It is an uphill task for them to juggle between treating the patients and protecting their loved ones from the virus 

By AZREEN HANI / Pic courtesy of Pantai Hospital KL

IF ANYTHING the pandemic has taught us in the past few years is the resiliency and strength of our medical workers — the frontliners — in the pandemic battle. 

Being a medical worker leaves one with no choice but to be the first line of defence in protecting the society from getting the virus. 

It is particularly harder for female personnel with dependents — be it elderly parents, spouses or children — for they have in one hand, hundreds of patients to treat and in another, the loved ones they want to keep safe and protected from the virus. 

Dr Shalini C Sree Dharan, an endocrinologist from Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, described the challenging period for her as a medical practitioner where being tired is definitely not an excuse for any mistakes. 

Speaking to The Malaysian Reserve (TMR) in a special interview for the International Women’s Day, Dr Shalini shared her experiences and aspirations for women especially in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), and medical field. 

TMR: How do you describe the past two years under the pandemic?

Dr Shalini: It has been challenging, especially the first year when the pandemic started, we had no idea how to treat this disease. The fact that this new virus could kill made many of us fearful. When the rest were in lockdown, working from home, the frontliners had no choice but to come to work and face the threat of the virus daily. Months passed with us being hopeful that we could get over this phase. We moved from fear to faith. 

The second year, especially July till September 2021, we saw how deadly the virus can be with the Delta variant as we saw the number of deaths rise exponentially. The age of patients succumbing to this virus became younger. 

TMR: Do you find being a woman frontliner during the pandemic challenging?

Dr Shalini: Yes, definitely. As some of us have small children and elderly parents living with us, there was the fear of bringing back the virus and infecting them. 

Some of my friends who see patients possibly infected with the virus on a regular basis decided to send their children to their grandparents for fear of the little ones being infected. 

Treating Covid patients too is challenging. Especially the nurses who spent the most time with the patients and nursing them. They are truly the unsung hero here! 

TMR: What’s your biggest challenge so far?

Dr Shalini: Balancing the needs of the family especially the children, being a good homemaker as well as juggling with the work and demands as a medical practitioner. 

Doctors are expected to not make mistakes, to do no harm, protect the patient’s life and to get them better. Fatigue and tiredness cannot be an excuse, thus, the importance of maintaining a good health and quality of life. 

TMR: What is your most memorable experience during this Covid battle?

Dr Shalini: As frontliners and healthcare workers, we were the only people allowed to have physical contact with the patients and we saw the pain of the patients fearing for their lives and wishing to have their loved ones by their side, but it is not possible. 

I lost some patients who I have been treating for diabetes to Covid. Watching them fight the disease and battling the complications, and then succumbed was very trying for me emotionally, especially some of these patients have battled many other life-threatening conditions before. I also lost one patient who was the sole breadwinner of the family. 

TMR: How do you manage your time between career and personal matters?

Dr Shalini: I try to use every opportunity to spend as much time I could with my family once I am finished with work. At times, I utilise my lunch break to run errands and buy groceries. 

TMR: Do you think being a woman gives you more disadvantages in the medical field?

Dr Shalini: Why, not really. I feel we have achieved gender equality when it comes to medical practice in my field. However, certain sub-speciality especially surgical based would demand more time of the women, and at times they need to be given more grace as some juggles with the demands of being a mother, a daughter or a wife. 

TMR: In your opinion, how do we break the bias for women in STEM and medical field?

Dr Shalini: I think we need to accept the fact that women have come a long way to proving they are capable of doing and performing as good as men in most fields in STEM. My sister-in-law is an engineer and she is excellent at it. I have female friends who are excel- lent surgeons, scientists, doctors and researchers. 

Though the great names are usually males, we have many unsung heroes who are women who should be highlighted as well. 

TMR: How do we encourage more women to pursue this field and retain their talent?

Dr Shalini: By giving them more opportunity through hiring them, do not favour a gender more in terms of promotions and give them the credit for hard work when credit is due. Shift from the stigma that women cannot be leaders. We have many (female leaders) now as proof. 

TMR: Moving forward, what are your hopes and aspirations?

Dr Shalini: I hope to see women better appreciated, respected and loved because behind every great man is a great woman, and I know every great woman too needs a great supportive man or a loved one supporting them.