| Dr Hemant Wakankar |
The first thing that’s noticeable about him is his smile. Yet, there is a story of hard work and fulfillment that needs to be told when it comes to eminent joint replacement surgeon, Dr Hemant Wakankar. His ability to dedicate himself completely in the service of care-giving while making time for his family and friends as well, makes him an exemplary figure who knows how to balance his personal and professional life very efficiently.
As a child, Dr Wakankar, was always found fixing and mending household gadgets. His love for machines and mechanics made his family think that he would one day become an engineer. But, Dr Wakankar had a different plan; he chose to follow his father’s footsteps and become a doctor. Today, he doesn’t get the time to fix up machines. However, this earnest, Joint replacement surgeon now mends the bones of several senior citizens and arthritic patients by giving them a new life. However, his fascination with gadgets continue and he admits that he can’t do without his laptop.
Being a doctor
On the professional front, Dr Wakankar’s journey as a doctor began in the 1990s. Recalling the initial days of his professional life, he says, “When I first saw an orthopaedic operation, I instantly knew that this was my calling. Later on, I was fascinated by the relatively new sub-speciality of joint replacement surgery and decided to make it my chosen field. I could see the transformation that joint replacement surgery brings to crippled arthritic patients’ life.” During those days, India did not offer much scope for training in joint replacement so he decided to go to UK for further training after his MS Orthopaedics. Reminiscing about the time he spent in London, Dr Wakankar says, “Going to UK was an advantage. I could get all the qualifications that UK had to offer and the icing on the cake was the Gold medal in M Ch Orthopaedics examination conducted by University of Liverpool.” Of the seven years in UK, he spent one year in revision joint replacement surgery fellowship in UK which proved to be a great experience. “My last year in London was as an Orthopaedic Consultant at University Hospital Lewisham,” he informs. Then came the turning point in his life when he made the decision to return to his homeland after practicing for seven years in UK where he obtained all the surgical qualifications including FRCS & FRCS (Orth).
Since his return to India in year 2000, Dr Wakankar has become a well-known name for performing knee replacement surgeries for both knees in one sitting. Today, he practices at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Ruby Hall Clinic and Jehangir Hospital in Pune. He pioneered the computer assisted total knee replacement in Pune and also uses minimally invasive techniques for total knee and hip replacement.
| Mixed Bag |
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One most memorable moment of your life? I think meeting Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhonsale personally for the first time were two most memorable moments. It was amazing to experience the simplicity and humble nature of Latadidi and the energy of Ashatai. Tell us about your turning point in your career/ life I think the decision to come back to India from UK was the turning point. I could have stayed in UK but my wife and myself both wanted to come back home. What’s your best prize in life so far? Getting the Gold Medal in M. Ch. Orth. Exam at Liverpool in UK was the top honour academically. Personally, getting a thank you from grateful patients is an award in itself. As a child I wanted to join military but that soon changed to being a doctor. I was fortunate enough to be able to fulfill the ambition. The toughest decision that you have taken so far? As a surgeon, one has to take tough decisions frequently, especially during surgery. Three things I cannot do without. My family, challenges in work, and my laptop! One trait you would like to change about yourself. I am a typical surgeon, very impatient. With maturity and time, I have learnt to be patient. |
The other side of him
While Dr Wakankar is extremely dedicated to his professional life, he also loves socialising. He divulges that most of the time he has to work on hourly schedules and often is required to juggle several tasks at once. However, this doesn’t stop him from catching up with his friends. Wearing a smile of his face he says, “I love to socialise with friends.” His family comprises his wife who is a gynaecologist working at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and his two daughters, aged 16 and 11. They form an integral part of his life. Dr Wakankar breaks the shackles of routine life and rejuvenates himself by playing tennis, reading and listening to music. Recalling his college days, he goes on to say, “I love to play sports, especially tennis. In my college days, I represented my college in table tennis”. The list of the things he likes go on. But, one thing that is a must mention is his love for food. North Indian and Italian food top the list of his favourite foods.
An outstanding doctor, a loyal friend and a dedicated family man, Dr Wakankar is indeed a multifaceted personality.