Studying to be a doctor is an experience in itself. The amount of
information one is required to absorb can be quite disconcerting for a lot of
people. Then there are these two Goans who could think of nothing else but
being a doctor.
Dr Deep Madkaikar said medicine was his passion right from
childhood and he was glad to have found his calling. He said “As a career, it
also provided vast scope for clinical research which I find really
interesting.” He studied at the Goa Medical College and passed out in 2016 and
is now in the process of completing one year compulsory service at the Actrec
Hospital in New Mumbai which is connected to the Tata Memorial Hospital. Deep
is specialising in transfusion medicine and has now been awarded the
President’s NBEMS Gold Medal for his outstanding performance in the DNB final
exam.
He said it was a great feeling to have won the gold medal. He
said “It feels amazing! I’ve always strived to do my best and I’m glad that my
hard work has finally paid off! I couldn’t have done it without the support of
my wife, my parents and all my mentors. They have all moulded me into the
person that I am and I dedicate this achievement to all of them!”
When asked what prompted him to take up this post graduate
speciality, he said “Transfusion medicine is a postgraduate speciality that is
still in its nascent stage. Most of the hospitals have not yet started the
department as it involves significant investment and expertise. I chose this
speciality as it provided me a gateway to clinical research involving stem
cells, CAR-T cell therapy and a wide exposure to different patient groups.
These innovations are known to significantly improve patient outcomes and
quality of life. This branch also allows me to have a great work-life balance
viz. work satisfaction as well as plenty of personal time to pursue my
hobbies!”
Asked what his future
plans were he said he would be completing his one year service bond in August.
Following which he intended to take a much needed vacation. He said “After
that, I would be looking for challenging opportunities that would further
enhance my skill set. Having said that, given the opportunity, I would love to
work back home in Goa in the future.”
It is not just young
men doing great work. Dr Vaishali Dukle Talaulikar who practices at the Dr
Dukle’s Hospital and Research Centre in Candolim and has her own practice in
Panjim has also won high owners in a national exam. She won a gold medal at the
national level in her DNB Radio-Diagnosis final exam. She will also be
felicitated by the President later in the month. She is the first doctor from
Goa to achieve this milestone in this field of medicine. She started her road
into the world of medicine in 2010 and completed her studies in 2020. Dr
Vaishali grew in an environment dominated by medicine. She said “My father is a
doctor and all I have seen is him giving his time to ensure they regain their
health. My siblings are doctors so that’s it. I first did my diploma in Radio
diagnosis from DMRD at Goa Medical College. That is my specialisation. I then decided
to super specialise in it. I learned and gained a degree and then studied for
this exam for which I will go to Delhi to receive the gold medal.”
She said as a doctor
she would work from eight to five and on many occasions even longer and then go
home to study for the exams. Now with the entry of artificial intelligence,
change was taking place even faster and one had to keep studying to stay
relevant in the industry. She said since Covid, a lot of lectures had migrated
online and it was easy to learn and stay on top. Dr Vaishali said this change
would accelerate and matter would have to be relearned because new research was
presenting information that was totally new. That she said was very exciting.
She was very clear
when she said she was going to spend her life in Goa and not leave the state.
If an opportunity presented itself to learn something new in a city nearby, she
would go but return to Goa to practise.
One
can only wish the two of them all the very best.
