Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra on the Intersection of Sports Medicine and Health Tech Innovation (Part - 2)

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: When players take the field, we prioritize preventive measures. For instance, as a wicketkeeper, it's important to keep joints packed. Nutrition and mental stability are also crucial before representing a team or country. After an injury, we consider treatment options and permissible medications, as there are strict rules on doping. Return-to-play criteria and compression therapies, including hot and cold treatments, are also key. Additionally, players who didn't have a chance to play in a football match are conditioned by running around the field after the match to ensure their muscles are in good shape for future games.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: When a player is injured, their biggest concern is often whether they can return to the field. In some cases, they may try to hide their pain from the doctor, fearing that they will be benched if they admit the severity of their injury. As a doctor, it's important to maintain confidentiality with the athletes so that they feel comfortable communicating with us. Prior to taking the field, the coach consults with the physician to determine if the player is fit to play. This can create a fear of repercussions for the player if they reveal the true extent of their pain, as being sidelined means missing out on crucial opportunities. We conduct counseling sessions to emphasize the importance of focusing on proper recovery rather than rushing back into action. We aim to foster a close relationship with the athletes based on trust, ensuring that they feel comfortable sharing their concerns with us, even when they may not feel inclined to do so with their parents. Building and maintaining this trust is a key aspect of our counseling approach with athletes.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: I'm quite new to this field as I haven't done many internships yet. One challenging scenario I encountered was when I was interning and I met a sports person who had a concussion and then suddenly collapsed. After conducting several CT scans and MRIs, we discovered a very small concussion. We treated the person, and it was one of the rarest scenarios I've experienced so far. I still have much to learn and many more scenarios to encounter.

I'll be honest, I haven't had much on-field practice yet. I'm currently studying, so I have a lot to practice. Once I have more experience, I can share additional scenarios, but for now, I don't have much on-field experience.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: I am a very ambitious and hardworking person. When I think back to my time working in the ICU during the second wave of the pandemic, I remember feeling overwhelmed. Many patients were deteriorating, and we were losing them despite their viral load being stable. The only treatment option available at the time was steroids, but they were not suitable for patients with obesity, hypothyroidism, hypertension, or diabetes. This led to complications such as fungal infections, which became increasingly common towards the end of the second wave.

I realized that instead of blaming the virus, we should consider the impact of underlying health conditions on patient outcomes. In India, where healthcare funding is limited, it is challenging to provide adequate resources such as beds, oxygen cylinders, and medical equipment. Our doctor-to-patient ratio is also significantly below the World Health Organization's recommendations.

