• Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Contact
  • About
Sunday, July 3, 2022
Maryland Digital News
  • Home
  • US
  • Business
  • World
  • Baltimore
  • Columbia
  • Germantown
  • Waldorf
  • Silver Spring
  • Frederick
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • US
  • Business
  • World
  • Baltimore
  • Columbia
  • Germantown
  • Waldorf
  • Silver Spring
  • Frederick
  • Press Releases
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Columbia

Inspired By Oncologist Dad, Son Forges Own Path In Medicine

by NewsReporter
March 1, 2022
in Columbia
Reading Time: 7 mins read
inspired-by-oncologist-dad,-son-forges-own-path-in-medicine
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A relaxed warmth and affection infuse the conversation as Sunil Daryanani, MD, and his son Andres Daryanani, MD, join the Zoom call from thousands of miles apart: the father from Caracas, Venezuela, and the son from Miami, Florida.

They are more accustomed to speaking Spanish together — their English is flavored with hints of a British accent — but they have chosen English today to tell the story of how Andres nominated his dad as a Medscape Oncology Hero.

“My father’s oncology practice is the reason I chose to become a physician,” Andres wrote. The 26-year-old says he does not remember a time when he wanted any other career.

Dr Andres Daryanani (on left) with his oncologist father Sunil.

Daryanani senior listens with a smile as his son sings his praises. At the heart of Andres’ professional admiration is his father’s compassion and empathy for his patients.

In his teens, Andres would attend patients’ funerals with his dad and was struck by the families’ connection with Sunil. “There was this gratitude that came with death and knowing someone in the worst part of their life and being their ally. That struck a chord very deep inside me, and I wanted to harness that into my career,” he said.

Sunil was born and raised in Venezuela. His parents were Indian émigrés who were “hard core business people,” but he says he wasn’t interested in that kind of career. “I just felt that I had a calling of sorts in the sense that I wanted to give back, and I enjoyed engaging with people,” he explains, adding that his severe childhood asthma initially steered him toward respiratory medicine, until his first encounter with oncology.

Sunil Daryanani, MD, with a young Andreas.

After his initial medical training in Venezuela, he went to Birmingham, England, for postgraduate work, where Andres was born. “I was working crazy hours, and his mum was doing her PhD in basic sciences, so of course childcare was an issue. I used to take him along with me to hospital on Saturday mornings for my ward rounds, and the ambulance drivers would drive him around the campus with their lights on — so of course he was thrilled to bits.”

When Andres was 3 years old, his parents returned to Venezuela and divorced, but weekend ward rounds with his father continued. “I would just bring him along and have him wear my white coat and stethoscope,” says Sunil. “He saw nothing much more than what I was doing at the time, and one of the first things he ever said in English was, ‘I want to be a cancer doctor.’ “

Those early days of “pretend” matured as Sunil saw a genuine interest in medicine in his son. “When I was 5–6 years old, the fun part in the hospital was lunch in the cafeteria,” says Andres. “But then when I turned 12 or 13, my parents were a bit concerned that I hadn’t given it proper thought. So, in high school my dad started inviting me to his clinics for some of the tough conversations ― giving someone news of their diagnosis or that their treatment had failed. There’s a lot of awkwardness in how one can relate to people who have catastrophic illnesses ― maybe you try to treat them so carefully that you end up alienating them and not treating them as people but as sick people. The way my dad navigated through that…he was very empathetic. I remember crying after those conversations; it was emotionally wracking, but my dad was strong and stoic. I remember thinking, ‘I thought he was my hero, but now he really is.’ I always said, that’s what I would like to be, and that’s been a guiding force for me in medicine.”

In 2013, Sunil read the novel Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese. The author’s observations on the art of practicing medicine were an epiphany for Sunil, who immediately emailed Verghese an emotional acknowledgment. Verghese, also a doctor of Indian descent, is professor for the theory and practice of medicine at Stanford University Medical School, in Stanford, California.

Eventually, Verghese, Sunil, and Andres met up in California, and the author added his own inscription to that of the father’s in a copy of the book for the young doctor-to-be: “Wishing you a brilliant career in medicine, or wherever your heart takes you.”

Book dedication from father to son.

A few years later, Andres attended medical school in Bogota, Columbia, during which time his father decided to return to England. “Venezuela was going through an economic crisis and Andres was attending medical school that I needed to pay for, so I decided it was time to move,” says Sunil, who ended up in Yeovil, Somerset, before relocating to Oxford.

Midway through medical school, Andres “lost himself a bit,” his father said.

Andres recalls: “I really doubted if I had chosen the right career…. I remember feeling quite overwhelmed with how long my career path would be ― and had been so far ― and frustrated with how many of my friends outside of medicine were already starting their own lives and careers…. Life felt unbalanced and joyless, and for the first time in my life I questioned if I was meant to be a doctor.”

