Watching a loved one especially ones mother suffer, is always traumatic for a young child. Dr. C. S. Ramachandran, a renowned General and Laparoscopic Surgeon, suffered a similar hardship, but it only made him more determined towards becoming a surgeon. Speaking about his motivation for stepping into this profession, he says, “I watched my mother undergo conservative treatment for TB of the hip bone. It was the early 1960s, when immobilization was the standard treatment. This was a painful event for us family members watching my mother in pain. I was watching doctors come and go, this triggered a passion for the profession.”
Following his passion and his zeal helped him to get admission into Maulana Azad Medical College for MBBS. After this he moved on to do his Post Graduation in General Surgery, “I stood first in Delhi University in the final MBBS exam and stood first in PGIMER Chandigarh, got many medals in conference and meetings,” he says. Along the way, he had the opportunity to visit Europe and the United States. This kept him abreast of all the latest techniques in surgery and updated his surgical skills.
Dr. Ramachandran’s experience is blended with genuine concern for his patients. All his staff members are dedicated to the patients’ comfort and prompt attention is provided as well. He is an experienced General Surgeon and is currently associated with Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi. He has been a practicing General Surgery for the past 43 years. He has also attained FICS (Chicago, USA – 1985). This degree is awarded on the basis of an interview conducted by high profile doctor in Chicago. It is conducted by the International College of Surgeons. FCCP (USA, New York – 1985), DNB (General Surgery- National Board of Examination-1984), and MS – General Surgery, are some of the other advanced courses and specializations he has obtained. He has received countless delightful feedbacks from satisfied patients.
Providing Compassionate Care to All his Patients
“Every day, every patient, every surgery-big or small, is a challenge,” the doctor believes. Developing a trusting relationship with patients is a step-by-step process and a challenge in itself; and this coupled with thorough clinical knowledge and surgical exposure, is what helps build the trust. With the upsurge of technology, the pharmaceutical industry has undergone a sophisticated change and India has one of the largest productions of quality drugs. “People are more educated and aware. They know their ailment, their doctor, & their treatment. They cannot be fooled,” he says.
Every patient brings with him a story. These are personnel epiphanies. “I cherish every one of them as they have helped me grow as a person and as a surgeon,” the doctor asserts. Two cases that stood out of the rest and have been engraved in his memory, he says, “First case had swallowed half a kilo of gold biscuits in a smuggling attempt, but developed intestinal obstruction. I was able to remove all the gold and save his life. The second case was a man with a hernia hanging near his knee over 25 years carrying his entire intestine. Over an eight hour operation I was able to repair the entire hernia.”
Being Up-to-date with Technology
First Laparoscopic surgery and now robotic surgery, the field of medicine has become highly skill-based. From an open wound to bloodless surgery, the progress in the field is truly remarkable. Dr. Ramachandran likes to keep himself abreast with the latest technology. Speaking of this quality, he asserts, “I read literature form around the world and discuss minute details with colleagues in foreign countries to keep myself abreast of latest research.”
Advice to the New Generation Surgeons
India has made rapid progress and our doctors are as competent as any other doctor from any part of the world. The only difference is that Indian doctors are more involved and patient friendly. Being a surgeon by profession is no easy task, it takes immense load of hard work and dedication coupled with passion to become a successful surgeon. It is but natural that a balance needs to be kept between the professional and personal life, but it is pretty tedious to do so, if you have to work round the clock. Speaking of about this the doctor says, “Personal life does take a back seat if you are a dedicated surgeon. But if you are passionate surgeon, this is a small price to pay.”
Being sincere to your profession, being honest to your patient, being thorough with your subject, and being ready for a lifetime of learning, is all it takes to be a successful surgeon. “So don’t stop to learn more,” he says.
