Behind every successful medical career lies a story of resilience and partnership. In conversation with Urban Melange, Dr. Seema Wadhwa, MD, Director – Gynaecology at Max Superspeciality Hospital, Mohali, and Dr. Manuj Wadhwa, Chairman & Executive Director of ELITE Orthopaedics and ELITE Medicity reflect on shared journeys, evolving careers, and the quiet balance between healing others and nurturing a family.
Q. Both of you lead demanding medical careers. How do you balance professional commitment with personal life?
Dr. Seema:
For us, balance was never about perfectly dividing our time; it was about the willpower to integrate two very demanding worlds. When you are a surgeon, the profession isn’t just a job—it’s a calling that doesn’t pause for personal timelines.
Our journey, spanning from Manipal to the UK and finally Chandigarh, demanded that we be adaptable. There were years when my husband was training in the USA and I was handling emergencies here alone.
I often recall nights where I had to take my sleeping toddlers with me in the ambulance to the hospital, settle them in the duty room, perform a life-saving surgery, and bring them home before dawn. They never knew, but that was my reality—operating with a surgeon’s focus while my heart remained a mother’s. That hustle paid off. Today, seeing our children follow in our footsteps as budding doctors is my greatest validation.
It proves that you don’t have to sacrifice your ambition to build a home; you just need the courage to carry both.
Dr. Manuj:
Balance has never been about splitting my hours equally; it’s about being 100% present. When I am with patients, my focus is absolute. When I am with my family, that time is protected and meaningful. Honestly, my family is what keeps me grounded and strengthens my ability to lead and heal.
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