Reflect, Revise, Respond and Remember: Recollections of Lessons from My Mentors Based on 17th Dr. K. C. Chaudhuri and Dr. Amala Chaudhuri Oration, on 6th October 2024.

Abstract

The 48 y as a pediatrician, serving children and families was beyond attending to their presenting complaints. The combined roles as a child health doctor, medical teacher, researcher and administrator were interesting, nevertheless a tightrope walk. The lessons and wisdom that emerged from my learning journey, guided by my esteemed mentors, made me realise that the history and physical examination remain as the foundation of clinical assessment of a well or an ill child, even when we rely on technology to make a diagnosis. My mentors' photos are provided as Annexure (Supplementary File S1). The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), epigenetics of childhood TB, scorpion and snake envenomation and their timely recognition and treatment, organising pediatric accident and emergency and critical care services, training all concerned, advocacy against unnecessary injections in children, imparting perseverance and skills to care for developmentally challenged children engaged me in this journey- a mixed blessing in retrospect! It dawned on me at various stages that education of mothers should be given the high priority. This can be through personal contacts or digital enabling with useful academic information, providing parenting and personal support for Child Life Care. I find that an active pursuit of evidence-based practice, advocacy against harmful practices and beliefs, understanding the link with laboratory and nursing personnel became my approach in practice, thanks to my mentors, teachers and children whom I was able to take care of.