Diabetic Complications in Rural India, the Surgeon who Inspired me to Pursue Medicine, and the Importance of Mentorship with Dr. Dheeban

Today we're joined by Dr. Dheeban, a general surgeon in India. This conversation means a lot to me, as Dr. Dheeban is the physician who really sparked my passion for medicine. About 4 years ago, I shadowed him in his rural clinic in India for a couple of months. I watched him perform all kinds of different procedures including endoscopies, Cesarian sections, diabetic foot debridements, cyst removals, and even more. I was fascinated by the problem-solving aspect and uniqueness of each case and how each required its own strategy for treatment. I remember I was dead set on becoming a surgeon after shadowing him because of how much he impacted me, and while I'm not so sure about that resolve now, I know that there is nothing else I would want to pursue other than medicine. In this conversation, we talk about his journey through medicine, how he used to play with syringes in stethoscopes in his grandfather's hospital as a kid, and how he became a general surgeon. We also talk about diabetes, and the widespread complications he sees in his patient populations. We close out talking about some of his most impactful cases, and all in all, I really enjoyed having this conversation to catch up with one of my mentors. I hope you enjoy it too.

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