgeon. Rest have to put at least 10 times more efforts to get similar recognition and it’s usually not enough.
Hospitals don’t want to invest in growth of women surgeons – they will get married and go off. Why invest in their growth when they have a trained man too. To carve a niche in the age old social structure is a tough job indeed.
Me, a specialised trained chest surgeon , handling the most difficult surgeries of lung , food pipe, etc is extremely thankful for my family for the enormous , unconditional support and love they have given me. Regardless of the problems i may have faced they have always been the best ! I am blessed to have them.
I also am super thankful to a fistful of gurus in my life who stood rock hard for me. They helped me, pushed me, motivated me, cheered for me. To be what i am
” i haven’t become a successful chest and GI surgeon ” as per different opinions .. But i love what i have become and i am proud of it.