The crisis prompted a frank discussion between father and son. “He was really surprised when I told him I was considering a career change,” says Andres. “I was more surprised when he gave me the option to pull out.”

In the spirit of Verghese’s inscription, Sunil showed Andres an open door. “I said, if you want to do something else, maybe chef school, I’m quite happy to fund it,” says Sunil.

They both share a passion for cooking, “which Andres has taken to new heights.” But Andres insisted medicine was his calling. “Paradoxically, having the choice to do something else just made me want to finish medicine,” he recalls. “I think [Dad] played Jedi mind tricks on me, because after that, I came back more motivated and focused.”

Slowly, the balance of the relationship began to shift, as each saw the beauty of medicine through the other’s lens. Across the miles, they shared ideas and challenged each other’s perspectives. “He sent me this one paper on game theory in cancer biology,” says Sunil. “I still carry that around in shreds in my brief case. It’s such a thick paper, full of maths, and I thought, well one of these days I’ll crack it. So, I keep going back to it every so often.”

Sometimes Andres would share his assignments with his dad, “just to cast an eye,” and Sunil, who works as a reviewer for several journals, took a gentle approach. “I wanted to see his work with a lenient eye to some degree, without being overly critical.”

Not surprisingly, Andres naturally gravitated toward oncology. He saw the field with “a keener eye and a fresh look,” says Sunil. “I’ve learned through seeing things from his perspective, with that special accent to it.” Both father and son dreamed of one day having a practice together, Andres’ name under his father’s on the door plate.

But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It was Andres’ final year, a year that was supposed to have been filled with electives and choices. Instead, the choices narrowed to just internal medicine, anesthesiology, or pediatrics. Most of Andres’ class took the option of forfeiting the year, but Andres chose to dive in. It was the most rewarding part of his medical training up to that point. “With all the uncertainty we had in healthcare during those early months, I remember just feeling so proud to be part of the essential workforce. I had to go outside every day and see people when most couldn’t. Waking up and going to work every day had more meaning because my job wasn’t any other job, it was THE job…. I found my calling in palliative care and anesthesia. Everything sort of fell in the right places, and that career felt right with my life story and personality…. My dad’s impact in my love for medicine is unquestionable, but after COVID is when I felt it truly was my own. I traded thinking of work-life balance and joy for meaning in work, and I’m much happier and fulfilled for that.”

Dr Andres Daryanani

Andres is now preparing his applications for residency in anesthesiology, and Sunil is happy that his son has branched out on his own path. “In one sense it’s relieved me of the responsibility of whether he’s happy or not in the future — it’s all down to his own choice. I felt always the weight of his choice of medicine. Now that he’s chosen his own career path, I’m very proud.”

For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Read More Here

Related Posts

taking-back-sunday-to-release-20th-anniversary-edition-of-tell-all-your-friends

Taking Back Sunday To Release 20th Anniversary Edition Of Tell All Your Friends

by NewsReporter
April 14, 2022
0

Taking Back Sunday will reissue their debut album ‘Tell All Your Friends’ to mark the 20th anniversary of the release. ‘Tell All Your Friends’ was released on 26 March, 2002. While the album failed to chart after release, it went on to see over 500,000 copies in the USA after...

villanova-wins-doubles-point-and-two-singles-matches-in-4-3-loss-to-drexel-–-villanova-university

Villanova Wins Doubles Point And Two Singles Matches In 4-3 Loss To Drexel – Villanova University

by NewsReporter
April 13, 2022
0

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Villanova (3-13) won the doubles point for the second straight match and claimed a pair of singles victories in a road match against Drexel (8-7) but ultimately fell by the narrowest of margins in a 4-3 loss at the Vidas Courts on Tuesday afternoon. Sophomores Josh Robinson (Potomac, Md.)...

advice-for-primary-care-clinicians-on-use-of-vortioxetine-|-ndt

Advice For Primary Care Clinicians On Use Of Vortioxetine | NDT

by NewsReporter
April 12, 2022
0

Plain Language Summary Diagnosis and management of major depressive disorder (MDD) in a primary care setting Primary care clinicians need practical guidance for the diagnosis and management of MDD, which is a major health concern in the United States. A variety of tools suitable for clinical practice can support primary...

the-look-ahead:-week-3

The Look Ahead: Week 3

by NewsReporter
April 11, 2022
0

Equestrian will compete in the NCEA national tournament starting on Thursday, track will host its first home meet of the year on Friday and women’s rugby will play its first game since winning the national championship in November. by Heath Monsma and Lizzy Strapp | 4/11/22 2:00am Wednesday, April 13...

Maryland Digital News

© 2021 Maryland Digital News

Navigate Site

  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • CCPA
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Contact
  • About

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
  • DMCA Policy
  • Medical Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure
  • CCPA
  • Terms of Use

© 2021 Maryland Digital News

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT