A Renowned Laparoscopic And Bariatric Surgeon From India.
©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker As we step into 2025, a quarter of this century has already passed. It’s fascinating to reflect on the world of 1925, a hundred years ago, and to imagine what it might look like a hundred years ahead, in 2125. We …
Beyond the prescription ©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker I’ve always enjoyed talking to my patients, and as much as I love surgery, I truly cherish my time in the OPD. However, the time available in the OPD is limited, and we need to cover a lot …
KEEP THE FAITH
Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker
Last week marked my son’s 11th birthday! We celebrated this milestone with an unforgettable family getaway in Goa. I was hoping to avoid the usual pressure of organizing a birthday party and the works…. (that plan kind of failed as the party eventually did happen after coming back
….. but that’s a story for another day!).
Even though we had not planned anything special, it turned out to be a beautiful day. Goa has this lovely vibe filled with joy and happiness and when combined with birthday excitement it gets elevated to a totally different level altogether. Everywhere we went, strangers came up to him and wished him a happy birthday! During lunch, we asked the restaurant to play the birthday song, and almost every guest there joined in singing for him (he was embarrassed, but secretly delighted!).
Later in the evening, we found ourselves on the beach, where a few amateur anglers were casting their lines. Our sunny boy was really keen to try fishing, so we approached them with a birthday request to borrow their fishing rods. They were more than happy to share some tips and let us have a go at it ourselves.
It was the generosity of strangers that truly made the day special and filled it with unexpected joy.
We dedicated his 11th birthday to all the kind “#strangers” in our #gratitudejournal that night.
However, as a parent, the word “stranger”, is associated with a lot of negative connotations. We teach our children to be wary of strangers from a very early age, and rightly so. Most of us (including myself) would skip a heartbeat if we saw our kids interacting with someone unfamiliar. We train them to have a very high degree of suspicion when it comes to strangers and their intent. This is universal. Be it boys or girls. We tell them that no uncle or aunt is “safe”. We expect them to maintain a safe distance from everyone. I think I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said that we actually teach our children to be suspicious of other human beings from childhood. In doing so, we may inadvertently teach our children to be mistrustful of others from a very young age. This creates a contradiction: we want them to be team players while simultaneously instructing them not to trust people. Children’s brains are not mature enough to navigate such mixed messages, and I can’t help but wonder what kind of adults we are shaping who might carry #suspicion as a core value.
Today our world is hyperconnected and yet human beings are feeling increasingly isolated day by day. We can sit side by side on flights across continents for hours without exchanging a simple “hello.” Be it adults or children, we find more and more comfort in connecting with our screens than with other people. As our world shifts online, we are stepping into uncharted territories of negativity. Unfortunately, the trolls that once lurked beneath bridges have now surfaced online and are crossing boundaries that were once unimaginable. Behind the veil of anonymity, people can unleash a cruelty that is often suppressed in face-to-face interactions. Ironically, as we overprotect our children, we limit their opportunities to engage with others, leaving them more vulnerable to these unseen, cruel forces that can negatively impact their mental health.
Unfortunately, today the acceptable norms of negativity, mistrust and disrespect have reached a new high, with even the leaders of some of the world’s greatest nations engaging in behaviours that undermine their stature. Surprisingly (or not so surprisingly), this increases the ratings of media outlets and news channels, highlighting the disturbing shift in what we as a society accept as entertainment today. It creates a very poor example for the next generation, who are left questioning whom they can look up to.
However, a few lessons I’ve learned in life are that people, by and large, are still kind. Kindness is still the norm… (kidnapping is the exception!). While I’ve experienced a chain-snatching incident once, I’ve had auto drivers return my lost phones four times, sometimes even after a month (yes, I can be a bit absent-minded!). I’ve made friends with strangers—though some of these friendships didn’t last, others have endured for decades. And despite all its negative aspects, our phones have actually helped us stay in touch with childhood friends more easily. Even after 35 years, I still share memories of school days with my group of class five friends on our WhatsApp chat.
Trust has been the foundation of my life. I’ve trusted in the unknown, and magic has happened in my life many times. As my son turns another year older, my wish for him is to receive the gift of trusting in the unknown, in the goodness of strangers, and most importantly, in himself. I hope he learns that while the world has its share of challenges, faith in people and in life can open doors to endless possibilities. I hope that he is able to be realistically optimistic in this fast-changing world of ours.
Life is far too short to get caught up in negativity, and true magic only happens when we keep the faith.
