DR . WHO Aneeta Bhatia , MD , MBA , FFARCS , FASE by KATHRYN VANCE
At a recent GLMS strategic planning meeting with 20 / Twenty Strategic Consultants , a question was posed . If given the chance , whom would you invite , dead or alive , to a dinner ?
Dr . Aneeta Bhatia reflected , then answered , “ I would like to have the honor and pleasure of hosting my departed parents . I ’ d like an opportunity to hug them close and express the love and gratitude I feel for them every day . They were my role models , they loved me and influenced me . The taught me to value education , humility and to help people in need .”
Dr . Bhatia would also like to have the privilege of inviting “ Guru Nanak ” – the founder of Sikhism in 1469 . The Sikh faith , to which Dr . Bhatia belongs has three main principles : “ courage to support justice and equality , honest living , and generous giving . “ The valor , bravery and generosity of Sikhs is known worldwide as they sacrificed their lives to protect others from religious injustices ,” she said . She would like to thank Guru Nanak for the spiritual values and fortitude .
Dr . Bhatia ’ s parents were hard workers who instilled a strong work ethic in their children . 70 years ago , during the traumatic separation of Pakistan and India , her father and his family entered India as refugees . The tale of horror and violence during the partition of India after 300 years of British colonization is known the world over . Her father did not allow PTSD or bitterness from witnessing the atrocities destroy him . Instead , he took on the responsibility of
educating himself and his siblings , bringing dignity and quality to their lives . He became a physician and surgeon . She recalls , “ He had a gentle tenderness and the gift of healing . I was always fascinated .”
Her mother was a professor of economics and raised the family . Both parents were extremely well-educated , and they made sure that their children understood the value of continuous learning , education and ambition .
Dr . Bhatia knew early on that medicine was in her future . At age six she played doctor to her dolls . She remembers one night as a teenager , when her father was working late , as being a turning point that solidified her decision .
“ We lived close to the hospital . I went to check on what was keeping Dad so late at work . I walked into the ER to find him , the ‘ on-call ’ surgeon , performing cut downs on delicate tissues on a young child who was badly burnt , in shock and moaning in pain . Through several established IV cut downs , he was resuscitating the hypovolemic shock and giving her IV medications for pain . In those days , there were no central line kits . I saw him as a physician savior . Frozen , I stared from behind the curtains . That scene is still blueprinted in my mind . I knew then that this was what I wanted to do . Treat and save lives !”
Years later , in 1976 , when she was selected with the high honor of being one of two President ’ s Girl Guides ( the international version of Girl Scouts with honors ) from the entire country of India to represent her country at the Women in Action program in Washington , D . C ., she was felicitated and marveled at the expe-
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