See yourself as more

Story of role-model Dr. Lakshmipradha

Dr Lakshmipradha said, 'When I was 3, my parents found out, I will not grow in height beyond a point.

My father worked in a bank. Every 2-3 years, he would get transferred.

I would struggle with admissions.

Others saw my height. They were not so supportive.

Parents taught me to explore. My mother would urge me to give everything my best. My father would hold my hand.

I learnt art. I trained as a singer.

In all this, I met many stares that saw only differences.

It hurt.

When I began to accept myself - I began to see myself as more than my body.

A singer. A painter.

My health required me to be a regular at hospitals and I came to admire doctors early on.

That is who I wanted to become, I decided.

After 12th, I got a seat at an engineering college in Chennai. But no medical luck.

A day before I was to leave Kochi, I sat alone in a darkened room. They let me be, for a few hours.

Then my father came over to hold my hand.

I asked him, 'Am I really required to do engineering?' -- I had already begun to see myself as a doctor.

A quick parental conference later, they agreed to let me take a gap year and prepare for a medical admission.

Chennai cancelled.

That night, I slept well. Next 1 year was full of preparation. I got through to a medical seat.

In counselling at a dental college, they discouraged me. 'You will not fit into the profession!'

One of the doctors came out and stood beside me.

He said, 'Medical board has cleared you. They can not deny you a seat. Go for it! We will figure out the options and alternatives.'

So, I did. I turned into a doctor in 2003.

After internship, I worked as a dentist for some time and then as a lecturer in a dental college.

I visited the UK in 2006. I saw the National Health System (NHS) deploying IT. The promise of doing more with less fascinated me.

By then, my brother was in the IT profession. We talked about how tech can influence healthcare. He encouraged me to explore more.

I saw myself as a technology enabler for healthcare. I decided to switch directions.

Soon enough, I found a domain trainer role. I helped software engineers interpret healthcare concepts and workflows.

I moved to Hyderabad. I saw myself saving lives, applying Tech to healthcare.

Not only in India, but for our US customers too.

I did that for more than 10 years - up to 2018.

Then my mother fell sick.

I used the time to be with her. She passed away in 2019.

Covid also came.

In all this time, I wrote 2 books. One of it is a novel set to a medical background. I saw myself as someone who had things to share.

The artist in me found expression in founding a platform for artists. I became an enabler.

At Lasya - we did interactive demonstrations with artists of different art forms.

I have since then gone back to a product and program management role for an American healthcare customer.

I also give motivational talks to share my message and enable others to see themselves as more.

Just like I do too.