That’s my wish for him— and perhaps a reminder to myself too: to always believe in the beauty of the unexpected and to trust that kindness, in the end, outweighs everything else. Keep the faith, and let life surprise you.
PS: Image is AI generated
रेप तो हर जगह होता है ©डॉ. अपर्णा गोविल भास्कर कुछ लोग कहते हैं, क्या हुआ जो एक डॉक्टर का रेप हुआ, रेप तो हर जगह होता है, कभी रात के अंधेरे में , तो कभी भरी दुपहरी में, कभी सुनसान सड़कों पे, तो कभी …
©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker This morning, as our honourable Prime Minister hoisted the Indian flag at the Red Fort in celebration of the 78th Independence Day, the celebration felt hollow for nearly half of this country’s population which is constituted by women. What we feel …
©Dr. Aparna Govil Basker
It’s my regular bed time routine to scroll through some Insta reels before I crash for the night. I usually love watching commencement speeches and sometimes some other stuff like stand-up comedy etc. It is good to end the day on a funny note or an inspiring one!
One of the recent commencement speeches I watched was that of Roger Federer. Federer is not only a personal favourite but is also undisputedly one of the greatest tennis players of all times (a GOAT!). He has been admired and celebrated all over the world not only for his impeccable tennis skills but his calm and cool demeanour. I am yet to come across a more graceful personality on the court. Every time I’ve watched him play; I’ve been hugely impressed by his composed demeanour.
Whether he wins or loses, he remains unruffled and tranquil, never showing a trace of excitement or agitation. It has never mattered whether the crowd is cheering him on or being hostile, whether he is being trolled or adored. Federer’s mental strength and fitness shines through. He has maintained the same calm composure in hundreds of matches over two decades. It’s actually quite funny; as bystanders in history, we not only take his greatness for granted but also his remarkable calmness.
What struck me in Federer’s commencement speech was his confession that he wasn’t always this composed. Before his golden era of Grand Slams, Federer was a completely different person— a hyperemotional racquet-breaking brat who couldn’t handle a bad game. This calm and composed demeanour was consciously acquired and cultivated after a deeper self-realization and work with a sports psychologist. It took continuous effort over many years to develop the persona we witnessed on our television screens for so long, both on and off the court. There is no doubt that technical skills and physical prowess played a big part in his success but ultimately what led him to being a GOAT was his ability to create a serene and a resilient mind.
Federer’s journey to mental tranquility and his insights about the importance of mental fitness are highly relevant to a surgeon’s life. Similar to professional sports, the field of surgery demands not only exceptional technical skills but also extraordinary mental resilience and composure. Surgeons operate in high-pressure environments where the stakes are extremely high; a single mistake can have a significant impact on a patient’s health. This responsibility necessitates maintaining a high level of calm, focus, and precision.
In our profession, we confront numerous critical situations at various points. Surgeries can be challenging and intricate, emergencies can arise unexpectedly, equipment malfunctions can occur at critical moments, human errors can happen when least anticipated, and complications are an inherent part of every surgeon’s experience. While it is very easy to express frustration or tension, it is crucial for us to develop our mental resilience to remain composed under pressure.
Many a times surgeons express tension and frustration, especially by directing it towards surgical assistants or operating theatre staff. This creates a stressful environment that affects their performance. This can ultimately impact the overall surgical outcomes negatively. Moreover, such behaviour increases the general stress levels in the operating theatre, which increases the likelihood of mistakes occurring. Surgeons who create a tense and intimidating atmosphere in the operating room disrupt the conducive working environment needed for long-term success. It’s evident that this approach doesn’t lead to achieving any kind of greatness in the field of surgery even if the surgeon is highly skilled technically. I personally feel that they may be successful in creating fear in the short term but fail to get any respect in the long term.
On the other hand, even though it may be difficult, maintaining a professional and calm demeanour not only fosters a more supportive atmosphere for the entire surgical team but also enhances communication and collaboration. This contributes to a smoother operation and better patient care. Surgeons who are conscious about this and prioritize creating a positive and respectful working environment help mitigate stress and optimize the team’s performance, ultimately leading to improved surgical outcomes. Its difficult, but doable!
Federer’s journey has several lessons that are also relevant for surgeons and can be adapted. Just as Federer learned to manage his emotions to avoid being a hyperemotional player, surgeons must learn to regulate their emotions to maintain clarity and focus during surgeries. Emotional outbursts or distractions can impair judgement and affect performance.
