Dr. Ashwin Mehta is the Director of Cardiology at Jaslok Hospital Mumbai.

When did you decide to be a doctor?
When I was about 10, my best friend's mother had fallen seriously ill. The doctor who treated her left a deep impact on me. The idea of salvaging a person from the clutches of death appealed to me immensely. I began toying with the idea of being a doctor. Even my father encouraged me to choose this career.

How did you go about it?
In 1957, after securing first class in inter-science (now called HSC), I joined G.S. Medical College in Mumbai. I stood first in merit and also bagged numerous gold medals in individual subjects. After completing my Masters course, I left to study for Chicago for specialisation in cardiology.

Why did you choose cardiology?
Well, at that time there were two specialties in medicine that required a high grade of intellectual approach-Neurology and Cardiology. I felt that cardiology had great scope with the development of new technologies and techniques and hence chose to specialise in this field.

How did you get to your present job?
As I returned from the United States, Jaslok Hospital was being set up as an ultra-modern hospital. The then Dean of the hospital was very well aware of my academic credentials and so I was offered this job.

What is your current job profile?
I head the Cardiology Department at Jaslok Hospital. I undertake research projects and supervise and train doctors under me. Patient care remains a major part of my job profile. Besides these I also organise meetings and seminars.

I reach my hospital at round 9.00 a.m. in the morning. After conducting my daily rounds, I begin surgery around 10.00 a.m. Depending on the workload it extends to around 4.00 p.m. After four, I am usually in the consulting room where I examine new patients and recommend a course of action. This goes on till 8.00 p.m. after which I go for my evening rounds and reach home at around 9.30 p.m. After having dinner and watching a little bit of T.V, I sit down to read books on the latest developments in cardiology.

What qualities are required to be a cardiologist?
One of the most important attributes a cardiologist requires is courage. Cardiology is an area where a patient's situation goes out of control in moments. You do not have time to dilly-dally around .You have to be able to think on your feet and use innovative ideas to tackle unusual problems. During these kinds of situations, you must be able to rely on your knowledge and experience.

In your opinion, what is the best way to go about being a cardiologist?
India has some of the best training facilities in the world as far as medicine is concerned. Therefore, going abroad to study medicine directly would be a waste of resources. I feel students should do their M.B.B.S followed by post graduation and then move onto specialisation in cardiology in India itself. If you wish to learn advanced techniques that are being developed by the West, then you must go abroad. The scope for research and development is terrific in the West.

What advice would you give to those aspiring to take up this career?
You better be prepared for long, erratic work hours. This is a field where a sense of helplessness and frustration sets in quickly. You must learn to guard yourself against that. You must develop the ability to remain calm and patient. This will come in handy in your practice.

What do like most about your job?
The sense of fulfilment. When you rush into an emergency, you see a person dying in front of you. Everyone looks up to you for help and that can put a lot of pressure on you. But when you utilise your skills and knowledge and give someone their loved ones back, then the sense of gratification is immeasurable. That sense of accomplishment is what I like most about my job.

What are the things about this profession that you do not like?
Hostile patients is one thing that you have to deal with. It can be a bit frustrating at times. Disgruntled and jealous peers remain another irritant. You have to learn to keep yourself above that.

What are the general misconceptions about this field?
The medical community in general has been accused of being money-minded. People have come to believe that doctors are not as humane as they used to be. In fact all doctors try to imbibe the principle of positive health care in their patients. This does not mean the absence of disease. It implies that all the body organs are capable of working to their maximum, limit.

What are the new avenues in medicine that students should also explore?
Biomedical engineering is a very interesting branch of medicine to look into. Those inclined towards research can opt for Molecular Biology and Genetics where giant strides are being taken as we speak. Ophthalmology too is a booming business these days and worth exploring.

You seem to be having a stressful life. How do you relax?
On weekends I usually do not perform surgery. Emergencies are also not that much of a problem as the senior doctors under me usually manage to take care of them. I take a break from the routine on alternate weekends by attending seminars, which are usually held out of town. As I don't find time to go on a complete vacation, I tend to mix business with pleasure by participating in major conventions usually held abroad.

- Siddhartha Roy