A doctor’s profession comes with years of gruelling preparation since youth that leaves no time to harbour the desire to pursue a hobby alongside. However, with a little determination and dash of multitasking, pursuing a hobby along with a can become a piece of cake to even a doctor.

Dr Anil Tibrewala

Dr Abhay Nene, spine specialist, began his hobby right from his days in junior college. “Singing and playing the guitar were always my passion. Along with a couple of musical friends at the medical college, we formed a band named ‘Rales and Ronchii’, which are the sounds a doctor hears through the stethoscope.”

Dr Abhay Nene (black shirt) and the band

Whilst some hobbies are discovered through training, others are chanced upon when you’re not really looking for it. That is exactly happened with Dr C Balakrishnan, Consultant Rheumatologist. “I started this hobby during my MBBS years, in the last row of the often boring pharmacology lectures! I think painting is one of the most intelligent forms of art. I began with charcoal and oil painting but I believe cartoons are the best way to drive home your point and at the same time make people laugh.”

Commitment and practice

Not having been trained in the field, Dr Balakrishnan still puts in time to practise every week. “I enjoy making slides for my colleagues for their lectures,” shares Dr Balakrishnan.

Cartoon by Dr C Balakrishnan

“I really look forward to these practice sessions as much as I look forward to our shows. We usually start at around 8:30pm and finish practice by 11pm, sharing a lovely evening of music and food together,” says Dr Tibrewala. “However, if there’s an emergency, we immediately put on our white coats and run off,” adds Dr Nene, stating the importance of committing to a job and a passion.

Relaxation and recreation

“Solving people’s problems can take a toll one self and music offers super relaxation,” says Dr Nene. Dr Tibrewala feels the same way adding, “Music keeps the atmosphere de-stressed and humming a tune can keep you calm even in the most stressful situation like during a surgery.”

Dr Balakrishan opines, “It is sheer joy of drawing these cartoons that amazes me. I am in a different world when I do this. It is over once I have finished. I do not even keep a copy of my cartoons!”

Taking your hobby to work

Moderately toned music can offer a good sense of calmness in a stressful environment. Says Dr Tibrewala, “During surgery, especially if person is under local anaesthesia, soft instrumental music played on a piano for instance, is very calming not only for the doctor but also for the patient. The surgical dialogue of the doctors that involves using sentences like ‘pass me the knife’, which a patient associated with pain, are completely drowned out with the music. The ‘blip – blip’ of the monitor, clanging of the instruments, opening and closing of the operation theatre doors all get drowned out by the tunes played.”