Actively working on emotional regulation can help surgeons to remain steady and effective, even under stressful circumstances. Surgeons can benefit from mental preparation strategies, such as visualization of procedures, mindfulness, and stress-relief techniques. These practices can enhance concentration and reduce anxiety, leading to better surgical outcomes. Resilience and the capacity to remain unruffled in the face of complications or unexpected challenges are crucial for successful surgical practice. Ultimately staying calm and composed in the face of adversity can be acquired and cultivated. The first step towards change is to be aware. At the end of the day we all are a work in progress in different stages.
Developing mental toughness and inner calmness is crucial not only in the operating room but also in any high-stakes profession. Surgeons who cultivate these qualities in addition to clinical and technical skills can navigate their responsibilities more effectively, resulting in improved patient care and personal fulfillment. This approach also paves the way for achieving excellence. So if you ask me who is the greatest surgeon I think you already know the answer by now. GOAT in the field of surgery would be someone who would not only be technically skilled but have the highest level of mental fitness and tranquility.
Happy Doctor’s Day!! 🙂
©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker One of the most powerful stories that Homo Sapiens have passed on from generation to generation over thousands of years, is the story of “hope”. “Hope” is our true super-power. Hope can work miracles. Without “hope”… well… everything will be … …
©️Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker As doctors, we love evidence-based medicine! Most of us believe in the old adage- “In God we trust. All others must bring data.” We are deeply impacted by impact factors and the graph of our pride rises in direct proportion to …
©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker
The field of surgery has long been associated with images of masculinity – the stereotypical strong, authoritative and dominating figure giving orders in the operating room. These perceptions, however, fail to capture the true essence of surgical prowess and the diverse skill set that contributes to success in the field. In reality, effective surgical practice encompasses a range of qualities, including precision, empathy, kindness, collaboration, adaptability and maintaining equanimity during surgery.
I embarked on my surgical journey 21 years ago as the lone woman in a department dominated by men. Not much has changed in the last two decades. Whether it is at the hospital or at a surgical conference, number of women surgeons can still be counted on fingertips.
When I first entered the field of surgery, the prevalent male culture around me felt rather intimidating. Those days there were no support networks and hardly any female mentors to look up to. The prospect of potential professional and social isolation, coupled with the fear of being underestimated, fuelled my determination to meticulously refine my foundational skills in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery. I worked really hard through those years and today, I take pride in being acknowledged among highly skilled surgeons. Yet, the realization dawned that sheer technical proficiency does not always equate to success. In the realm of professional success, factors extending beyond technical expertise assume a crucial role. Many individuals consciously craft an image or aura around themselves, projecting a specific persona aligned with perceived notions of success.
I quickly realized that attempting to adopt a borrowed male aura for success was not only impractical but also counterproductive for me. Authenticity emerged as a fundamental principle in my professional life. I needed to remain true to myself. Success, I discovered, wasn’t about conforming to preconceived notions or adopting a facade. Instead, it was about embracing and refining my own unique strengths and qualities.
In this realization, I found the freedom to cultivate a professional identity that resonated with my authentic self. It allowed me to leverage my inherent skills, communicate with sincerity, and project a genuine image that reflected not societal expectations, but my own values and capabilities. By embracing authenticity, I discovered a more fulfilling and sustainable path to success, one that didn’t require the compromise of my true identity.
Gradually, I began to forge my own path. Infusing a feminine touch and cultivating a culture of care in every aspect of my work became my signature. I wasn’t concerned about being a woman in what is traditionally considered a man’s world. While I learned valuable lessons from my male colleagues, particularly in assertiveness and financial literacy, I realized that success didn’t necessitate adopting a masculine persona. Success, I discovered, hinges on core skills and authenticity, coupled with a touch of luck.
Authenticity, an often-underestimated asset, becomes paramount in our pursuit of professional and personal success. Embracing and staying true to oneself, despite the existing gender dynamics, is not only empowering but a key component. As women surgeons, it is essential to bring one’s unique qualities, perspectives, and approaches to the forefront, challenging the preconceived notions of what a surgeon should be. As more and more women break through the barriers of tradition, they must realize that femininity need not be sacrificed for success in the operating room or in life.
©Dr. Aparna Govil Bhasker As a medical professional, I interact with numerous individuals on a daily basis. While their primary reason for visiting me is related to medical or surgical concerns, I consider it a privilege to gain a brief insight into their lives during …