Healing Hands, Happy Heart -
Discovering the heart of Healthway Medical GPs
At Healthway Medical, our dedicated General Practitioners go the extra mile to not just diagnose ailments, but to truly comprehend the lifestyles and needs of the patients they serve. Our mission? To revolutionise the GP-patient dynamic. We’re not just closing the gap; we’re building bridges. By fostering deeper, more meaningful connections with our residents, our GPs aim to create a healthcare experience that’s not just about treatments, but about understanding and empowerment.
Our Healing Hands, Happy Hearts series offers you a glimpse into the person beyond being a dedicated Healthway Medical GP, their journey, perspectives and their aspirations for the people they serve.
With eight years of medical experience, Dr Niranjana Mahalingam brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep commitment to community-level patient care. In the following article, Dr Jana offers a compelling look into the life, experiences, and insights of a dedicated family physician. She discusses her transition to community-level medicine and shares inspiring stories from her patient interactions, painting a vivid picture of a compassionate and well-rounded healthcare professional.
Dr Jana’s emphasis on work-life balance, personal health, and continuous learning reflects her holistic approach to both her career and personal life. Her focus on patient empowerment and sexual health awareness further underscores her forward-thinking mindset and commitment to making a meaningful impact in her field. Curious to know more about Dr Jana’s inspiring journey and insights? Read the full article to discover her thoughts on patient care, personal well-being, and the importance of human connection in healthcare!
Hi Dr Jana, it’s wonderful to have you for this series! To begin, perhaps you could tell us about your journey into medicine and what inspired you to pursue this path?
Hello everyone! I am Dr Jana. I have been practising for 8 years and have completed Internal Medicine training. I decided to move to Family/General Practice to be more involved in community-level patient care.
From a young age, whenever I asked myself what I wanted to become, I could never imagine anything more fulfilling than a career in Medicine. There’s something profoundly fulfilling about supporting people at their most vulnerable moments. It’s not just a career choice for me; it’s a calling that resonates deep within my soul.
As medical professionals, we face a myriad of emotions at work – some days are filled with joy, satisfaction and can get genuinely life-changing, but on the flip side, other days may be quite sombre. But I don’t think I would be happy doing anything else apart from practising Medicine.
Transitioning to community-level medicine with Family/General Practice has been a rewarding experience. I truly appreciate the opportunity to witness how my patients are on a regular day (as compared to seeing acutely ill patients in the hospital). It’s amazing to share their emotional journeys over the years—celebrating their milestones and achievements and supporting them during challenging times. I particularly enjoy hearing their stories & seeing photos of travel they share with me!
You've mentioned how fulfilling it has been to transition into Family/General Practice and how you enjoy being involved in your patients' lives on a deeper level. Could you share with us some of the inspirations in your life and the lessons you've learned along the way?
Life’s greatest inspirations and lessons often come from the people closest to us. I find myself constantly admiring (& learning) and being inspired by:
- the thirst for knowledge and intelligence from my father and brother;
- how to be astute and practical from my mother and husband;
- and how to find little joys in life and be grateful for small things from my nephew and soon from my soon-to-be-born son.
My experiences with patients have been humbling too. Having worked in departments like Oncology and the ICU, I have seen how major illnesses affect people and their families. These experiences have highlighted to me the immense importance of kindness and compassion. Witnessing my patients’ resilience in facing their illnesses with positivity and getting through it with strength serves as a daily dose of inspiration for me!
I remember vividly an unforgettable dinner I had as a first-year Doctor and Houseman. A WWII Indian-British veteran was admitted and was in his final days. He was on a feeding tube for supplemental feeds as he had little appetite. But we spoke about food a lot and discovered that we both love Idly (Indian rice cakes)! Just then, a new Indian stall opened and sold it, so I invited him for dinner with me (by his bedside) to try these Idlies. We had a lovely time. A few days later, his condition unfortunately deteriorated, and he passed on. But I still hold close the memory of how happy he was during our dinner.
There was also another unforgettable incident a few years ago, which happened on my birthday. I helped organise the solemnisation of a patient’s daughter in his room in the ICU. After seeking a lot of permissions, we managed to make it happen. And although my patient was on a breathing tube, I still remember the smile he had during the ceremony.
These moments always remind me that being a healthcare professional transcends medical knowledge and skills. It’s about human connection, empathy, and making a difference in people’s lives, even in their most challenging moments.
Your stories about your patients are incredibly moving. How do you balance the emotional weight of your work with your personal well-being and family time?
After completing my post-graduate qualifications, I made it a point to focus more on my mental and physical health. I also took the initiative to spend more time with my family and friends. Time seems to be flying by, especially with the years lost to COVID-19. Besides travelling, my husband and I discovered a new interest in hiking. Connecting with nature is a great way to unwind and rejuvenate the mind.
Recently, with my pregnancy, I have also found a lot of zen in Crochet! It’s nice to experience some stillness after a long day at the clinic.
It's lovely to learn more about how you unwind! From your perspective as a healthcare professional, what advice would you give others about prioritising their health?
I feel that most of us don’t give our health as much priority as we give others or our work. Investing time and effort in our health pays off greatly as it prolongs our ability to care for others and perform at work. This shouldn’t be taken lightly!
Set aside 20 to 30 minutes for me-time daily.
This time can be used to exercise, meditate, perform health monitoring activities (like checking your sugar or blood pressure), or reflect and wind down. This should be a non-negotiable! No one or no other task should eat into YOUR 20-30 minutes every day. It’s a small but invaluable investment you can do for yourself.
Put in the effort to find healthier alternatives
for the things you love.
I love food, and salads alone don’t cut it for me. I also feel you don’t have to totally compromise taste for health! Plenty of healthy alternatives are available now that, albeit slightly more expensive, keep your tummy and heart happy. Spending a little for your health mitigates healthcare costs in the long run. Fitnesspal is a fantastic app for tracking calories and staying on course—it’s user-friendly, even for Asian cuisine.
Get a hobby and make it your friend.
Committing to a hobby is a great way to calm your mind. Get something that keeps you moving or calms you down – whichever you need more. And it’s totally alright for your hobbies to change, as long as they’re benefitting you.
Thank you for those practical advice! Looking ahead, are there any specific areas or initiatives you're particularly passionate about or interested in pursuing in your medical career?
I have two areas of interest, which are;
1) patient empowerment in chronic disease management and
2) raising awareness of sexual health.
With initiatives like HealthierSG, we are educating and empowering people to take more responsibility for their health. I strongly believe in such initiatives and aspire to incorporate this approach during clinic visits as part of chronic disease management. I think that patients, especially our elderly, can be equipped with the knowledge to monitor their chronic conditions and even make medication adjustments on their own (with guidance as required) suited to their lifestyles.
Sexual health, on the other hand, remains a rather stigmatised topic in our society. Yet, educating and empowering our population with essential information prevents half the diseases before they arise. Increasing awareness about regular screening can mitigate the burden of transmissible infections. I’d like to start the conversation and have open discussions with my patients to ensure they are well-informed and protected.
Before we conclude, Dr Jana, what message would you like to leave with your patients about maintaining their well-being?
Both our happiness and our health are in our hands. Keep your body and mind happy, and never be shy to ask any silly questions about your health!
Dr Niranjana Mahalingam is a General Practitioner at Healthway Medical (Yishun Ave 11).
She provides medical care and treatment to adults and children for acute and chronic conditions. She believes strongly in providing evidence-based medicine alongside delivering compassionate and empathetic care.
