I am passionate about writing, publishing and connecting with my peers and patients in many different ways. I have around 50 national and international publications and book chapters to my credit and want to go on to writing a lot more.
1. Tell us about your background and journey.
Hi everyone, I'm Dr Akanksha Allahbadia Gupta - A Mumbai girl for 25 years of my life who is now settled in Noida. All of my education including my school, junior College and M.B.B.S was in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai. I graduated from M.G.M. Medical College, Kamothe in the year 2014.
I come from a family of doctors and have spent my childhood playing in or around a nursing home. The sights, smells and feels of a hospital always felt like home and right at the age of thirteen, I was sure medicine was my calling.
My parents in fact encouraged me to do something else- look for an easier life but I knew that I wanted to do something that would help me make a difference and help people in whatever way I could.
I was also very fascinated with the working of the human body because I think it is the most complex and perfect machine ever created. No matter how much you love the subjects, medical school surprises everyone.
Sitting around a dead body to get used to the smell in the anatomy dissection hall in the first week to taking your own blood for some tests in the second year- you have to be brave, strong and ready to give it your all. Medical school is extreme but also the most fun you will have during your education.
By the time I reached the final year I knew I loved medicine but I was still undecided about my future plans. I had applied for clinical electives abroad and got accepted into Harvard Medical School, Boston for three months during my internship year.
Living and working abroad can do one of two things- make you sure it's the life for you or make you value your own country more. For me, it was the latter and though I learnt a lot, I came back and decided to stay in India for my post graduation.
I gave various exams and finally enrolled in Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Pune. These three years of M.S. Obstetrics and Gynaecology were the make or break years. From 96 hour duties to multiple surgeries back to back-we did it all.
We also made our best friends along the way and I met my husband there - so for me it turned out to be the right path. The course taught us everything we know and today I am happy I struggled then to be where I am now.
My post graduation was followed by two fellowships- One in advanced reproductive medicine from Udaipur and one in Laparoscopy and Minimal Access Surgery from the World Laparoscopy Hospital Gurgaon.
I also decided to get certified to be a quality assessor for IVF centres with the Quality and Accreditation Institute. I worked with Indira IVF in Delhi and Ghaziabad in the field of Reproductive Medicine and Fertility for two years and I'm currently a Consultant gynaecologist at Sumitra Hospital, Noida.
2. Despite so much of talent in India, why do people look abroad for treatment?
Maybe initially a lot of newer technologies were not available in India but now everything from robotic surgery to cutting edge research in the field of Oncology to the newest vaccines-everything is being developed in India.
In fact, in my own field- IVF , we have many patients who come to India for treatment because the results are at par or sometimes better and the treatment is cost effective. India is becoming a hub of medical tourism not just for SAARC countries but for people from every continent.
3. How important is super specialization for doctors?
It depends on your choices and your journey as a doctor. Super specialization definitely gives you an edge but there are many doctors who have done just MBBS and pursued various fields after that who are doing well in their own right.
4. What is your take on virtual methods of providing treatment?
Virtual methods are a must in today's day and age. The pandemic has made telemedicine and virtual consultation boom all over the world and people who initially were suffering due to lack of access to doctors, maybe due to health issues or proximity now have access to the best of medical care.
However, people must understand that virtual consultation is not a replacement for meeting a doctor in person. It can act as the first step but if a doctor feels a patient needs to visit a clinic or hospital, they must follow that advice.
5. What do you think are the key differences in studying medical in Indian and other countries?
Having studied abroad for three months along with Massachusetts General Hosptial, Boston I would point out a few differences.
Empathy is very important, along with time given to each patient. In India, we often have very busy OPD's and are not able to answer all the patients' questions effectively. We need to adapt to the Western Method where the patient is given time for questions as well.
Another thing we need to incorporate is research. There needs to be a research budget allocated to medical schools and students need to be encouraged or even graded on original ideas and research work along with publications and presentations. This gives them great confidence to do the same at an international level later on.
6. Which countries are the best for studying medical besides India?
Practical exposure to volumes of patients, variety of cases and of course experience gained working with these patients are all the advantages medical education in India offers.
There are various options for MBBS such as China and Russia and for post graduation such as USA, U.K., Canada, Australia and Germany. Most of the countries have entrance exams whilst some require you to learn the language as well.
7. Which is your favourite book and why?
I have a few favourite books but one that I read early in life and still stands out is The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand. It encourages you to pursue your dreams, face all the challenges along the way and drown out the voices of those who tell you that you can't. Every time I read it, it inspires me in a different way.
8. What impact do you want to create in the medical field.
I definitely want to reach out to as many people as possible and make a difference. I am passionate about writing, publishing and connecting with my peers and patients in many different ways. I have around 50 national and international publications and book chapters to my credit and want to go on to writing a lot more.
I want to be able to excel in my field - Obstetrics and Gynaeology and also in the specialization of my choice IVF. Helping someone create life, taking care of two patients simultaneously - the mother and the baby and bringing new life into the world are what keep me going everyday.
I want to be remembered as someone who gave her everything and left a mark but also left a smile on her patients' faces.
Dr Akanksha Allahbadia Gupta
Doctor | Obstetrics | Gynaeology
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