While 1st July-Doctors Day offers a symbolic occasion to pause and reflect, the true reasons we embark on the journey of care are reaffirmed daily. The path of healing, guidance, and growth is not defined by a single day, but by the countless moments that unfold in our everyday work. For me, being a Developmental Behavioural Paediatrician and an Adolescent Mental Health Specialist extends much beyond clinical descriptions. It is a deeply personal and meaningful journey that walks hand in hand with medicine, psychology, compassion, and advocacy.
As a young medicine student, I was fascinated by the behavioural aspect of paediatrics, the hidden signs, the unheard signals, the developmental enigmas presented by children. While others were headed towards surgery, emergency medicine, or internal medicine, I was intrigued by the brains of children who spoke differently, acted differently, or did not progress on developmental milestones. It was never about the diagnosis for me. It was about learning each child’s individual story and walking alongside families into their uncertainty, their fear, and ultimately, their hope.
Working with neurodiverse children, those on the autism spectrum, with ADHD, learning disabilities, anxiety, or speech delays requires not only clinical acumen but patience and humility. Each day in my clinic is different. One child may be non-verbal and anxious, another may be gifted but emotionally withdrawn. The answers rarely lie in a textbook. They emerge through careful listening, observation, and most importantly, trust.
In this work, advancement doesn’t arrive in giant strides, it arrives in tiny, subtle ones. A child looking you in the eye for the first time. A parent getting it that their child’s meltdown is a message, not disobedience. A teenager opening up after weeks of silence, these moments may seem small to the outside world, but they transform the lives of the families we support and deepen our commitment to child development and mental health.
Adolescence has its own set of problems. The world today puts a lot of pressure on youngsters. The academic competition, comparative lives on social media, identity crisis, and stigma around mental health can make adolescents feel suffocated and invisible.We must provide a safe space to vent, acknowledge feelings, and help them develop better coping mechanisms.
Adolescents today face unique pressures academic expectations, social comparison, identity confusion, and stigma around mental health. In this complex environment, our role is not only therapeutic, but also relational. We create safe spaces where teens can express themselves, feel seen, and develop skills to navigate challenges with greater resilience.
Doctor’s Day is not only a time to be appreciated, it is a moment for us to pause and acknowledge the dedication this path demands. Supporting families through uncertainty, guiding children through unspoken struggles, and collaborating across systems is deeply rewarding, but it also calls for emotional resilience. What sustains us is not only the impact we make, but also the passion we carry for this meaningful work.
What gives me hope is the growing awareness and acceptance around developmental and mental health. Parents are posing more educated questions. Schools are becoming more accepting. Society is starting to see neurodiversity as something that is not a defect, but a component of human difference. That shift is hopeful. Much more work needs to be done, particularly in constructing more inclusive, multi-disciplinary, and stigma-free support networks.
Looking back, I believe this profession chose me as much as I chose it, and for that, I remain deeply grateful. Every child teaches me patience and purpose. Every family reminds me of the strength that love brings. Every case challenges me to grow not only as a professional, but as a person.
On this Doctor’s Day, I celebrate not just the role of a doctor, but the quiet power of presence. Being there, fully and empathetically for a child who is struggling, for a teenager finding their voice, for a family navigating uncharted territory. It is this presence that holds space for healing, far beyond what any prescription can provide.
To all those in this noble profession, may we continue to lead with compassion, listen deeply, and serve with integrity. And may we always remember, behind every assessment is a story, and within every story lies the potential to make a lasting difference.
The post More than medicine – A journey through child development, mental health, and hope appeared first on Express Healthcare.
