Quick-fire the Brainiac: Dr. Nirmal Surya

by Dr. Rajas Deshpande

RD:

It’s a pleasure to interview a stalwart like you, Dr. Nirmal Surya! Besides being the IAN president, you have a glamorous Neurology career behind you. You have proven time and again that barriers need to be broken for expansion to be possible. This is not an interview of a common man, I want to stir the Hornet’s nest, because I know you are straightforward and inclined to take Neuroscience to better heights in India. I believe you are not a man meant for easy questions and I truly respect that.

NS:

Thank You Rajas! I know the questions will be difficult, but we medics are never scared of anything difficult, are we?

RD:

What difficulties in your early career as a neurology resident and junior consultant do you think could have been avoided?

NS:

Being the first doctor from my entire family, I had no godfather to guide me for competitive admissions at various levels. Preferences to candidates on regional basis was another small hurdle to overcome. When I joined as a PG under Prof. Dr. B. S. Singhal, there was no senior resident as I was the first DNB candidate. There were no insights about how to approach studies and everything that a resident is supposed to know. I am not scared of any hard work, because I think ultimately that’s what makes you what you are. I think that today we are able to avoid this by having adequate backup and guidance for all students.

RD:

Do you think delayed talent recognition and suppression of talented juniors exists and how do you suggest we all deal with this?

NS:

This is all about perception, and I feel that younger neurologists have far more opportunities today than what we had during our days. I think that if a young neurologist is talented, there is less difficulty for him/her today to be recognised as the best in the region.

RD:

Excessive commercialisation of procedures and surgical interventions is becoming a new trend where neurologists are merely seen as feeders for surgical specialties, all other medical achievements are sort of considered “Mundane”. Now I personally feel that Neurophysicians do contribute to this notion. What is your opinion about this?

NS:

In general, a significant number of private hospitals have come up, and those are often driven by protocols towards over investigation and sometimes procedures. Some commercialisation is inevitable in such circumstances. We must also accept that we now have far more number of experts who are well trained in neuro-intervention and also neurosurgery, so naturally those procedures have increased.

RD:

Most neurologists call themselves specialists in stroke, epilepsy, movement disorders or multiple sclerosis. What is your opinion about this trend?

NS:

Obviously we are following the trend in the west. Now there are many fellowships available in India and abroad for young neurologists to pursue in these as well as other subspecialties. I think less than twenty percent neurologists today go for fellowships. Pioneers like Dr. Mohit Bhatt and the Epilepsy team at AIIMS are idols for most younger neurologists to pursue subspecialty fellowships. This ultimately will benefit many more patients in future.

RD:

What fields other than the above ‘cliche’ subspecialties do you think must develop in Indian Neuroscience?

NS:

I am very passionate about Neuro-rehabilitation, and this needs to be developed further in India. A lot many more neurologists need to be involved in this. The other two specialties I think are going to be quite important in future will be Neurogenetics and Neuroimmunology. These three subspecialties, in my opinion will change the way we all assess and manage neurological patients in future.

RD:

What are your passions besides Neurology?

NS:

I am happiest with my passion for Neurology. I do like music a lot, and Jagjit Singh is my hot-favourite of all time. His songs soothe me. I am also passionate about cricket, I have played at the University level, but you know how studies need more attention in medicine, so I had to be satisfied with watching matches. I do follow cricket very seriously, and see whichever matches my schedule allows me. I also am fond of travelling. I want to go to Char Dham, Amaranth, Masarovar, and of-course Switzerland.

RD:

What in your opinion is the peak of career in Neuroscience?

NS:

I think of my teacher Dr. Singhal - since 1984, he has had the same practice till recently. There’s no peak for a man of such caliber. It is upto the neurologist when and how much he /she should practice, when they should start to reduce and slow down. I have seen that medical teachers become less passionate about their subject after their retirement, maybe partly because the interactions with students are a motivation for that passion too.

RD:

Thank you Dr. Nirmal Surya. True to your reputation, you have kept things positive and simple while addressing these difficult issues. I think everyone can learn something from what you said. It was indeed a pleasure to interact with you in this capacity.

NS:

I think of my teacher Dr. Singhal - since 1984, he has had the same practice till recently. There’s no peak for a man of such caliber. It is upto the neurologist when and how much he /she should practice, when they should start to reduce and slow down. I have seen that medical teachers become less passionate about their subject after their retirement, maybe partly because the interactions with students are a motivation for that passion too.

RD:

Thank you Dr. Nirmal Surya. True to your reputation, you have kept things positive and simple while addressing these difficult issues. I think everyone can learn something from what you said. It was indeed a pleasure to interact with you in this capacity.