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Standing Tall in a Male-dominated Profession
Discover what inspires Dr Kona S Lakshmi, Senior Consultant of Surgical Gastroenterology, Minimal Access Gastrointestinal Surgery and Bariatric Surgery at Gleneagles Global Hospitals in India.
Dr Kona S Lakshmi was always clear that she wanted to specialise in the surgical field and found Gastrointestinal Surgery the most interesting of all. She was then exposed to minimal access surgery, which was a new field at that time. Intrigued and inclined, Dr Lakshmi then decided to specialise in Gastroenterology.
Dr Lakshmi has been with Gleneagles Global Hospitals since its inception. She expressed, “I am happy that we are growing and have now become a big family - from a small unit to being part of a global healthcare network.”
According to Dr Lakshmi, the best part of a surgeon’s life is to handle a surgical disease and to see the patient recover and go back home happy. Earning patients’ trust is also greatly rewarding for her.
Recounting an interesting experience from her early years as a surgeon, Dr Lakshmi shared, “When we used to go for rounds, people used to mistake me as a trainee doctor or a resident doctor. Over time, they started to acknowledge me as an accomplished female surgeon and referred their patients to me. For a female to excel in the surgical field, it needs double the work. I thank God for giving me the strength and skill to excel in this competitive male-dominated field and for helping me achieve my goals.”
For new gastroenterologists, Dr Lakshmi’s advice to them is to improve their skill sets regularly, keep abreast of what is happening in the surgical and medical field and always strive to give the best to their patients.
My philosophy in life is to work sincerely. You should give the best to whatever you do. Always give more than a hundred per cent and the results will always be good.
- Dr Kona S Lakshmi, Senior Consultant of Surgical Gastroenterology, Minimal Access Gastrointestinal Surgery and Bariatric Surgery, Gleneagles Global Hospitals