What is your hometown?
My hometown is Mumbai, India.
When did you join the University of Iowa faculty?
I did my Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Iowa from 2004-2006 and stayed on as faculty starting August 2006.
How/when did you become interested in science and medicine?
I was always drawn to science, math and sports from my elementary school days, and by the time I reached high school I pretty much realized that it was either cricket or science for me. As far as medicine is concerned, I really chose to go into medicine because my dad himself wanted to be a doctor and had to go to engineering school because my grandfather forced him to. My dad never told me but I think he always wished he had gone into medicine. Even though he never pushed me to choose a career he was very happy when I declined the engineering school and signed up for medicine. It was hard to keep up with cricket after starting medical school so I had to make a choice and I made the right one.
What interested you to pursue a career in Thoracic Surgery?
I chose thoracic surgery because very early in my surgical training when I rotated on the cardiothoracic service, I enjoyed the complexity of thoracic cases. The anatomy, physiology, critical care and the technical challenges of the specialty were so intriguing and fascinating that no other specialty was stimulating enough for me. Also, I had some very good role models in thoracic surgery who were not only outstanding physicians and surgeons, but were very compassionate human beings and excellent educators.
Is there a teacher or mentor who helped shape your career?
I have been very lucky to have several good mentors at every stage in my life. As a child, it started with my dad and Mr. Alex Thomas who was my science teacher in high school. These two individuals played the most significant role in shaping my career. With their encouragement, patience and motivation, they impressed upon me that with perseverance and hard work I could achieve anything in life. Mr. Thomas passed away when I was in college but my Dad still continues to mentor me and keeps reminding me of my roots and humble beginnings when he thinks my head is getting too big for my own good. I can list several in the field of medicine but the ones who I respect the most are Drs. Valavanur Subramanian, G. Alexander Patterson, Mark Iannettoni, Douglas Behrendt, Wayne Richenbacher and Timothy Van Natta (03F-Surgery).
How or why did you choose the University of Iowa?
After my training in Lung Transplantation at the Washington University in St. Louis, I came here to train as a cardiothoracic surgeon because I liked the faculty and the quality of training the residents were getting. When I was finishing my training the University of Iowa was just getting started in reviving the Lung Transplant program and Dr. Iannettoni offered me a job. It was a golden opportunity for me to not only get involved in building a transplant program but also to work with my mentors and all the people that I enjoyed working with during my training. From the family perspective Iowa City is a great town and it was an easy decision to stay on as faculty.
Please describe your professional interests.
My professional interests are general thoracic surgery including thoracic oncology, esophageal surgery, minimally invasive surgery and lung transplantation.
What led to your interest in chronic rejection of lung transplants and how does working in a collaborative and comprehensive academic medical center benefit your research and work?
The biggest hurdle in long term survival after a lung transplant is chronic rejection and there is very little known about how to prevent/treat this problem. It is a complex problem that needs to be addressed on both the clinical and basic science research fronts. At the University of Iowa I am able to work with outstanding basic science and translational research faculty and together we are trying to design strategies to reduce the incidence of chronic rejection.
What are some of your outside interests?
Music, traveling, cricket, soccer and food.
Do you have an insight or philosophy that guides you in your professional work?
I will quote two of Mahatma Gandhi’s Philosophies that guide me
What is the biggest change you've experienced in your field since you were a student?
Fortunately or unfortunately, I have realized that I am going to be a student all my life and that the only thing that is predictable is that things will always change.
What one piece of advice would you give to today's students?
The one piece of advice I can give them is to choose a career/path in life that they are passionate about, and that even in this day of modern technology the best way to learn clinical medicine is at the bedside - there is no substitute for it.
What do you see as "the future" of medicine?
Seeing the curiosity, enthusiasm and passion of the students that I am involved with, I can safely say that the future of medicine is very bright.