On National Doctors’ Day, medics share how art heals them, too

As a teenager Dr Rajendra Sonawane was in awe of his family physician because of the respect he got from his patients It left a lasting impression on the Mumbaibased doctorrsquos mind and sparked his subsequent attraction to the white coatHe shared ldquoHaving grown up in Pune in the early 80s classic rock and blues music influenced me profoundly Luckily I had a great peer group of musicians in medical school and had the opportunity to perform in concerts and rock competitions in the country Thatrsquos when I had a very rewarding association with the wellknown rock band Agnee in its formative yearsrdquoDr Aneeta Bajaj holds the Indian flag at the Berlin MarathonStriking a chord over the years he fulfilled his dream of becoming a surgeon and performing surgeries but had to take a long break from music to fulfil his professional career However music kept calling him back So a few years ago he picked up the guitar again and the citybased doctor consultant GI amp surgical oncology at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital said it transformed his lifeldquoListening to and learning music keeps me going and the results motivate me to achieve something new every day After intense surgeries and a stressful day I turn to the strings to unwind I often perform at gatherings alongside colleaguesrdquo Dr Sonawane saidMusic to his professionDr Sonawane prefers to stay away from social media just to be able to spend more time with the guitar and learn more complex music ldquoLearning and playing an instrument engages multiple areas of the brain improving coordination focus and even decisionmaking skills vital to a surgeon Therersquos something called the lsquoMozart Effectrsquo where listening to or learning classical music can actually sharpen brain function It has practical benefits like better reflexes clearer thinking and improved multitasking that I carry into the operating theatrerdquoDr Amit Sharma spine surgeon Saifee HospitalEvery year National Doctorsrsquo Day is observed on July 1 to honour Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy a reputed physician who also served as chief minister of West Bengal as he wore many hats The Mumbaibased doctor who is one among many health experts pursuing more than their career said ldquoMusic doesnrsquot just help us cope mdash it heals us too It brings happiness reduces stress and reminds us that wersquore human first doctors second More importantly music reminds me of who I am beyond my white coat It brings balance creativity and peace into a profession that can sometimes be allconsumingrdquoBringing out the saxThe theme for 2025 lsquoBehind the Mask Who Heals the Healersrsquo highlights the mental and emotional challenges faced by doctors on the job and Dr Sonawane has found that healing in music He isnrsquot the only one because even Dr Amit Sharma a spine surgeon at citybased Saifee Hospital picked up an instrument after falling in love with the sound while listening to Kenny Grsquos songsHe shared ldquoAlongside my medical journey Irsquove developed a lifelong love for music mdash especially the saxophone Irsquove been playing it for four to five years now Music allows me to express emotions Itrsquos like meditation It reminds me that healing is not only physical but also emotional and spiritualrdquoBeing in a profession that is challenging the Mumbaibased doctor manages both worlds with discipline and intention ldquoFinding time for passion is difficult with my busy and hectic schedule Still I carve out time for music practice and I treat my passion with the same respect I give to my profession Both callings feed each other One keeps my hands steady the other my heart steadyrdquo said the doctor who spends about 30ndash45 minutes a day about two to three times a weekThe extra mileOn the other hand it was running that attracted Dr Aneeta Bajaj a radiologist with Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai Born in a family of health experts Dr Bajaj didnrsquot think twice about becoming a doctor after seeing how thankful patients were to her father who had a clinic in JabalpurShe explained ldquoWatching my father at work touched a chord in my heart and I decided that I wanted to be a doctor and help people in whatever way I could So now as a radiologist I put my skills to work in trying to understand whatrsquos happening medically inside the bodies of our patients so that the cure can be proceeded with more precisionrdquoIn an attempt to lose postpartum weight after the delivery of her two children the Mumbaikar was bitten by the fitness bug ldquoI tried a lot of fitness regimes including power yoga and Pilates However running is something that became my callingrdquoldquoIt started with jogging then a pinkathon 10km run around 13ndash14 years ago progressed to a half marathon then a full marathon and a few ultramarathons Now I have started on a journey to do major world marathons I did the Berlin Marathon in September 2024 and Irsquom now on the road to the Sydney MarathonrdquoDr Bajaj has had many roadblocks a couple of surgeries a back injury land ongterm antibiotics but running is what kept her going ldquoOnce a runner always a runnerrdquo she proudly says