When not pursuing their profession, a breed of doctors prefer to wear different hats to keep themselves fit and centered. The HEALTH PIONEER tries to catch up with them every week.

AIIMS Doctor Shuttles From OPD To Badminton Court

Dr Naval Kishore Vikram, a leading Endocrinologist and Professor at the Department of Medicine of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, takes time out from his busy professional schedules to cater to his passion for playing badminton.

He says it keeps him “calm, clear and focused.” It is incredible to see how Dr Vikram finds time for playing badminton given his hectic schedule amidst patients while also teaching students.

It all depends on perspective, he reasons. “I make sure to play every alternate day. Unlike in many sports like cricket, you don’t need many players in badminton and, in AIIMS we are lucky to have an indoor court too.”

The doctor enlists the benefits of playing badminton. It is a total body workout, improves your mental wellbeing, heart health, reduces health risks and so many other ailments, the doctor tells you, asserting that he  never misses out on his practice on the badminton court.

Talking about how sports boost one's health, the senior doctor gave an instance of a Parkinson’s patient, a DU professor Pramesh Ratnakar, who had been managing well with his neurodegenerative disease because of his passion for several games like squash,  badminton and tennis.

Dr Vikram happened to play badminton with Ratnakar at an event last month to mark the Parkinson’s Day  at  AIIMS here. “Ratnakar gave a good fight despite being afflicted with the neuro-degenerative disease that primarily affects movement due to the loss of specific brain cells. He has coped well with his condition due to his engagement in various games.

“I advise my patients to take up any physical activity or sports to stay in good stead. There is no substitute to good health,” says Dr Vikram, who has well-known authority on metabolic disorders with special emphasis on insulin resistance and obesity.

Father of two children, Dr Vikram is a first generation doctor in his family. His wife, Dr Sujata Sharma, a professor at the Department of Biophysics of the AIIMS, also dons multiple hats: she's a writer and a dancer.

(Medicos may write to us at healthp100@gmail.com)