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I have worked in the primitive as well as modern healthcare systems which made me aware of a great variety of diseases, which in rural India predominantly included infectious and nutritional deficiency diseases, poisonings, snake bites, malaria, and unattended chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease and, most commonly, tuberculosis of all types.
While training as a resident in general medicine in a government medical college hospital, I was first in line to manage all emergencies and referrals. As there was no specialty care, I was expected to handle all referrals including cardiology, neurology, gastroenterology, nephrology, psychiatry and infectious diseases, besides attending all other medical diseases. During this training I learned life saving procedures, pacing the heart, peritoneal and haemodialysis and plasmapheresis.
As a resident in neurology working at a tertiary care center, drawing from all over the country, I learned to handle neurological referrals of various kinds. The spectrum included stroke, extra pyramidal diseases, CNS infections, degenerative diseases, epilepsy, and nutritional, toxic, metabolic and demyelinating diseases. Managing these made me well versed with investigations such as DSA, CT SCAN, MRI, SPECT, as well as routine CSF studies. I was also trained in electromyography, nerve conduction studies and electroencephalography.
While acting as President & Organizing Secretary for the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), I learnt organizational expertise (about 4,800 Resident Doctors are the members of this association) and contributed to obtaining better working and living conditions for resident doctors over a period of 18 months. This subsequently led to the restructuring of residency program with regards to remuneration and working conditions in the state of Maharashtra.
From June 2003 onwards till March 2006 I worked in the sophisticated Neurology set-up at the London Health Sciences Center, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
While working as a Clinical Fellow in Neurology (Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Diseases), I individually consulted and managed patients in Multiple Sclerosis (over 2500), Demyelinating diseases and General Neurology, including urgent Neurology. I also worked as either an examining or treating Neurologist for about 15 clinical trials in Multiple Sclerosis, most of these international and multicenter.
As a fellow in Movement Disorders I was exposed to patients with various Basal Ganglionic pathologies, and learnt to individually manage them. I also learnt injecting Botox to selected Neurology and Neuro-ophthalmology patients. Teaching Neurology to the undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Western Ontario was a part of my duties, and that gave me an insight into their excellent, modern and student-oriented teaching environment.
I also simultaneously worked as an observer in Neuro-Ophthalmology (Professor Dr. David Nicolle), and have had a great exposure to this rare branch of neurology over 2 years from 2004 till 2006.
I have authored a chapter on “The Natural history of Multiple Sclerosis“ as first author for ‘Advances in Neurology: Multiple Sclerosis and Demyelinating Diseases ’ Volume 97 (Published December 2005, Editor Dr. Mark Freedman, Ottawa; for Lippincott-Williams and Wilkins) ,and another on“Clinical Spectrum and Natural Progression of Multiple Sclerosis” (first author) for “Neurology: Basic and Clinical Neurosciences“(Editor Anthony Shapira, Mosby, Philadelphia, In Press)
During my trainings I was always fascinated by the importance of early recognition of treatable neurological diseases, and the alleviation of pain and discomfort that can be offered in many incurable neurological diseases if proper diagnosis is reached. I am interested in working in the field of Demyelinating diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, and Movement Disorders, Neuro-ophthalmology, infections of the CNS, Epilepsy and Stroke, towards this objective.
I practice speciality Neurology in India, and aim to broaden the clinical, teaching and research options and achievements while preferably working in an academic/ scientific setting. I also aim to offer world–class Neurology care to the Indian patient, which, while being scientific and ethical, will not be out of reach for any deserving patient.
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