First Female Sports Doctor in South India, Dr.Ramya Gnanapragasam.
June 25, 2020 2020-06-26 7:43First Female Sports Doctor in South India, Dr.Ramya Gnanapragasam.
First Female Sports Doctor in South India, Dr.Ramya Gnanapragasam.
Keerti Have you ever wanted to follow your passion when many were against it?
Here is the story of Dr.Ramya which will inspire all women to follow their dreams.
When I was 6 years old, I ran my first running race. My P.E.T teacher made the boys and girls run together in heats. And in my heat, I was the only girl among all other boys and I won that race. Probably because I used to compete with older cousins at home frequently. The spotlight I got as a kid, encouraged me to participate in every sports day to win more. Then, when I entered junior school, I started participating outside of school. Through hard work & perseverance, I became a state-level track athlete.
Being an athlete myself I always had the love for sports from my childhood & I knew that being physically active keeps you both mentally and physically healthy. Sports brings a sense of discipline in one’s life. After my MBBS When I came to know there was a specialty that advocates health through physical activity and which helps athletes scientifically to achieve their goals I knew this was the field for me.
After UG, when I wanted to study Sports Medicine, everyone opposed it. My family, some of my friends and my senior doctor too. But it was understandable. Since it was still a very new & upcoming field, they were only worried about me & my future in the field. But I stood my ground saying “if not for sports medicine I wouldn’t want to pursue any other field.” My father was not very convinced at that time. But now he is very proud of me being a sports physician.
It always about the leap of faith, trust and hope.
Dr. Ramya
Honestly, I had faith in the love I had for sports. I knew it in my conscience that sports medicine is the right fit for me. So, follow the voice in your head as I did.
Sports Medicine is a versatile field. It can be applied to elite athletes, young athletes who are just starting out, the weekend warriors, or anyone who just wants to stay physically active. Exercise prescription for chronic illness like Diabetes, Hypertension is a major part of sports medicine. Sports Medicine can help someone who has come out from cardiac surgery to resume his/her sports (eg, running, tennis, or golf games) with clearance from the cardiologist. Sports Medicine improves the quality of life for these sports lovers.
Living a full life is important as much staying alive & it is important that I help people achieve it through sports medicine.
Individually I have worked with athletes from varied sports during my post-graduation. My first team after college, I was an on-field physician was Under 15 Chennaiyin FC Football team. I have also worked with rowing athletes, cricketers, badminton players. I have some experience as an on-field physician for ultra-marathoners running at high altitude. Currently, I am working with the Indian Wheelchair basketball team.
As a sports physician, I diagnose the problem and give the athlete a management plan. I am happy when the athlete trusts me and adheres to the plan. I am even happier and satisfied when the athlete comes back saying that he has improved. End of the day the well-being of the athlete is what matters to me. So if he/she gets back on to the field injury-free, I consider it a victory.
Dr.Ramya accompanied the Indian Wheelchair Basketball team for Asia Oceania Zone Championships and Tokyo 2020 Paralympics qualifiers to be held at Pattaya, Thailand. She is the second woman to have done M.D. in sports medicine in India.
The self-defense art I am practicing is Krav Maga. It’s an Israelian self-defense system. I was motivated to learn self-defense the day I had an encounter with a stranger who tried to harass me physically. Thankfully, I fled the scene.
Being prepared and assertive is half the battle won. And I have started sharing the knowledge with young girls at school. Noone can escape saying “Not Me”, it doesn’t exist. It could happen to any girl or woman regardless of age and socioeconomic status.
Dr.Ramya
Dr. Ramya’s experience will serve as a motivation and inspiration to many who want to follow their dreams. Wishing her to become one of the world’s best sports physician and be part of the Indian Olympics committee.
Spead awareness as Sports Medicine is a field not known to many.
Dr.Ramya, The doctor who bought passion and adventure into her career 🙂
☺ Stay Strong & Mighty ☺
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