While everyone wishes they could celebrate their special day with roses and chocolates, we wondered what the ever busy lives of our doctors, dieticians and fitness experts would allow them to do on Valentine’s Day. Pavitra Sampath tracked down ten experts on our list to find out what the cupid had in store for them this Valentine’s Day:
Dr Leena Deshpande (Developmental Paediatrician): She was busy attending to her patients when I called her. When asked about what she was doing this Valentine’s Day, she smiled and said, ‘Spending time with loved ones is what the day means to me. I am spending time with my family later in the day, but am making sure that my patients are treated especially well today.’
Dr Meenakshi Kher (Paediatric Dentist): At her clinic when I called and she wasn’t sure if it was a prank call. When assured about the seriousness of the question the doctor said they hadn’t planned anything because both of them were busy with their patients.
PS – I got a message the next morning saying that she made strawberry cream for her family. ‘I realised that even though I hadn’t planned anything, I could still do something special for my family,’ added Dr Kher.
Dr Vandana Jain (Cornea and External Diseases Specialist): Was busy with a free eye check up camp she had organised when I called her. She had planned for the hospital to be decorated with balloons and to cut a Valentine’s Day cake. When I asked her about what she was doing for herself, she said that she had planned to go out for dinner with her family.
Ramona Braganza (Global fitness expert and celebrity fitness trainer): Was travelling across Germany when I spoke to her. She was planning to have dinner at an Arabic themed restaurant with her friend and her boyfriend.
Neha Chandana (Dietician and Nutritionist): On asking her about what she planned on Valentine’s Day, she was quick to say that she was planning to cheat on her diet! She had planned to go out with her husband and family for a special Valentine’s Day dinner.
Dr Sumeet Shah (Surgical Oncologist): I could not talk to him because he was in surgery but he did reply to my e-mail later in the day. He said that he was going to spend the day bringing a smile to his patient’s faces. Here is what he wrote
‘I had a major thyroid surgery in morning. The thyroid had dipped down almost to heart. We cut the chest bone open to deliver the part of thyroid going to heart. Called the relative and showed them what we did, including the beating heart. He was speechless. At noon, I will be on rounds and counselling patients and give them tender loving care, which is the most important medicine to fight cancer. Around 3.30, I will leave for National Park for my cycling. I cycle everyday from the National Park gate, to Kanheri caves and back (13 KM). It helps me maintain fitness, and helps to beat the stress of the day. To cycle up slope is extremely challenging and tough, it helps in me focus. In the evening I will to go for my OPD. These are my plans for today.’
Dr Aashish Contractor (Interventional Cardiologist): When asked about what he was doing on Valentine’s Day, he said that since he deals with patients’ hearts, he was going to ensure that their hearts were healthy and gave them the chance to celebrate their love in a healthy way.
Dr Debraj Shome (Facial Plastic Surgeon): Busy with work but planned to take his family out for a special dinner. He said that with the schedule doctors had, it was commendable that a special dinner was even a possibility.
Dr Ramen Goel (Obesity and Diabetes Surgeon): When I called him he had just finished a surgery and was heading to his consultations. I asked him what he was going to do that day and he laughed saying I would get him in trouble with his wife! He then confessed that he had bought his wife a present two days before hand because he knew he would be too busy to go out and get anything that day. He had planned a romantic dinner out with her where he was going to give her the present. By far the most romantic doctor so far.
Dr Vijay Surase (Interventional Cardiologist): Planned a peaceful evening at home with his loved ones. He said he planned to relax that evening since he had had a very hard day at work.
Well it’s nice to see that despite having crazy schedules and work pressure, the health.india.com experts found a little time for love and family on Valentine’s Day.