Meet Dr. Madhuri Patil, a trailblazing medical professional who demonstrates an unwavering commitment to giving hope to those couples with infertility health issues through her profound knowledge of reproductive health. Born in Kolhapur, the roots of her childhood were spread across various corners of India, thanks to her father’s service in the armed forces. Her schooling itself took place at different places which included Cochin, Lonavala, Secunderabad, Delhi, Chandigarh, Itarsi, and finally SSC from Panaji, Goa where she stood first in school. After her initial college in Goa, as her father got transferred, she then came to Mumbai to study medicine. This diverse upbringing exposed her to various cultures and people, enriching her perspective on life.
Dr. Madhuri Patil MD, DFP, DGO, FCPS, FICOG (Mumbai), is the Clinical Director of Dr. Patil’s Fertility and Endoscopy Clinic, Bangalore. She is President and Founder Member, of the Fertility Preservation Society (India) (FPSI), Vice President Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR),Vice-President and Founder Member of the PCOS Society (India), Associate Editor of Fertility and Sterility, and Chairperson of ASPIRE SIG Reproductive Endocrinology. Apart from other Editorial positions, she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Human Reproductive Sciences from 2013 to 2020. She is also the Founder and President of the Karnataka Chapter of the Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (KISAR).
Passion for Reproductive Endocrinology
Choosing a career in medicine was a natural fit for Dr. Patil, thanks to her love for biology and herfather’s guidance. She pursued her MBBS (1982) and MD (1985) from GS Medical College and honed her expertise while working at renowned hospitals like the King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital and Nawrosji Wadia Maternity Hospital, Parel, Mumbai. She started her practice in Sangli as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in 1989 at her mother-in-law’s hospital. Her mother-in-law was the first qualified gynaecologist in Sangli. Driven by her passion for reproductive endocrinology, she developed a special interest in infertility and pursued specialized training in Singapore, eventually starting the first IVF clinic in South Maharashtra in 1993 at Sangli, Maharashtra. In 1995, she travelled to London to receive further training in the field of infertility. She joined as an Honorary Professor at the Miraj Medical College in 1995 and established the gynaecology department of the newly built Miraj Government Hospital for the college.
Entrepreneur Doctor
In 2003, Dr. Patil boldly moved to Bangalore and set up her fertility clinic, “Dr. Patil’s Fertility and Endoscopy Clinic.” This transition from a small town to a metropolis provided a significant boost to her career, allowing her to engage with national and international medical societies.
Dr. Patil has total commitment and dedication to her patients with a passion for addressing many different reproductive health problems, with even innovative solutions. Each patient poses a unique challenge. In her own words, “All patients I treat are challenging as most patients coming to me for treatment have taken treatment in the past and have failed or are more than forty years old. So, each patient requires individualized treatment and most importantly counselling.” Infertility specialists and reproductive endocrinologists with sizeable clinical service components can contribute much more if professionally committed social scientists, geneticists, and basic scientists could form a consortium as there is a huge gap in the understanding of the social implications of PCOS. This was well explained by Dr. Madhuri Patil, who understands the need for interdisciplinary engagement, in her presentation, “Lived Experiences of PCOS and its social burden on women” (Based on a collaborative study by Prof. Sivakami of TISS with Dr. Rama Vaidya of Kasturba, Health Society as part of Abhiyaan PCOS initiative).
Dr. Patil is also a Founder Member of Abhiyaan PCOS (Ref. The Indian Practitioner, Call for Public Health Action, Vol. 74 No. 7 July 2021). She is also the Vice President Society of the PCOS Society of India, which is also one of the four forming a consortium to address this issue, the other three being ICMR-NIRRCH, Kasturba Health Society, and the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.
Creating Awareness
As a visionary leader, Dr. Patil’s influence extends beyond her day-to-day medical practice. As the President of the Fertility Preservation Society, she strives to raise awareness about preserving fertility in cancer patients, touching lives with her compassion and knowledge. Soon, she will take on the prestigious role of President of the Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR), where she plans to work on alleviating the burden of infertility for both patients and doctors.
Work-Life Balance
Dr. Patil begins her day with a harmonious routine of walking, floor exercises, and meditation. Her mornings are often occupied with surgeries, showcasing her unwavering commitment to her patients. After tending to her responsibilities at the clinic, she dedicates her afternoons to online teaching for ICOG candidates on Mondays and Wednesdays and later has enlightening discussions with her Satsang group on other days.
With a passion for adventure beyond the confines of the medical world, Dr. Patil finds solace in her adventurous spirit. Having traveled extensively across India, she has explored breathtaking regions like the Sahyadris and the Gadwall Himalayas, trekked to the base camps of Everest and Kanchenjunga, and even ventured into Egypt’s historical wonders. Her love for trekking and travel has made her a globetrotter, with a list that includes North America, Europe, China, the Far and Middle East, and Australia. Her life is an intricate tapestry of diverse interests, as she also enjoys cooking and hosting gatherings for friends. Dr. Patil is a very unassuming person and takes life as it comes, embracing each challenge with resilience and a heart full of empathy.
Dr. Madhuri Patil’s remarkable journey showcases a life dedicated to the service of others, where medicine and adventure blend harmoniously, leaving a profound impact on the lives she touches. A beacon of hope and a visionary leader, she continues to make a lasting difference in the field of infertility treatment and beyond.