Though technologies in the healthcare sector have grown by leaps and bounds, there are still huge gaps that need to be addressed in terms of limited access to technology in India and other developing regions, particularly in rural areas, due to cost constraints as well as a lack of training in cutting edge equipment !
Pritha Sharma, our next pathbreaker, Medical Director at Alcon, is responsible for all clinical content for Alcon’s training programs in ophthalmology, that helps train medical professionals and surgeons to adopt the latest techniques and technology.
Pritha talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about transitioning from clinical practice in the field of Ophthalmology (MBBS/MD) to a role that empowers clinicians to make an impact through better clinical outcomes.
For students, non-clinical roles enable you to stay at the forefront of technological developments in the field, play a role in enhancing patient care, and improve treatment methodologies at a broader scale !
Pritha, tell us what were your growing up years like?
I grew up in Mumbai (then Bombay) where my father worked as a software engineer. Throughout his career, he held various positions before retiring as the Vice President of LTI (then L&T Infotech).
I did most of my schooling from Bombay Scottish School. I developed a keen interest in Biology early on and decided that I would like to pursue my career in medicine.
What did you do for your graduation/ post-graduation?
I then went ahead to do my MBBS and while interning at a municipal hospital in Kalwa, Thane. I couldn’t help but notice the glaring inadequacies in India’s medical infrastructure. This realization sparked a deep-seated desire within me to make a meaningful impact by focusing on infrastructure improvement for the medical community.
However, I felt somewhat lost at this point. Seeking guidance from senior professionals or fellow doctors proved challenging, as the majority preferred to stay entrenched in clinical practice. I then decided to go with the flow and pursued my post-graduation in Ophthalmology (MD) at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai.
Can you talk about some of the influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and uncommon career?
Even though I secured the gold medal in Ophthalmology, I was always clear that I did not want to continue with clinical practice.
However, the specific route to contribute to medical infrastructure remained unclear. Extensive research led me to various possibilities, including avenues like Hospital Administration, Hospital Management, Drug Regulatory Affairs, Medical Advisory roles, and Medical Reviewer positions.
Among these, Hospital Management captivated my interest, and I aspired to undertake this journey at none other than the esteemed John Hopkins, a beacon in medical education. Determined, I began preparations for the GMAT exam, as this program considered GMAT/GRE scores for admissions. Taking proactive steps, I also sought an interview with the Admissions Committee at John Hopkins, revealing that my experience, academic achievements, and GMAT score positioned me favorably for acceptance into the program.
In anticipation and to keep my options open, I planned to apply to a few other business schools. However, these alternatives were conventional MBAs without specialization in hospital management
Can you tell us about your career path?
I found myself back in the research grind, exploring what doors a regular MBA could open for me as a doctor. That’s when I stumbled upon this exciting role at Alcon. Now, Alcon has always been a big name in the ophthalmology medical devices scene, and I got to know about their amazing products and machines back when I was pursuing my ophthalmology post-graduation – AcrySof Intraocular lenses, Centurion Phacoemulsification equipment, etc.
The position that grabbed my attention was for the role of Assistant Program Director in their Phaco Development Program. As I dug into the details, my interest piqued, and without second thoughts, I applied for the role. The Phaco Development Program worked towards training ophthalmologists in the “Phacoemulsification” technique for cataract surgery – an advanced technique with better post-op results compared to manual surgeries.
Recognizing the limited access to this technology in India and other developing regions, particularly in rural areas, due to both cost constraints and a lack of training among ophthalmologists, the initiative aimed to bridge this gap. It sought to collaborate with “centers of excellence” and create a robust curriculum to enable doctors to integrate this advanced technology into their practice.
To my delight, Alcon responded with an interview invitation, and after navigating through three rigorous rounds, I secured the role. Opting for this opportunity over pursuing a management degree turned out to be the best decision of my career!
Each day in this role was deeply gratifying, knowing that I was contributing to a greater cause.
In my role, I led the digital learning initiative and played a key role in developing content and surgical videos for ophthalmologists worldwide. Additionally, I orchestrated our international Cybersymposium, assembling top ophthalmologists on the panel to address challenges faced by emerging surgeons globally. Since its inception, this initiative has become a flagship program within the Phaco Development Program.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Honestly, the transition was surprisingly smooth for me. However, I believe the most significant hurdle for any doctor lies in adapting to the corporate way of working. In the medical field, we’re accustomed to being the primary decision-makers for our patients, making crucial calls that can be life-saving. In contrast, decisions in the corporate world often necessitate a structured process of alignments and approvals. Getting accustomed to this approach requires some time and effort. For me, thankfully, my superiors were very supportive and gave me adequate time and support that I needed to adapt to the corporate culture.
How did you get your 1st break?
As I mentioned earlier, my journey with Alcon was serendipitous. I chanced upon this opportunity at Alcon, a highly esteemed firm in the ophthalmology medical devices industry, during my post-graduation in ophthalmology when I was introduced to their products and machines. That led to my journey with them.
Can you tell us about your current role?
I have advanced to my present position as the Medical Director for Asia and the Middle East. In this capacity, I take charge of all clinical content for our training programs, continually striving to enhance and broaden our current initiatives. To stay closely connected to the practical aspects, I regularly travel across the country to our various Centers of Excellence (COEs), engaging with Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) and program participants. This hands-on approach allows me to grasp the challenges at the grassroots level and work effectively towards addressing them.
One of the most gratifying aspects of my role is that I remain deeply involved in my specialized field—ophthalmology. I am dedicated to ensuring that people receive the best possible vision, aligning with the fundamental goal of ophthalmologists.
How does your work benefit society?
Cataract is the leading cause of treatable blindness in India. Another important cause of impaired vision is complications that result from cataract surgery.
By helping train ophthalmologists to adopt the latest techniques and technology in ophthalmology, not only do we reduce their surgical time (doctors can perform more surgeries per hour, eventually treating more patients), we also help them reduce the complications that may result from manual cataract surgery.
Now, a crucial question arises: Could I have made a more substantial impact by continuing my practice as an ophthalmologist? While I might have been able to treat approximately 100 patients in a month, my current role involves supporting a team that empowers over 1700 surgeons to collectively perform 40,000-50,000 surgeries every month. The scale of impact and the potential to enhance accessibility to eye care on such a broad scale underscore the significance of this broader approach to addressing vision-related challenges.
Any memorable work?
One of the most memorable projects I worked on was to build a page for our program on the Alcon Experience Academy website. This website contains a plethora of educational content for ophthalmologists across the globe. It was particularly rewarding because this would put our program and its content on the world map. Ophthalmologists across the globe would be able to access content that we have created. To maintain a web page requires a lot of technical expertise, something very new for a doctor. It was a completely new learning for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Your advice to students?
For students grappling with uncertainty about their future paths, here’s my advice: It’s perfectly normal not to have a clear vision of where you want to be in the next 10 years; the clarity will come as you navigate your journey. Don’t shy away from unconventional paths—if that’s what you’re passionate about, pursue it wholeheartedly. Embrace challenges, and don’t hesitate to seek guidance from seniors, college admission committees, or any other relevant sources. Gathering more information can significantly contribute to making informed decisions that align with your aspirations.
Future plans?
My future plans revolve around continuing my work in the ophthalmic space with a strong emphasis on integrating cutting-edge technology. I believe that the intersection of ophthalmology and technology holds tremendous potential for innovation and advancement, and I am eager to contribute to this exciting future. By staying at the forefront of technological developments in the field, I aim to play a role in enhancing patient care, improving treatment methodologies, and driving positive outcomes in ophthalmic healthcare.