Dr. Vani, what do you like about being a pediatrician?
I love the challenge of ever-changing growth and development that makes every age unique and diverse in pediatrics. Also, there is something special about the smile of young patients and the trust that their parents place in me. It drives me to the best I can at all times.
Do you have children? How have they impacted your career
Yes, I have a daughter. Being a parent has given me most of my education outside of med school. It has helped me empathise with my patients’ parents, appreciate and respect parental instincts and offer practical solutions to them. It helps parents to better open up when I identify as “having gone through those moments” and follow recommendations.
What challenges do you see for the future of medicine?
One big challenge for medicine in the digital age is the quality of information available on the Internet. Researching isn’t a bad thing in itself, but it becomes a problem when information that is unreliable or inconclusive is presented as truth. It is common for parents to have already formed opinions about their child’s diagnosis before walking into the office, making it challenging for physicians to convince parents of treatment plans if they reach a different diagnosis.
What is something patients might not know about you?
I believe in helping my patients AND their parents. Since parents are so crucial to child development and health, I try to take a family approach to promote a healthy and dynamic home atmosphere.
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