Dr. Rucha Kaushik shares insights from 20 years in surgery, discussing breast cancer treatment advances, mentorship, and the evolving role of women in surgery.
Dr Rucha Kaushik
Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in surgery?
A. Very early in my medical journey, I felt drawn to a field where skill, precision, and compassion could come together to truly change a patient’s life. Surgery offered that unique opportunity - the ability to intervene at critical moments and help restore health, hope, and sometimes even life itself.
Over the years, I was fortunate to train under exceptional mentors who taught me that surgical excellence is not achieved overnight. It is the result of discipline, humility, and thousands of hours of practice dedicated to perfecting one’s craft.
As I look back on more than two decades in surgery, I feel deeply grateful for the trust my patients have placed in me. Being part of their most vulnerable moments and helping them through complex, high-risk procedures has been both a privilege and a responsibility I hold close to my heart.
Q. Looking back on 20 years in this field, how do you define success?
A. For me, success is the trust my patients place in me and the confidence with which they leave my clinic. If I can ease their fears, help them make informed decisions, and improve their quality of life, that is true success. The most rewarding moments are when patients treated many years ago return healthy and smiling, living their lives with confidence.
Q. Surgery has traditionally been a male-dominated field. What challenges did you face starting out as a woman?
A. Surgery is still largely male dominated, but I was fortunate to train under inspiring mentors, including a woman surgeon in a leadership role and later a remarkable teacher in breast surgery who guided me not only in surgical skills but also in resilience and professionalism.
The journey has certainly had its challenges-from my postgraduate days to the present-but those experiences have only made me stronger and more determined. Consistent hard work and performance have been the key to earning trust and establishing myself in the field.
Q. What would be your advice for young surgeons today
A. Discipline, empathy and listening ability are three equally important skills along with technical precision. I constantly try to emphasize on these points while mentoring resident doctors.
I specially try to encourage and help women residents to believe in their capabilities and not to self-doubt or limit their aspirations. I hope that my firsthand experience of this journey can inspire and motivate them.
Q. How has surgical treatment for breast cancer changed over the last 20 years?
A. Breast cancer surgery has moved from radical procedures to safer and more conservative approaches. Today, many women with early breast cancer can undergo surgery without losing the breast, while still achieving excellent cancer outcomes.
With modern oncoplastic techniques, we can remove the tumour while preserving the natural shape of the breast. These advances also allow for shorter hospital stays, sometimes even day-care surgery, helping women recover faster and feel more confident about their body image after treatment.
“True success in medicine is not just curing a disease-it is removing fear, restoring confidence, and seeing a patient walk out with hope.”
- Dr. Rucha Kaushik
Link :- https://www.hindujahospital.com/doctors/rucha-kaushik/
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