Dr. Areena D'Souza is currently working as a Spinal Consultant in Pediatric spines in Germany. Let us know about her inspirational journey from a small town of India, Mangalore to Germany. An account of the conversation between Dr. Christa from MedBound Times and Dr. Areena D'Souza.
Dr. Christa: Tell us something about your life and professional journey.
Dr. Areena: I am an Indian female Orthopedic and Spine surgeon, currently working in Kind im Zentrum Chiemgau, Germany. I come from the small town of Mangalore, India. I always wanted to make my parents proud, hence I aimed to achieve professional success. My parents wanted to see me as a doctor, and I fulfilled that wish. I went on to specialize in Orthopedics in Father Muller Medical College in Mangalore, Karnataka and then further in Spine surgery. Currently, I work as a Spinal Consultant in Pediatric spines in Germany. I have had an eventful professional journey. Starting my career in Mangalore, I had the opportunity to do my first spine fellowship from 2013 to 2015. The fellowship was Clinical Spine fellowship (Association of Spine Surgeons of India) at Indian Spinal Injuries Centre in New Delhi. Then I worked as a Consultant in orthopedics and Spine at Artemis Hospital, Haryana, India. This was followed by another fellowship at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in the UK. I worked there as Clinical Spine Fellow from 2016 to 2018. These fellowships helped shape my career and I am very grateful to my parents for the encouragement and to all my mentors for their support and guidance.
Dr. Christa: Why did you choose this career path?
Dr. Areena: I initially took up medicine because my parents wanted me to do so. Orthopedics was not my career of choice. But fate took me down this path. Upon completion of MS(Orthopedics), it was clear in my mind that I would either do pediatric orthopedics or spine surgery. I have eventually embarked on doing pediatric spinal deformity which integrates both. When I look back now, I could not have seen myself doing anything else really. I enjoy what I am doing and it is a very fulfilling job.
Dr. Christa: You were an outstanding clinician and researcher in India. What motivated you to move to Germany?
Dr. Areena: I moved to the UK in 2016 just for my fellowship. I intended to come back to India. But I ended up getting a job offer in Germany as a Spine surgeon. Hence, life took me to a country I never thought I would be in!
Dr. Christa: What is your passion(s) in the field of your practice/career/path?
Dr. Areena: My biggest passion is the drive to make a child better with all I can offer. The path to deciding a surgery for a child is never easy and involves a deep thought process and lots of discussions with the family. But the smile on the face of these children and parents and knowing that what I have done has helped make their life better is worth all the strife.
Dr. Christa: What are the most common or challenging situations in the field of your practice?
Dr. Areena: Planning surgery for a child is very challenging in itself. What one does to these children has a lifelong impact on them and their families. Hence finding the right solution is often the most challenging yet rewarding part of the job. A surgical branch is also mentally and physically taxing. This can at times be a challenge.
Dr. Christa: Tell us some interesting clinical cases or situations that have left an impression on you.
Dr. Areena: What leaves an impression on me almost every single day is the fighting spirit the disabled children showcase.
It is fascinating and almost an eye-opener to see these children who have various roadblocks on their way managing to smile through it all. They don’t whine or complain. They just get on with it! We have so much to learn from them.
Dr. Christa: Any incidents that you feel could have been done in a better way (something that left you disappointed or less than satisfied)?
Dr. Areena: What disappoints me often is how medicine is now becoming a business. Having to fight managers to do something I believe in is rather frustrating.
Dr. Christa: What is the difference in practice/contours of medicine or your stream of medical sciences/healthcare that you see now and then?
Dr. Areena: Technology is changing the face of medicine. There is a lot more that emerging technology adds to medicine in today’s age compared to previously.
What has also changed are the training methods. There is a need for better training facilities for the newer generation of medical professionals coming in to the surgical branches.
Dr. Christa: What difference do you see in pediatric healthcare in India and Germany?
Dr. Areena: Pediatric healthcare is more affordable in Germany as it is a public healthcare system with public/ private insurances unlike India. Pediatric healthcare is also neglected more in India and we need to make that better.
Dr. Christa: What is your take on the decision of imparting medical education in regional languages?
Dr. Areena: From a personal point of view, I am glad I studied Medicine in a global language. But having said that in Germany everything is in German. I do not believe in forcing people to study medicine in regional language. But the availability of this option will definitely help some who are more comfortable in their regional languages.
Dr. Christa: Your goals for the next 2-3 years?
Dr. Areena: To build my practice and help the children who need my care.
Dr. Christa: Your passions?
Dr. Areena: Surgery and Dancing are my passions.
Dr. Christa: What do you like to do in your free time?
Dr. Areena: Relax, Sleep, dance.
Dr. Christa: Lastly, It would be great if you can share a message or advice for the budding doctors and allied professionals?
Dr. Areena: The medicine works as a profession only if you are passionate about it. Don’t practice medicine just because you have to. Do it to make a difference in people's lives, including your own!
MedBoundTimes is extremely grateful to Dr. Areena D'Souza for sparing her time and talking to us.
