Women's Health Wednesday: Dr. Shyla Shrinath Shares Her Journey as a Physician and Key Health Tips for All Women
“I must say that being a doctor is who I am and I'm never happier than when I'm caring for patients and solving some medical mystery or helping family and friends sort out their medical issues. Despite its many challenges, medicine is truly a calling and I'm so very happy to have this skill.” Today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Shyla Shrinath, is a Boston-based physician, currently working at Atrius Health. For this week’s Women’s Health Wednesday, Shyla reflects on her personal professional journey, from growing up in Bangalore to what inspired her to become a doctor. She also shares key tips on how to manage your health, and her advice to budding women doctors. Enjoy!
1. Tell us your story. You are a physician at Atrius Health in Boston. What inspired your interest in healthcare? How did you know you wanted to be a doctor?
I grew up in Bangalore India, an only child but in a large joint family always surrounded by people. My dads brother was a doctor and was the most revered man in our family and I adored him so I wanted to emulate him. My mother too wanted to be a doctor when she was younger but was not allowed to go to medical school since she came from a very traditional family. I think subconsciously I wanted to fulfill her desires.
I was also a very dreamy child with my nose always buried in books and idealistic by nature and the thought of helping people always appealed to me. Biology as a subject always interested me and since I got tracked into the sciences once I finished 10th grade (in India one chooses the track after 10th grade and enters medical school after 12th grade) and got the marks required to get into medical school it all sort of fell into place.
I don't think I really thought much about being a doctor in the true sense of the word until I came to the US after I got married and started my residency. My residency program at St Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester MA was a very nurturing program and I truly fell in love with medicine during my years there. this despite the fact that I had a 2 month old child when I started Internship and barely saw him or slept much through that first year. Fortunately, I had a very supportive husband and my parents came from India to help me out for the first few months.
2. What do you like most about being a primary care physician? What is your advice to young women who want to become PCP doctors?
I love being a PCP because my interest in medicine is broad and internal medicine speaks to this. I also love listening to people tell me their stories and it gives me great satisfaction to try and help my patients by either figuring out what may be going on physically or otherwise with them or just listening to them and being there for them in their times of need. it's also nice to see my patients come back to see me year after year and see how much progress they have made in their lives. Though being a PCP may have its challenges, I can genuinely say I am never bored because I am on my feet and thinking through problems and solving (or trying to solve) them multiple times in a day. Medicine is as much an art as science and I love the art of practicing medicine as much as I love the science of it. As I've grown older, I have come to realize I am a nerd who truly loves all things medical. I will happily read books and articles about medicine and follow my fellow physicians on med twitter with great interest.
3. Some of your interest areas include endocrinology and women's health to name a few. What is your top tip to women for staying healthy and managing their health?
My top tips for women regarding their health is to really set aside some time for themselves on a regular basis. This is particularly so for women who are mothers because motherhood can be all consuming and in the process of being a good mother, partner, employee women forget to take care of themselves. they should make sure they set aside time to exercise and also do fun activities whether with family or friends or by themselves just to relax and de stress.
I always tell my patients (men and women) that it's important to be healthy and not focus on weight alone. I really think that being able to go for a brisk walk or run up a flight of steps without getting out of breath is far more important than getting to an ideal weight that you've set for yourself. The latter can feel impossible while the former is not.
Sleep is very important and is the thing we seem to sacrifice the most. Eating a plant forward diet and not depriving oneself but eating in moderation can help with staying healthy and fit. and in these days of remote work I also tell my pts that they need to move around as much as possible and use a standing desk for work rather than sit all day.
4. The life of a doctor is certainly busy. Outside of work, what do you do for fun? How do you find your work-life balance?
I had both my children while in residency, my son before I started internship and my daughter at the end of my 3rd year as I finished my MD program. I have always worked part time (usually 4 days a week) and I try to not let my day off be my day to just do chores. I read a lot and belong to several book clubs so this is a great outlet. I also love music, especially retro bollywood and anytime I'm stressed I just play my old hindi songs and they are an instant pick me up. prior to covid , I volunteered at a health clinic at Rosie's Place and Women's Lunch Place in Boston and I hope to start that up again very soon.
In the last several years I also have learnt the importance of taking a lunch break while at work. I no longer eat at my desk and I always step out and walk at least 20 to 30 mins during my break. I love spending time with family and friends and make sure I keep in touch with everyone here and In india on a regular basis. Lastly, I love traveling and my husband and I travel to India twice a year to see our elderly fathers (88 and 90 years) and we always travel within India twice a year.
I must say that being a doctor is who I am and I'm never happier than when I'm caring for patients and solving some medical mystery or helping family and friends sort out their medical issues. Despite its many challenges, medicine is truly a calling and I'm so very happy to have this skill.
Thank you Shyla for sharing your inspiring story with us! We are excited to have you in our global women’s network!
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