I never wanted to be a doctor
Dr Ashok Seth is the Chief of Invasive and Interventional
Cardiology, Escorts Heart Institute and Research Centre
The Pioneer
Tuesday, September 23, 2003
Your feelings on being awarded the Padma Shri . . .
I really felt good. It was an acknowledgment of my
relentless efforts to put angioplasty on the Indian
medical map. But what I cherish more than the Padma Shri
was the joy on my parents' face when they got the news.
It was as if they had redeemed themselves in their own
eyes.
Was cardiology your personal choice of study?
Well, this is what you call fate. I never wanted to be a
doctor. In fact, I cleared my medical entrance exam in
the third attempt. At that time, gastroenterology was my
choice for specialisation. But cardiology happened and as
my destiny was predecided, I got recognised because of
this.
On angioplasty gaining acceptance with doctors as well as
the patients worldwide . . .
The number of patients being treated by angioplasty has
increased from around 8,00,000 to 14,00,000 last year in
US and the number of surgery cases have reduced. This
shows the success rate of the form of treatment.
Can you tell us about being invited to the TCT 2003
conference?
I received the invitation to participate in the live
session of the prestigious TCT 2003 exactly five days
after I received Padma Shri. God was showering a lot of
blessings on me. This conference is an annual affair and
is like the Mecca for all interventional cardiologists of
the world. During the live sessions, specialists perform
complex angioplasty techniques and showcase their skills
live to the specialists in large numbers at the venue via
satellites from their native lands. The expert panel
sitting in Washington question my moves and I answer them
directly while performing.
So, which achievement do you cherish more - the Padma
Shri or this invitation?
Both recognitions are very special for me. The Padma Shri
is a national and social recognition of my efforts. Being
invited to perform live and teach the West is an
international recognition of my talent.
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