(This article is sponsored by Attorney Trupti Patel)

Most people in and around the New England Indian Community know Dr Purnima Sangal. At her organization, ‘A Woman’s Place’, she has earned this reputation after 15 years’ dedication to the promotion of women’s health. A big believer in Community health education, she has spoken at workshops and seminars on how women in the community can stay healthy. “Doing Practice and seeing patients is one thing”, she says and continues in a passionate tone “But trying to give this knowledge that you have accumulated to a different bunch of people in a different set up or environment is another. The little things that people can do to make changes in their lives will go a long way. If we don’t make time for our health now, rest assured, we will make time for our illness later”.

Dr Purnima trained in medicine at King George’s Medical College, Lucknow, India. She did her postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynecology in Hahnemann University Hospital and the Staten Island University Hospital and General Surgery from Interfaith Medical Center, New York.  

While having her private practice in Merrimack Valley, Dr Purnima is affiliated to Saints Memorial Medical Center and Lowell General Hospital where she served as chief of the Obstetrics and Gynecology.   As a specialist in Gynecology, she offers new expertise in Laser Laparoscopy & Hysteroscopy, Pelvic pain and endometriosis but also offers basic health services.

In her long career span she has had many memorable moments. With patience and compassion, Dr Purnima gives her full attention to each woman.''I enjoy talking to women and sharing experiences with them,'' she says. ''We talk about life issues and emotional responses, not just about physical symptoms. There are moments of frustration but these are more about the rules and regulations of the system. But mostly, the fact that you make a diagnosis and help cure a patient is very rewarding.”
 
Dr Purnima's life in medicine is slightly different than her colleagues. “My practice is too big and I am involved in other things. I am the President of one of the districts at the Massachusetts Medical Society which deals with Patient advocacy, Physician advocacy at both the state and national level. For instance, we are lobbying for health care reform with the legislators at both Beacon Hill and Capitol Hill.  In a way, I am involved in the ‘politics of medicine’.” Starting January 1, 2005,  Dr Sangal is going to be deeply involved in the Executive Committee at Lowell General Hospital and will be the President-Elect of Indian Medical Association of New England (IMANE).  She is the founder of a charitable foundation ‘Health is Wealth’ operating in India and has provided medical care to over 20000 people in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh.  She says, “Serving women as an OB/GYN is an immense privilege but I no more need the excitement and stress obstetrics provides.”

“My emotional hobby is to help as many people as possible but at the end of a long day, I rather be at the tennis courts. I love tennis, and any form of physical exercise. When you are playing, your most compelling thought at that moment is to put the ball on the other side. This is most relaxing because the mind is so focused on doing that.” She continues, “Now I am also writing and producing a medical TV show with Aap Ka Manoranjan and that takes a lot of time. Many women in our community are susceptible to High blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. These are preventable & treatable, and cannot be ignored. I think Television and Media can be a terrific influence to bring about change.”

With all this however, her cheery disposition is forever optimistic “ With increased awareness and more advances in medicine like the MRI of the breast to detect cancer, new techniques in pap smear,  vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, we can hope for better women healthcare in the future.”

About the controversial issue of using embryonic Stem cell research, she is all in favor of it. “The ethical question will always remain” she says, “but it is good for the advancement of Science.”

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