Rather than simply complaining about the lack of resources, I decided to take action at my level. Through my company HealU, I have been able to positively impact over 4000 lives by promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing hospitalizations. I believe in the importance of not only treating but also preventing illnesses. This is why I chose the name HealU for my company, as it represents our mission to heal and prevent people from needing hospital care.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: As a medical student, I found it challenging to have knowledge about startup finances and entrepreneurship. Fortunately, my co-founder, who is from IIT Delhi and was the entrepreneurship head of their college, provided valuable guidance. I had a plan, but executing it was difficult as we didn't learn about startups in medical school. When I shared my idea, he supported me and helped us overcome the challenges. Our collaboration is like AIIMS IIT, where he represents IIT and I represent AIIMS. Therefore, we don't consider ourselves a healthcare company but rather a health tech company, combining his background in computer science with my medical expertise. The idea was mine, but the execution was his expertise.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: It’s not easy. It seems like taking a risk, doesn't it? There's a poem I remember from school days called "The Road Not Taken," but I can't recall the poet. When I decided to pursue a career in marketing instead of practicing as a doctor after completing my MBBS from AIIMS, it was challenging to convince my parents. They questioned why I was deviating from a promising medical career. I explained to them that if I couldn't persuade them, I wouldn't be able to convince the market. I told my dad that as a doctor, I could have treated people, but now, by working in public health, I'm preventing people from getting sick in the first place. I believe that focusing on preventing disease is just as important as treating it, if not more so. I also discussed how medical professionals are now exploring opportunities in entrepreneurship, with many pursuing degrees in public health or shifting towards startups. I often receive requests from companies looking for doctors to join them as founders. However, it can be challenging for non-medical professionals to understand certain medical concepts, as I experienced when a company approached me with a device for monitoring glucose levels which didn't align with medical best practices. Nevertheless, I think the trend of doctors venturing into entrepreneurship and integrating technology into healthcare will continue to grow over time. Some of my friends have been encouraged by my decision to pursue this unconventional path, but I do sometimes wonder if I could have taken an easier route by pursuing postgraduate studies. Despite the challenges, I find the journey to be both demanding and rewarding.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: To this day, I have this thing. Even with my startup, people say, "Hey, you have a startup, you're an entrepreneur." I just tell them, "Take a step back and see the struggle. I have a struggling startup, and I'm a struggling entrepreneur." So, what is it? The journey is tough, but the country needs people who are doctors that can conduct research, who can collaborate with MBAs and individuals with a tech background to enhance the healthcare system. We need innovations to come from doctors. That's more important. That's all I can say, and let's see what the future holds.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: I am an avid reader of PubMed and I index articles for them. During my college days, I published two articles. One was on the POCSO Act and the other was on the impact of heavy school bags on children's pain. I keep myself updated on health-related information by following the Healthline blog and watching informative YouTube videos. Learning is an ongoing process, and I believe in keeping my eyes and ears open to gain knowledge. Curiosity is key, and I always stay open to learning new things. For example, while it was previously believed that unsaturated fats were healthier than saturated fats, recent studies have shown that people in the southern part of India, who consume more coconut oil (a saturated fat), have a lower risk of heart attacks. This demonstrates the importance of staying updated and keeping an open mind.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: I aspire to organize the health sector in India, similar to how it is organized in developed countries like the UK and the US. In the UK, the NHS takes care of healthcare, while in the US, insurance companies handle most aspects of healthcare, although it can be expensive. My goal is to bring organization to the currently disorganized health market in India, and then expand into other developing countries in South Asia. Just as Zomato and Swiggy are associated with ordering food, and Oyo is known for booking rooms, I envision a future where HealU is the go-to platform for booking health and wellness services.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: If I were to give advice on choosing a specialization in the medical field, I would say that doctors should pick a specialization that they truly enjoy. Ten years from now, they shouldn't be overwhelmed by work pressure or start hating their job. It's important to choose wisely and pursue what you genuinely love. For example, when asked why I chose sports medicine, I explained that as a sports enthusiast who has experienced multiple sports-related injuries, I am both the doctor and the patient. I enjoy this field, and I believe that pursuing what you enjoy ensures that you never get bored. Whether it's dermatology, pediatrics, or ophthalmology, it's crucial to choose a specialization that you won't regret in the future. Ultimately, if you enjoy your work, you will be successful, regardless of the financial prospects of the field.

Dr. Sameer Sekhar Patra: People often say that "Kuch to Log Kahenge", but God has given you one life, and you should live according to your own rules," right?

People are often more concerned about what others will think. I have never seen someone qualify for the AIIMS entrance, PGA entrance, and then choose physiology. It seems that people feel pressured to pursue fields like radiology, dermatology, or medicine, even if they are more interested in physiology. They worry about what their parents or friends will think about their career choice, despite achieving a good rank. This mindset needs to change. People should follow their own interests. The field of medicine requires a lot of commitment, unlike engineering where you can easily switch to MBA after completing the degree. Once you commit to a medical career, it's important to stay dedicated. There will be challenges, and you may feel disheartened or burned out. If you don't like the subject you're studying, it will be even more difficult to continue. It's important to remember that the journey is beautiful, not just the destination. We should approach this with a positive mindset.

It's like ‘Safar Kubsurat hai, Manjil Se bhi.’ We will go through this code.