At BrilliantRead Media, we always strive to bring meaningful and powerful stories from India and around the world to empower and motivate our growing community. As part of this endeavour, we invited Prof Dr Raj Nagarkar, MD & Chief of Surgical Oncology and Robotic Services, Manavata Cancer Centre about his journey donning two hats – a surgeon and an entrepreneur at the same time. He talks about making Manavata Hospital one among the best hospitals in the world but ensuring patient care and service are not comprised. Let’s learn more about his incredible journey, background, and advice for our growing community!
Excerpts from our exclusive interview with Dr Raj:
Give us a brief summary of your childhood, education and why you decided to take medical science as a profession?
I belong to a business-class social education-centric family from Nashik. After completing my schooling at Barnes School Devlali I moved to Pune for junior college education. During that phase of my life, I was very keen & enthusiastic to persue petrochemical engineering.
After the results, I was lucky to get admission for engineering at Pune. During that period my grandmother was diagnosed to have cancer and one trip to Tata Memorial Hospital Mumbai with her actually decided my future.
My Dad Mr Vasantrao Nagarkar was the driving force for me to take up admission for MBBS at the esteemed J N Medical College Belgaum. During my entire MBBS journey, my eyes were always focused at Tata Memorial hospital.
Destiny did have something in store as immediately after my MBBS I secured a seat at TMH for Surgical Oncology training. After MS went on to do my Diplomate at the National Board of Examinations, Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh. Lucrative opportunities in the UK did not have any impact on my keen desire to serve my own people back home.
What was the motivation or objective behind starting your own hospital?
I started my practice at Nashik in the year 2000. Was working as a busy surgical oncologist attached to more than 70 odd nursing homes/hospitals in Nashik. Had a small stint as the medical director and cancer surgeon of a trust-run cancer hospital during that time.
However, my passion to bring world-class cancer treatment to Nashik was not finding a foothold hence in 2004 I laid the foundation of Manavata Cancer Centre. Manavata started in 2007 as a 35-bed comprehensive cancer centre in partnership with Health Care Global Enterprises.
Why did you name the hospital Manavata?
Manavata meaning humanity was christened by my father. The intention was to serve mankind with empathy and passion.
Manavata is already ranked among the best hospitals in the Western region. What are the plans for Manavata in the next 2 – 3 years?
The centre started as Curie Manavata Cancer Centre in 2007 by the year 2010 we had scaled up to 72 beds with all modalities for cancer care under one roof [ IMRT, PET scan came first in Maharashtra after Mumbai/Pune at Nashik].
With the growing demand from patients travelling far and near, we added another 200 beds in 2018. The philosophy of Manavata has been to provide the best cancer care to all sections of society irrespective of socioeconomic background.
Till January 2023 we have already been trusted by more than 1 lac patients. We have patients coming from North Maharashtra, south of Gujarat, Thane district, Marathwada & Vidarbha region. More than 100 international patients have crossed borders to come to Nasik for their treatment with us.
What do we need to do in order to improve our medical infrastructure to be at par with the quality of medical care and service rendered globally?
We have adopted an approach the cater to patients from all walks of livelihood. The volume of patients has helped us reduce the expenditure to some extent and upgrade regularly. As a teaching institute, our patient care outcomes have been applauded and accepted internationally.
This has attracted patients from india and abroad for high end treatments like robotic surgery, bone marrow transplant radio surgery. We are able to provide quality care with more personalized touch at affordable costs.
With more than 850 robotic-assisted surgeries in just over 3 years, we are now a preferred destination for training in robotic surgery.”
Our clinical research department with experience of having conducted more than 500 global clinical trials have helped us to be ahead of times in providing cancer care.
Running a hospital has its own challenges. How do you manage to keep going despite the challenges?
I am wearing both the hats of a surgeon and an entrepreneur at the same time. With majority of our patients depending upon government aided schemes for their cancer care it is a tightrope to provide quality cancer care in the meagre financial resources.
On one side technology and scientific advances have made model treatment options available for individual patients but the schemes deprive both the doctor and patient to have the benefit.
The growing demand of trained doctors and paramedical staff along with fast-changing technology it is a challenge to upgrade while taking care of the balance sheet.
What do you believe has been the biggest source of motivation in your daily life?
The biggest source of inspiration has been the smile on my patients face. I always say that I am in the business of bringing back smiles.
We are happy to have a committed empathetic team of 750+ pair of hands who work tirelessly to reduce the pain and suffering of our patients and their caregivers.
Considering the cancer scenario in our country where the majority of our patients present in advanced stages of cancer, we often are fighting a lost battle. Even after failures to save the patient we do receive gratitude from their family members for our honest efforts – that is a motivation to keep trying to save another life on next bed.
In your opinion, what are the keys to success?
Honesty and continuing education with empathy are the most important deciding factors to bring well-being to mankind. For me success is curing a patient, reducing his suffering.
Financial return should be a byproduct of our professional efforts. So, by this definition, I have been successful majority of time but I do accept failures with humility and an open mind to repeat it in future.
What advice would you give students and young professionals who want to have a successful career?
Medicine is not a quick take with phenomenal returns. There is no destination which has to be pre-decided. Let us enjoy the journey as it unfolds.
Until and unless you are passionate and empathetic you are likely to find this profession long, boring, tiring, reward-less. For me, it has been a destined journey where I play my role daily.
Last but not least, what are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life/at work?
I have been honest with my patients and my family. My expectations have been realistic. Hence, I never regret being a doctor.
Maybe that is the reason I have been able to inspire my children to take up medicine as a career by their own choice.
BrilliantRead is committed to bringing stories from the startup ecosystem, stories that reshape our perspective, add value to our community and be a constant source of motivation not just for our community but also for the whole ecosystem of entrepreneurs and aspiring individuals.
Note: If you have a similar story to share with our audience and would like to be featured on our online magazine, then please write to us at [email protected], we will review your story and extend an invitation to feature if it is worth publishing.
