career Archives | Dr. Geeta Kadayaprath

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Five Minutes of Inspiration

When I finished surgical training and started my career in Oncology (which was purely by chance), I was not sure, if this is where I wanted to be. Oncology grew on me and I subspecialized in Breast Cancer… and surely, this did not dawn on me, suddenly. I was truly inspired… by my mentor who had oodles of energy, could work for 16 hours without a break, dreamt only big, smiled always, would rarely ever get upset and most importantly had the TIME, to inspire! I was fortunate as I could just share space with him and get inspired and motivated to do my thing.

That was about 23 years ago and as the years rolled by and as mountains beyond mountains kept getting captured, there is one thing that shrank, abysmally – TIME. There are times when the chips are down when you want to go into rewind mode when you want to dig out those words of inspiration and want that little nudge or push…. To start dreaming again and building again, and getting to yet another level of uncharted territory. All that you need is those 5 minutes of inspiration to ignite those dreams, that simmer below the surface without taking off…..5 MINUTES…..is it asking for too much?

How many of you have felt like that?


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My young colleague’s husband has started his career as a Surgical Oncologist and has started feeling the pressure of external ‘expectations’
His idealism is intact and he wants to offer his services with utmost integrity, empathy and skill. However, the world of touts and middlemen, take it upon themselves to paint a bleak future for him, by not complying to their roadmap . The conversation veers around sending patients to XYZ diagnostics, sending a cut to the referring practitioner, appeasement parties for people around who matter etc. Their prediction-Non compliance to these measures, could spell doomsday for his early career.

These pressures are real, leaving you with two options-to succumb to the pressure or to stand ground.

My advice to this young colleague is to stand ground- ‘It may be a difficult choice but the gratification of doing the right thing without compromising on your ideals, is unmatched. Recognition will take time to come but the wait will be worth its weight in gold. Honesty cannot hide under swathes of lies and will always find its way to shine through. So, keep doing the good work honestly, diligently and remain that doctor who becomes the most sought after, one who is available, accessible and able because even patients can sense the genuineness in your conduct and service. They, alone, are your true ambassadors! Success will be left with no choice but to seek you out.’

Most doctors make this choice of standing ground and are not poorly for it. Enticements are for the faint hearted but that we are not!

Wish you well my friend and many with and after you!

HAPPY DOCTORS’ DAY!!