Dr.Garima Srivastav - Gynecologist On Her Way To Transitioning The Nation (Gynecologist & Social Media Educator)

 

I had been very keen to learn more and had traveled around the world as in Kiel and Dubai to upgrade my skills.

Finally, I founded my own clinic in Delhi the name orange clinic. 

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I was born in Lucknow, UP in a middle-class family. My father was a civil engineer in Awas Vikas and my mother too was in the same organization. They were really strict and I had a very conservative upbringing.

Both I and my brother went to the best schools that my parents could manage. I had cracked my undergrad and postgraduate in my first attempt and had my master's in gynecology with gold medals.

I went on to crack the most strenuous exam and had Mastered in the Royal College of obstetrics and gynecology in London. I had been very keen to learn more and had traveled around the world as in Kiel and Dubai to upgrade my skills.

Finally, I founded my own clinic in Delhi by name of the orange clinic. It was then that I realized the power of social media and my husband pushed me into making videos and reels, soon I became a social media educator.

My journey is the journey of my strict parents, hard work, and the motivation of my husband.

2. Despite so much of talent in India, why do people look abroad for treatment?

We Indians are the most talented lot. We have worked on so many patients beginning from the undergrad level that we have finesse and skills to do the most difficult of all surgeries.

And that is why medical tourism in India is fast rising. People around the world travel to India to avail cheap medical facilities and the best doctors. Yet we may lack in most sophisticated technologies for which sometimes people with affordability might want to travel to the US for advanced medical care

3. How important is a super specialization for doctors?

Super specialty is a double-edged sword. While superspecialized doctors are most dedicated and know the minutia in their field, they can cater to a limited number of people and have places in corporates and metros.

For eg one surgeon, a doctor who specializes in cancer will be most sought after if the person is suffering from the disease But then you cannot expect a surgeon to sit in B or C-tier town. Hence with the increased number of doctors doing superspecialization, the doctors are moving toward urban, metro areas leading to the reduced doctor-people ratio in smaller towns

4. What is your take on virtual methods of providing treatment?

As the whole world became online doctors too had to take that step specifically during the Covid era. Previous to that time online virtual consultations were not medicolegally justified. But post Covid it became the necessity of the time.

Although it has been really helpful specifically during that era and has helped people take opinions of doctors even from different cities with more experience, we need to remember that not everything can be diagnosed virtually.

Sometimes it is a must to visit the doctor in person to help make the proper diagnosis, examination, and of course treatment

5. What do you think are the key differences in studying medicine in Indian and other countries?

Well, basic human anatomy& physiology remains the same Hence basic medical science is the same throughout the world. Yet as the countries differ, so do the more prevalent pathologies and diseases in that area. So the focus also shifts according to the country’s basic problems and demographics. 

For eg Indian women have a high prevalence of anemia and limited access to health care. Hence a lot of our medical guidelines are made to improve HB in pregnancy and adolescents and help in improving delivery rates at an institution to reduce maternal mortality. Unlike in western countries where anemia is rare and blood clotting disorders are major issues. So basic medicine is the same, it is just that you may focus more on different pathologies depending on the geographical and genetic structure

6. Which countries are the best for studying medicine besides India?

I believe India is one of the best countries to study medicine besides the US and the UK. US and UK both have very committed ways of teaching through protocols and guidelines which are adhered to very strictly.

Plus doctors there earn very well and hence they have always been very attractive for the students in general

7. Which is your favorite book and why?

I have read several books. However, none has captivated my interest as the Palace of Illusions. 

The Palace of Illusions narrates the story of Panchali from the epic story of Mahabharat. Chitra has given a feminist interpretation of this epic saga through her narrator, Panchali. The novel focuses on the life of Panchali. It covers those aspects of her life that were missed in the other adaptations of Mahabharat. It gives a detailed account of Panchaali’s life from when she was born. Her birth was no less than a miracle. She was born magically in the fire.

Panchali was the daughter of a wealthy king. She went on to marry the five Pandavas. After her marriage, her hardships have been written at length in the novel. The challenges of living in exile, her relationship with her husband and mother-in-law, and her equation with Lord Krishna have all been covered in the novel.

Panchali is a charismatic and daring character. I loved reading about her. Chitra has portrayed the character and also depicted the events very well.

8. What impact do you want to create in the medical field? 

I am in a field that puts me in a position where I understand the state of women in our country and how they are treated.

I wish to strive for gender equality, breaking stereotypes and cultural taboos, and female empowerment. It all seems very cliche but till the time we don’t achieve an equal world that will be my goal and that is the impact I wish I can make

Interviewed By - Anshika Garg