(In this special edition of Movers and Shakers in Medicine, we present a  story  with a difference, an interesting story of a Physician couple who trained in UK &USA and then gave up very  successful careers to move back to India . It is the story of Dr. Geeta Pandya, a simple girl with big dreams who went to a Gujarati medium school and then through sheer hard work, went on to get admission to one of the finest Indian medical colleges. A gynecological endocrinologist, she is actively involved in clinical work and is passionate about health education for women. Her husband, Dr. Narendra Pandya,is a trail blazer in the truest sense. A pioneer in plastic surgery he trained with some of the best plastic surgeons in the world and also decided to practice in India. While his impressive patient list includes famous movie stars like Raj Kapoor and the President of India ,he has also continued to serve the needy affected with diseases like leprosy.)

Geeta Pandya  MBBS,  SEM.  D.OBS.RCOG, MRCOG, FICS, F.R.C.O.G is a Consultant Gynec-Endocrinologist at Jaslok Hospital & Breach Candy Hospital, has served as a gynecological endocrinologist in Bombay for over 40 years. She is a speaker who is much in demand and author of several   publications on breast cancer and family planning.

Dr. Narendra Pandya MBBS, FRCS, FICS, SEM, Diplomate, Am. Board of Plastic Surgery, American Board certified Plastic Surgeon has served as Cosmetic and Plastic Surgeon in multiple hospitals in Bombay for the last 40 years, He was Professor and Head of Department at the Medical college associated with  B.Y.L  Nair hospital.

Dr.Naredra Pandya spent his much of his youth in Tanzania.” I was born in Mehmadabad, Gujrat, India and was 6 months old when my parents moved to British East Africa. My parents settled down in Dar-es-Sallam, the then British Colony of Tanganyika, where I spent my child hood. I had my school education in the British system in Tanzania. During that time, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the common nation of Tanzania. This was in 1949. I was at that time the first student from Tanzania to have passed the School Leaving Certificate and the London Matriculation Examinations. I was offered two scholarships, one by the British Government and the other by the Government of India. I was keen on being a doctor and has chose India. I arrived in India soon after and joined the prestigious Seth G. S. Medical College and the K.E.M. Hospital. I graduated with M.B.B.S., in 1960”

He decided to go to UK to get advanced training in plastic surgery.  “Reconstructive plastic surgery was in its infancy at that stage and I knew nothing about it then. During my training in the K.E.M.Hospital, my surgical mentor was Dr. Charles J.T.Pinto, who had just returned from the U.S.A., after training as a Plastic Surgeon.  He was a wonderful human being and a master craftsman. He was my inspiration to become a plastic surgeon. I was so honored that after Dr. Pinto’s death, Mrs. Pinto, brought her daughter to me for a cosmetic surgery procedure. I performed the surgery" 

 Later he came to the US for further training and graduated from the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He later secured an appointment as assistant professor of plastic surgery at Northwestern University. He was also assistant director of the Sumner Koch Burn Centre in Chicago. Despite his professional success in the US, Dr. Pandya decided to return to India . His desire to raise his children in India was his prime motivation. “We wanted our daughters to grow up in Indian surroundings and   in Indian culture. So we decided to return to India.”

Life in India in those days was not easy. “ I was away from India for over 11 years.  To start with we had no telephone.  After using all our contacts and trying for many months ultimately we managed to get one. We got a car, a small fiat car, on a priority basis after paying US $ 3000.00 cash in advance. That was the beginning of our life in India”

Added to infrastructure issues, professional challenges for cosmetic surgery were also present.  â€œPlastic surgery was coming up but cosmetic surgery was unknown. Having been trained in the US, I was a very good plastic surgeon. My seniors laughed at me and people ridiculed me when I talked about it. They said India was too poor to afford cosmetic surgery. However I did not give up  and today almost every young plastic surgeon who comes out of training wants to be a cosmetic surgeon. In the past few years, the Indian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery awarded me with two recognitions: Pioneer in Cosmetic Surgery in India and A Lifetime Achievement Award in Cosmetic Surgery.”

