On National Doctors’ Day, medics share how art heals them, too

Dr Rajendra Sonawane strikes a chord at a gathering. Pics/By Special Arrangement

As a teenager, Dr Rajendra Sonawane was in awe of his family physician because of the respect he got from his patients. It left a lasting impression on the Mumbai-based doctor's mind and sparked his subsequent attraction to the white coat.

He shared, "Having grown up in Pune in the early 80s, classic rock and blues music influenced me profoundly. Luckily, I had a great peer group of musicians in medical school and had the opportunity to perform in concerts and rock competitions in the country. That's when I had a very rewarding association with the well-known rock band Agnee in its formative years."

Dr Aneeta Bajaj holds the Indian flag at the Berlin Marathon

Striking a chord over the years, he fulfilled his dream of becoming a surgeon and performing surgeries, but had to take a long break from music to fulfil his professional career. However, music kept calling him back. So, a few years ago, he picked up the guitar again, and the city-based doctor, consultant, GI & surgical oncology at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, said it transformed his life.

"Listening to and learning music keeps me going, and the results motivate me to achieve something new every day. After intense surgeries and a stressful day, I turn to the strings to unwind. I often perform at gatherings alongside colleagues," Dr Sonawane said.

Music to his profession
Dr Sonawane prefers to stay away from social media just to be able to spend more time with the guitar and learn more complex music. "Learning and playing an instrument engages multiple areas of the brain, improving coordination, focus, and even decision-making skills vital to a surgeon. There's something called the ‘Mozart Effect,' where listening to or learning classical music can actually sharpen brain function. It has practical benefits like better reflexes, clearer thinking, and improved multitasking that I carry into the operating theatre."

Dr Amit Sharma, spine surgeon, Saifee Hospital

Every year, National Doctors' Day is observed on July 1 to honour Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, a reputed physician who also served as chief minister of West Bengal, as he wore many hats. The Mumbai-based doctor, who is one among many health experts pursuing more than their career, said, "Music doesn't just help us cope - it heals us too. It brings happiness, reduces stress, and reminds us that we're human first, doctors second. More importantly, music reminds me of who I am beyond my white coat. It brings balance, creativity, and peace into a profession that can sometimes be all-consuming."

Bringing out the sax

The theme for 2025, ‘Behind the Mask: Who Heals the Healers?' highlights the mental and emotional challenges faced by doctors on the job, and Dr Sonawane has found that healing in music. He isn't the only one, because even Dr Amit Sharma, a spine surgeon at city-based Saifee Hospital, picked up an instrument after falling in love with the sound while listening to Kenny G's songs.

He shared, "Alongside my medical journey, I've developed a lifelong love for music - especially the saxophone. I've been playing it for four to five years now. Music allows me to express emotions. It's like meditation. It reminds me that healing is not only physical but also emotional and spiritual."

Being in a profession that is challenging, the Mumbai-based doctor manages both worlds with discipline and intention. "Finding time for passion is difficult with my busy and hectic schedule. Still, I carve out time for music practice, and I treat my passion with the same respect I give to my profession. Both callings feed each other. One keeps my hands steady; the other, my heart steady," said the doctor, who spends about 30-45 minutes a day, about two to three times a week.

The extra mile
On the other hand, it was running that attracted Dr Aneeta Bajaj, a radiologist with Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai. Born in a family of health experts, Dr Bajaj didn't think twice about becoming a doctor after seeing how thankful patients were to her father, who had a clinic in Jabalpur.

She explained, "Watching my father at work touched a chord in my heart, and I decided that I wanted to be a doctor and help people in whatever way I could. So now, as a radiologist, I put my skills to work in trying to understand what's happening medically inside the bodies of our patients, so that the cure can be proceeded with more precision."

In an attempt to lose postpartum weight after the delivery of her two children, the Mumbaikar was bitten by the fitness bug. "I tried a lot of fitness regimes, including power yoga and Pilates. However, running is something that became my calling."

"It started with jogging, then a pinkathon 10-km run around 13-14 years ago, progressed to a half marathon, then a full marathon, and a few ultra-marathons. Now, I have started on a journey to do major world marathons. I did the Berlin Marathon in September 2024, and I'm now on the road to the Sydney Marathon."

Dr Bajaj has had many roadblocks, a couple of surgeries, a back injury, land ong-term antibiotics, but running is what kept her going. "Once a runner, always a runner," she proudly says.