AN INTERVIEW WITH DR SHOBHA NAIDU

Every person needs to find their purpose and then work diligently with dedication and passion to find  success. -Dr Shobha Naidu

Maulana Wahiduddin Khan emphasized the significant role parents play in shaping their children’s character and considered home as a nurturing environment. Further, supportive and understanding members of family play a crucial role in the positive contribution towards the society by an individual.

Islam instills love and respect for all, with serving humanity bringing both divine pleasure and spiritual growth. The Prophet of Islam said that you should be merciful to people on earth and God on high will be merciful to you. Thus, Islam links personal salvation to serving others, rewarding those who alleviate human suffering.

Elderly people contribute to society through their wisdom, experience, and maturity, guiding the younger generation in various aspects of life. They can lead fulfilling lives by sharing their experiences through writing, mentoring, or community service. As people age, their mature thinking offers unique perspectives that benefit society. Senior citizens’ contributions extend beyond direct actions; even those who feel unable to actively contribute can be valuable assets by being ‘no-problem’ individuals, allowing society to progress smoothly.

Dr. Shobha Naidu, MBBS, MD, with several other qualifications, certificate courses, diplomas and membership of many associations of Physicians, her parents, and her NGO exemplify this wisdom. In addition to her profession, she is a sincere seeker of spirituality and wisdom and thinks deeply about life and its challenges. We present a few aspects of her life as a doctor in the following pages.

What is the role of your parents in your education and upbringing?

I am deeply inspired by my parents towards what I do. They taught me all the good things that I follow, and with their blessings, I am who I am today. I am forever grateful to them in this lifetime.

The humbleness, gratitude, grounding, and openness of mind to work hard, maintain discipline, and the aim to reach the sky and be as wide as the horizon to reach out to as many people as we can support are all values that are instilled in me and have shaped me into the person I am today.

Please tell us about your professional life.

I am an Internal Medicine Physician and also worked as an Intensivist, taking care of ICU patients. I used to manage critical cases and multiple domain cases, including Cardiac, Neuro, Respiratory, Renal, Hepatic, and Diabetes. My OPD was full of elderly patients with multiple co-morbidities, such as fever, cough, and routine infections. They consulted me, thinking I had the expertise to manage their underlying problems and current issues.

So, in 2015, I completed a PG Diploma in Geriatric Medicine to better understand and treat this group of patients. India was in a budding stage of geriatric population then. Earlier, people’s lifespans used to be around 60 to 65 years, but now they are approximately 70 years, and many are living 80 to 90 years.

Please provide a brief description of your NGO?

I am fortunate to run an NGO named Dr Shobha Naidu Geriatric Healthcare Foundation. The need to learn about this group of elderly patients was rising. The geriatric group is interesting and different from the rest of the population because they are retired, no longer earning an active income, and depend on children or other family members for financial and emotional support. They would have become single if one spouse had passed away, and since nuclear families often lead to living alone, many of them experience insecurity, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. Therefore, not only their physical health but also their mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, as well as their financial well-being, need to be taken care of.

How does your Foundation support this age group?

In a corporate setting, the less needy members could not be supported, so that’s when the Foundation was initiated with a few members who shared a similar service mindset. The Foundation takes care of the geriatric population’s physical health under the name of AGEYOUNG GERIATRIC CLINIC. Above 80 years, and people of all age groups below the poverty line who cannot afford it are offered free consultations. Investigations are discounted at less than 50%, and medicines are given free to the needy, while others pay at a discounted price. The rest of their well-being, including mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, is taken care of by “BUTTERFLY: The Age Young Wellness Centre”.

This is a free, once-a-week programme that runs for 3 to 4 hours. It includes registration, a welcome drink, prayer, memory games, a guest lecture, sharing sessions, crosswords, puzzles, and a topic-based impromptu talk. There’s also yoga, Scripture reading, some games,  and national anthem. The event ends with tea.

The programme is open to people aged 60 to 80 and it is free.

Also I believe that the  elderly carry a lifetime of experience and wisdom. When we give them a space to share—through discussions, games, or storytelling—it not only uplifts them but also teaches the young how to live meaningfully. Programmes at our wellness centre are designed to encourage exactly this kind of sharing.

Old age is a very special phase of life. It comes with its own set of challenges—physical, emotional, social, and even financial. Many elderly people live alone, feel insecure, or go through anxiety and depression. That’s why I believe their care must be holistic—not just medical, but also mental, emotional, social, and spiritual.

How did you balance your family life and work as a doctor?

I’m blessed to have had supportive parents who helped me with the children. My children are also very mature and understand the need for patient care, even at times when I’m working around the clock.

I did have to make sacrifices from my family life due to work, but my priority is work since it’s the healthcare industry.

There have been times when I couldn’t go out with my children or missed movie shows. I usually join them late or leave in between the show, or I don’t turn up altogether. I also attend family occasions as a representative, but I miss them if it gets too late. I’ve missed holiday vacations because of a known patient in the ICU or on a ventilator who needs constant monitoring and medication adjustments.

However, I believe that a very understanding family is a definite requirement for good work in the healthcare industry. Without it, I can only deliver a modest level of care.

But if a doctor is dedicated to providing 24-hour patient care, hardworking, and conscientious, they can only do so with the support of a good family. I’m so grateful to the Almighty for blessing me with such a thoughtful family and children.

What does service to people mean to you personally?

Service is the core of what I do. For me, it’s not just about treating patients but about truly supporting them. That’s why I started the Foundation—to serve the elderly with care, dignity, and affordability. Service must come from passion and compassion—only then is it real.

What is your message to the younger generation?

Try to spend time with yourself, dream, and understand what interests you. Do only that because passion for your work is the only requirement that makes you willing to go above and beyond to achieve your dreams.

No amount of money, name, status, degrees, family background, or best college or university can make you deliver if you don’t have the passion or the burning fire in your belly to fulfil your dreams.

Whatever the field of work that interests you, take it up with passion, dedication, and hard work. In time, you will see yourself shining among the stars. It takes time, but you will definitely “be the shining star.”