Dr. Pandya’s passion for Plastic surgery is driven by the great benefits it brings to people. “Those involved in accidents can be given an acceptable face. Those with hand injuries can return to their original occupations after reconstructive surgery. Those disfigured after tragic burn accidents can return to society. Birth defects can be removed. Reconstructive surgery is a great boon to Cancer survivors” says Dr. Pandya. “Cosmetic surgery is also useful for people to improve their appearance and boost up their egos.”

Dr. Pandya a recipient of many leading awards. He has been honorary surgeon to six governors of Maharashtra and two Indian Presidents. He is the only plastic surgeon who has been decorated by the President of India with a distinguished rank of "Honorary Surgeon Commodore".

He is deeply committed to helping people suffering from Leprosy. ”With the help of reconstructive surgery, people with Leprosy can live life with dignity and honor”

He loves all the finer things of life. “I love beautiful things and having worked on beautiful and powerful people all my life. Beauty always fascinates me. I have operated on more than fifty Bollywood film stars. If I ever wrote my autobiography and named them in it, I am sure it will top the sales charts, at least in India, “ says Dr. Pandya. 

Geeta Pandya (maiden name Javeri) was born and raised in Mumbai in a large joint family. She went to Gujarati medium school. She did well in school and was admitted to the prestigious Seth G.S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital. She met Dr. Pandya in Medical College. She was then selected by the Indian Medical Association to spend a year in Canada to do Internship in St. Catherine's Hospital in Ontario. Later she went to UK and received MRCOG (Membership of Royal college of Obstetrics and Gynecology). In 1967 she went to Chicago and did a Fellowship in Gynecological Endocrinology at Michel Reese Hospital.

She was actively involved in the Indian Chapter of the Royal College of OB/GYN . She has held several posts in the organization and recently served as the All India Chairman of RCOG Indian section. She is very committed to guiding young physicians and also helps them get jobs and residency in UK.

Medical education is of great interest to her.  She has been conducting Practical Gynec- Endocrine courses since 1998 in Mumbai as well as in various parts of the country.

She has written booklets on family planning methods,which has been used by the family planning department of the Government of India and translated into all Indian languages. At the "World Population" meeting in Cairo this book was considered as the best family planning method material. She has also written a practical gynecological endocrinologist guide for young doctors who are staring practice and for older doctors who have very little time to read about latest developments in this field.

Most recently she wrote a Book—“Know Your BREAST” For Breast Cancer Awareness.  

The couple met on their second day in college .He remembers being stuck by her 'wonderful mannerisms and the way she conducted herself so well reflecting her fine upbringing'. Geeta's first impression was that of his 'beautiful eyes' .They married soon after finishing medical college. They have two daughters.  “Sonal lives in Boston. She is a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Lahey Clinic in Boston and her Husband is Gastro-Enterologist at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. They have two children a son and a daughter. Our second daughter Neesha studied gemology in Germany and got diploma in gemology, also got diploma in India and in UK. She and her husband lived in London for ten years and now back in India and live in Pune. They have 2 sons. She makes jewelry. Her husband manages their spray cans manufacturing factory” 

They are quite a power couple in Mumbai and they love to socialize and are involved in a variety of social work projects. She loves the movie ‘Gandhi’ and  â€˜Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam.’. Her favorite stars are  Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Nargis  and Kamini Kaushal He loved the recent movie Barfi. While they both love home cooked  vegetarian Indian food  they also love going to restaurants and spending time with friends .Geeta still has the same best friend, Katie from her college days .
Sadly her close friend Leena passed away few years ago.They love to travel.One of their favorite travel destinations is London. They love theirsome of the best times are with grandchildren .Geeta relived one of her favorite memories of watching Niagra Falls at midnight  with family. While working at St Catherine at Ontaria in Canada in her younger days, she used to love to go there every full moon night and watch it at midnight. Dr Narendra Pandya has a huge passion for photography and has a impressive collection of memories in pictures.

Her advice to all is inspiring and yet simple. ''Help  everyone as much as possible, encourage everyone to focus on their health and wish well for friends and people and “Life is beautiful. Make most of it by sharing and enjoying.” 

Dr Narendra Pandya's  message is also timeless in its simplicity ''Be disciplined, always follow through and give your best to whatever you decide in life ''

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