And for the first Friday of 2024, an excellent beginning with a book launch, some thoughts….. some musings…..
A former Co-Trustee of PCGT, a Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon par Excellence, a good friend and a strong supporter of SEEGOS, Dr.Ratna Magotra is one of those rare breeds of professionals with a gifted ability to write. Converting thoughts and ideas to prose, her earlier book “Matters of Heart: Keeping the Faith” was a huge success. It required a lot of persuasion from friends and well wishers for her to finally undertake the project to write her Autobiography. The book is well summed up in the peer review by Dr. Yadav, the Editor-in-Chief of the official Journal of Indian Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons. Quote – “Not just a Surgeon” is a story of a small town girl from Jammu, navigating unfamiliar terrain in personal and professional spheres, leading the reader through her journey through life, not merely detailing her professional and scientific achievements, but also expressing the profound intellectual, moral and ethical issues constantly present in her most intimate feelings and beliefs – Unquote. This book is a “must-read” for all Professionals who have lived thru India of the Socialist Control Raj and meandered thru the labyrinths of corruption, sleaze and bigotry, still keeping their personal values and principles unscathed.
In India, the Medical Profession is currently suffering from a huge perception complex. Many stories abound of unwanted diagnostic tests and surgeries, hospitalisation, ICUs etc. just to fleece innocent unsuspecting patients. The entire Medical establishment needs urgent reforms. Private medical colleges, their fees and capitation, conditions of Govt hospitals, lack of funds and political interferences are all issues crying for attention. However, society cannot brush all doctors with the same brush. Hence books like Dr. Magotra’s autobiography, not only enlightens the lay reader with the issues involved, but boosts confidence that there are many devoted “patient-centric” doctors from reputed institutions on whom we can trust. Copy of the book can be obtained from Amazon store online.
One of the healthy trends now in India is that, more professionals are willing to share their wisdom and experiences. Let us all encourage such writings, the involved way, the encouraging way, the SEEGOS way.