Why did I switch my career?
Everyone is curious to know why I gave up a lucrative profession like Gynecology and moved to IT?
Here is why...
Short version
Technology was my hobby even while I was learning medicine. By the time i received the post graduate degree in Gynecology, I was a well established free lance programmer. I just continued that work. My wife and parents allowed me to pursue my interests. That is why I am here. I did various type of work across these 15 years. But what interests me most is maximizing the utilization of technology.
There is so much money being spent in creating technology, but hardly any effort is being put in making effective usage of it. It is a pity ... or an opportunity!
Detailed version
I will be frank with you. There was no vision or mission or great ambition which led to this shift. I was simply interested in technical things ... one of which was computers. I started studying medicine in 1981. There were no PCs at that time.
After graduating in 1986 as a doctor, we have to undergo a 1 year training. I studied my medicine at TNMC (Nair hospital) at Bombay. During this period, we used to get lot of free time. During that time I heard that one professor (Dr. Nadkarni - my guru and mentor) is conducting courses on using Computers. I went to join the course. But it had already begun. So he asked me to wait for the next batch. I waited. But there were no takers for the next batch. I was the only one.
So Dr. Nadkarni said I cant conduct formal coaching for just one person. But you have waited so long and you seem to be interested in this. So you just take this equipment and learn by yourself. I will tell you some initial things and then it is up to you.
Thus I got my first computer. No it was not a PC. It was a gaming machine - Sinclair Spectrum with 16k RAM. (I still have it). It required a tape recorder to load software and games. That is how I started learning. All by myself with guidance from my guru.
Sinclair was used primarily for playing games. But I found programming more interesting. I started writing programs to manage patients more efficiently in our out patient department. Using the software I could manage to finish patients in my unit faster than everyone else. Although the patients were not educated they felt the computer provides better cure. So they started flocking my out patient department. In spite of higher patient load, we could manage them faster than others.
This attracted the attention of my seniors. Then I started conducting classes for my seniors on how to use computers for more efficient patient management. They liked it.
Our hospital was managed by Municipal Corporation of Bombay. They had old punch card systems earlier. But then the PC era started and they procured some PCs (2 floppy drives only). By that time, my work was noticed by our Dean (Dr. Pradnya Pai) and she provided me special access to this coveted latest PC.
After finishing my work as a gynecologist, I would travel by train to the datacenter at midnight, work overnight, take the first train back to the hospital. It was hectic but I was learning and enjoying the experience.
Soon I was promoted to a senior position and posted in a suburban hospital. I married Nandini (my batchmate) around that time. She funded my first computer and taperecorder. Now I had more time and better infrastructure.
My outpatient management software was noticed by a private company who had developed their own version of software. They wanted me to conduct a pilot for their software and also suggest improvements. As a part of that I got my full fledged PC XT with printer completely free of cost. That was the real start for my programming career.
Soon I started to develop software for Municipal Corporation, my seniors and many NGOs. The first version of birth and death registration software was written by me. By that time I had moved from Basic to FoxPro.
When I finished my post-graduation in Gynecology, I was seriously thinking of continuing this programming business for some more time. So I teamed up with Nandini's brother Kumar and started our small business in my hostel room. By that time Nandini was the only earning member. I had finished my medical posts. I was supposed to start my own medical practice.
It is only because Nandini and parents allowed me to follow my whim that I am what I am today. It is extremely difficult for parents / wife to accept that I am giving up a lucrative medical career. In spite of being in IT field, I am NOT a dropout!
I was a very popular and skilled Gynecologist and everyone was sure that I would have a highly successful private practice.
But finally I continued the IT career. There was no instant success. Lot of struggle. Lots of ups and downs (more downs than ups!). But somehow I learnt various aspects of IT and tried to be a good businessman.
The medical curriculum does not teach us anything about business. So there were many mistakes done and eventually corrected.
It is now 15 years since I am into IT. There is lot more to be done and achieved.
I want people in the world to do their work most efficiently using available technology effectively. It is a mammoth task. It drives me to learn and teach everyday...