Leaders

A woman's health is not limited to her physical state but encompasses her whole well-being. Working conditions, diet, and psychological stress all play a role in determining this. Many would say that women's health is paramount in today's world. We all know that if women are healthy, their families and communities will be too. Women's health problems have far-reaching effects on the well-being of their families and communities. Acknowledging this, Dr. Premitha Damodaran is attempting to raise public consciousness about the significance of women's health and its unforeseen consequences.

Menopause and postmenopausal osteoporosis are areas of expertise for Dr. Premitha Damodaran, a prominent gynaecologist. Premitha is the Menopause Subdivision Chair for the Obstetrical and Gynaecology Society of Malaysia from 2017 to 2023. For the years 2022-2024, she will serve as the Deputy President of the College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Academy of Medicine, Malaysia. Furthermore, Premitha is leading the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Menopause in Malaysia, as its Chairperson.

In an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur magazine, Dr. Premitha Damodaran shared her perspective on women's healthcare and how she is raising awareness in this regard.

What are some important features of your expertise as a healthcare practitioner?

Focusing on women's health is important to me, and I believe that women must realize how much their health affects the well-being of their loved ones. A woman is the heart of her family, and I believe it to be one of the primary messages that I have been trying to convey to the world over the years. She is the caretaker, putting herself last almost always. Without comprehending that if she doesn't function or if there's an issue with her, everything around her genuinely crumbles, her health is the most vital. So, I believe that throughout the years, what I truly want women to do and what I have been preaching is the notion that women should always care after themselves first, like putting on one's seatbelts before assisting others on a plane. My research interests are mostly in the areas of hormones and stress, both of which have been shown to have significant detrimental effects on women's health and how their hormones and other bodily systems function.

Tell us about the most critical challenges you face as a healthcare practitioner. What steps do you take to overcome the roadblocks that you face?

There have been many challenges along my path, and I attribute most of them to my preference for a hands-on experience than theoretical study. One of the hardest things I had to face was accepting the possibility of failure, and I'm forthright about it because I believe that this is valuable knowledge for younger physicians to have. I failed my last specialization exam, much to everyone's astonishment, and I had to come to terms with the truth that failure is a part of life. Even more so for me, since it was such a huge undertaking. After that, I saw a significant shift in my level of empathy for my patients. In retrospect, being able to relate to defeat has been an invaluable asset.

"Focusing on women's health is important to me, and i believe that women must realize how much their health affects the well-being of their loved ones"

However, what got me interested in women's health was the opportunity to focus on my area of expertise, menopause. As well as educating females on self-care throughout menopause, a period that will account for one-third of their lives. And here I was, a young doctor attempting to make my case amid many more experienced professionals. Once again, a guiding figure appeared in my life at the perfect time to steer me in the proper route. And I've made it a point to focus on the here and now, asking myself how I might improve the situation. That, I believe, has also had a crucial role in shaping my experience over the last few years.

In your opinion what are some of the most significant milestones that you have achieved throughout your professional journey?

When I consider the previous few years, I realize that I have accomplished what I have always wanted to do: I have contributed to the development of the clinical practice guideline on the treatment of menopause in our nation.

In addition, throughout my three years with COVID, I was the team leader of a fantastic group of people. Moreover, disseminating fundamental norms was a difficult endeavour. As I reflect on the process that led to the publication of these guidelines, I realize that much blood, sweat, and tears were shed to ensure that they would be widely accepted by the worldwide community and the Ministry of Health. Ensuring thatour rules were clear and concise so that they could be utilized by any medical institution or individual, regardless of their background in medicine, was a major focus throughout this process.

Drawing from your experience as a business leader, what would your advice be to young women and girls who also aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

The journey will not be simple. There is a lot that many of us can accomplish, but I believe we need to narrow our emphasis. Plus, I believe that everyone is capable of working towards their individual, modest objectives first, and then gauging the results from there. It requires a great deal of time, effort, and patience, there's no escaping that fact. You need to take a step back and consider the big picture while still making progress toward your objective.

Premitha Damodaran, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Pantai Hospital

Dr. Premitha Damodaran has over twenty years of expertise as an obstetrician and a gynaecologist. She completed her MBBS from Maulana Azad Medical College and her M.Med at the University of Malaya. Her field of practice includes the treatment of symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, polycystic ovaries, hormonal imbalance, menopause and post-menopausal osteoporosis.