Lucknow: A surgeon helping abandoned patients reunite with their families, a chest physician who is also a bodybuilder and dancer, an interventional radiologist who unwinds with championship badminton, a trauma surgeon who writes poetry and penned his university’s anthem, and a cardiologist who is also a fiction novelist — doctors in the city are redefining life beyond the hospital.As India observes National Doctors’ Day on July 1 in memory of Bharat Ratna Dr BC Roy, doctors say their identities outside medicine are more than hobbies. They help them cope with the emotional demands of the profession, remain mentally resilient and connect better with patients.Medical practice often involves long hours, critical decisions and sustained emotional pressure. Many doctors turn to creative pursuits, sports and community work to restore balance and sustain empathy.At King George’s Medical University (KGMU), chief medical superintendent and neurosurgeon Prof BK Ojha has made care for destitute patients a focused humanitarian effort. Each year, around 50-100 unidentified patients are admitted. His team works with police, NGOs and media, using photographs, local outreach and online searches to trace their identities and reunite them with families or arrange rehabilitation.Respiratory medicine specialist Prof Darshan Bajaj blends medicine with fitness and art. A bodybuilder for more than three decades, he also pursues dance, a passion inherited from his father. During the Covid-19 pandemic, dance and digital content creation helped him manage prolonged duty hours. He now uses these platforms to promote healthy living.At Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, interventional radiologist Dr Abhishek Chauhan balances precision-based procedures with competitive badminton. A national champion among doctors, he says the sport improves focus and endurance while helping him switch off after long hours in the cath lab.For KGMU Trauma Centre medical superintendent Prof Amiya Agrawal, poetry remains a constant companion. The author of the KGMU Kulgeet, he has written over 50 poems and believes literature helps sustain compassion in trauma care.Cardiologist Prof Rishi Sethi of KGMU has also taken to writing. His novel which has sold over 5,000 copies, explores faith and self-discovery. He says storytelling, like medicine, is about understanding people and their choices.Doctors say such pursuits not only help manage stress but also make them more empathetic, underlining that healing goes beyond prescriptions and procedures.
