Who is Dr. A. Chandra Shekar..?

Hello..!

I am a kidney specialist, a researcher, and a fitness freak. Mens sana in corpore sano—Latin for “a sound mind in a healthy body”—is my health mantra. I founded the Safe Kidney Club and the Internet Health Hub, and I help people be healthy — to have a healthy body, a resourceful mind, and a docile nature — so they can enjoy and lead meaningful and prosperous lives.

I completed my MBBS from Bangalore Medical College, my MD in internal medicine from M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, and my doctorate in nephrology from the National Board of Medicine, New Delhi. Further, I obtained the Masters of Science (MSc) in Organ Transplantation from the Postgraduate School of Medicine, University of Liverpool, UK, and a Ph.D. from the Renal Research Lab, Centre for Biomedical Research, VIT, Vellore.

I am an avid reader of non-fiction books and enjoy writing, teaching, and playing the violin in my free time.

I’m on a quest to revolutionize the healthcare system.  The existing health system of our nation is unable to address the health requirements of the majority of its citizens because most individuals lack adequate health information, cannot afford it, or cannot access it. This is harmful to the country’s economy and growth. 

We all work hard for our families and our country, and we all deserve to be well and live lives full of pleasure, happiness, abundance, energy, and longevity.

This necessitates a big, focused effort on our side to improve health education, accessibility, and access to low-cost, high-quality healthcare.

Families that are strong and healthy develop a country that is strong and healthy.

To guarantee every individual stays healthy through proper health education and access to quality healthcare

Authentic, trustworthy, credible, passionate, empathetic, and experienced, with qualities such as integrity and humility, and a commitment to ensure optimal healthcare education, access, and affordability for the patient and the nation as a whole.

My grandfather, a devout Siddha practitioner, used to teach me as a child, “Dharmam thalaikaakum,” which in Tamil translates to “being and doing the right things protects one’s head at the right time and right place.”  Though it took me a while to comprehend the significance of his words, I now realize that being a “good human” and helping others is of utmost importance, no matter who or what you are.

As a youngster, I was always top in my class and used to be the outstanding student of the year every time. I never intended to be a doctor and always aspired to be a scientist. “Man proposes, and God disposes,” they say. This proved to be true in my life.

I got good marks during my 12th grade, and, due to peer and family pressure, I got into the medical course. Though I was initially disappointed, I developed a deep love for medical science very quickly. I always believe in giving my best at whatever I do. So, having been in the medical field, I strived to excel as a doctor.

In 2010, when I was at Vellore, I got an opportunity to do my Ph.D. My joy knew no bounds. It was as if the universe had brought me to Vellore to fulfil my childhood dream of becoming a scientist.

A few years later, while working at a well-known corporate hospital, I was given the opportunity to travel abroad. I had been like a frog in a little pond all this time and had now chosen to venture out. Around the same time, I received a call from Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, asking whether I would be ready to relocate there.

There was just one nephrologist for the whole northern region of Chhattisgarh at the time; however, the main city of Raipur had a large number. I learned that many doctors did not want to travel there because of the region’s inadequate infrastructure and backwardness. I had visited the hospital there, and the first thing that sprang to mind was that I would never practice there again.

I returned home, but the memories of that location and those people lingered. All the while, I had been working in the corporate sector and had the opportunity to work at a similar hospital in a foreign country with everything at my disposal, but how was I going to handle my department in that hospital in Chhattisgarh with a lack of infrastructure and a professional support team? Finally, I decided to visit Chhattisgarh. “If others don’t go there, so what? I’ll go, I’ll treat those people; I got so much from the country, and I’ll pay it back now,” I kept reminding myself.

I never felt like a stranger there, and I was so well-embraced by the locals that I couldn’t believe I was there for four years. I was able to relaunch the renal transplant programme and teach local professionals to manage patients with kidney disease on their own. My experience in Chhattisgarh taught me to believe in myself and helped me realize for the first time the inner strength and confidence I have, as well as what it truly means to “give back.”

During the COVID pandemic, I was in charge of the ICU and understood, for the first time in my life, the true meaning of life and death. Life was so unpredictable. Patients who appeared to be fine during the day would perish during the night in no time. It was a great leveler. Everyone died, rich and poor, powerful and powerless. I also realized how much the patients and their caretakers were struggling to pay for expensive treatment, such as ventilator support and expensive medications, in order to save their loved ones.

Although the government has provided basic coverage to the majority of the population through various health schemes, advanced quality healthcare is out of reach for many people.

I believe that good health is a basic human right.  This realization has pushed me out of my shell and into the realm of disease prevention and the search for means of making high-quality medical care more accessible and affordable.

Good health is money. One cannot enjoy money if health is bad.  Being healthy and fit is a way of life, not a fad or a trend.  “The first step to happiness is good health,” remarked Dr. T.P. Chia.  A healthy and strong family is the foundation of a healthy and powerful nation.

To your health and success,

Dr. A. Chandra Shekar.

MBBS, MD, DrNB, FASN, MSc (UK), PhD