“My father, an educationist, never let the gender bias creep into our family. He believed that education is the key to a better future. Being the youngest one, I had the best guidance and my father and elder brother played a crucial role in planning my curriculum so that I could focus solely on science subjects to become a Doctor.
I made it into the M.K.C.G medical college and few days post my admission, my father passed away. I was shattered and started having second thoughts about continuing my MBBS, but, my siblings counselled me by saying that our father was waiting for me to clear my entrance and get admission and then left for his heavenly abode with satisfaction. I became a gynecologist and got married in the last year of my PG. My husband(who has been my classmate since MBBS) and I applied for the armed forces. We got into it,he joined as a surgeon and I as a gynecologist. I felt overwhelmed to have fulfilled my father’s dream.
In the Army, abilities like leadership, patriotism, selfless-service, fitness were inculcated in us through rigorous training. We got the opportunity to move to different parts of the country to discharge our duties. I joined as a Captain and was posted in the eastern side for four years. I was also posted in Firozpur as the Commanding Officer. After retiring as a Colonel, I joined the ECHS for five years.
After my husband retired in 2012, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, the founder of KIIT, offered my husband to join as medical superintendent in KIMS. As my son lives in Mumbai and I had to live alone in Gurugram, I decided to shift with my husband and joined KIMS as the Chief Casualty Medical Officer. During this pandemic, my team and I are working tirelessly to meet all ends and it’s becoming quite difficult to contain this virus, but we have to abide by the norms and act sensibly to fight it.
I take immense pride in being the daughter of Mr.S.N. Patnaik and would like to thank elder brother who took all the pain from funding my education to getting me married. I also feel blessed to have got such a co-operative husband and till date, I have always liked attending calls, addressing myself as "Mrs. Patnaik"."-Dr. Lalita Patnaik.
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