You are listening to Proteon Pulse, bringing you the latest news and insights on the medical staffing industry so you’ll never miss a beat. Hello, everyone. Welcome to Proteon Pulse, a health care podcast from Proteon Med. I’m Raji Hari. I’m the president and CEO of Proteon Med, a health care staffing and recruiting solution provider based out of The Woodlands, Texas.
I’m very excited to have a very special guest today with us, doctor Ranganath Veda. He’s a veteran in diagnostic radiology with 48 years of experience in the field of radiology, and he retired in 2015. He has a wealth of knowledge and so much experience to share with us that I’m pretty excited to talk to him today. It is my honor and privilege to have him with us. Welcome to the podcast, doctor Vedala.
Thank you, Raji. Let’s start by hearing your story. So you’re coming from this, background of education where, you know, where the focus of the family is on education, and that’s how pretty much most of the Indian families are. So tell me a little bit about your career in medicine, especially, from after your meds after your medical school in Andhra and where you studied and how you came to the United States. Yes.
After, 1956 to 61, I was in Andhra Medical College. After finishing my medicine and then internship, I came to Hyderabad for house urgency. We have to finish the, That is, house urgency, residency, they say. I finished that in 1962. Then 62, I got into a job first, in the, on the, medical service.
I am I got into medical college as a tutor first. Mhmm. You know? Even though I wanted to for help, I I wanted I got a a dig I wanted to join into MD general medicine. I got a seat, but somehow or other, I don’t know, I went into first practice first teaching position, in a medical college in Tirupati Medical College, 60, 3 to 63 to end up 64 December, I was there.
Mhmm. One and a half. So, how I got into even though I got a medicine seat, somehow or other, I I switched it to radiology. I thought radiology being a new field, I thought I want to explore. 1st, I went into, teaching position in nonclinical subject like pathology and bacteriology.
But somehow, I when I look at it, working with the, lab animals or, or the lab thing work, I thought it is not my job, and I still I like to be, taking care of patients. So first, I thought, let me see general medicine. Then I went into radiology because one of my, person is c, a person in Tirupati, he went into All India Institute of Medical Sciences Mhmm. Within radiology. So radiology is just coming up in that area.
Oh, you know, it is a different field, I thought. Let me explore it like that. So I got when I applied, from Tirupati Medical College, I got into All India Institute of Medical Sciences, MD Radiology. MD Radiology is, at that time, is a diagnostic field I I chose. You it is a combined program, diagnostic as well as therapy.
But therapy, we used to do in 6 months’ time. So, it is a 2 degree faster, 2 years course, but as soon as I joined 65, January, they made it into 3 years. So 6065 to, 65 to 68, I was in All India Institute of Medical Sciences in diagnostic grade. I got my MD. Then I I got a job in Guntur Medical College as an assistant professor in radiology.
I like the job. And, as I said, radiology is a different field, I thought. Let me explore, and then so I I really liked it, you know, and I was, my professor was also good, and he he said you have to do more and then so like that, I I really like the radiology, and some teaching is also there. And I was, I was but, my after, the radiology, I was always interested to go abroad. That is my That’s how you came to the United States.
That is my another goal. One is to go abroad, get into, experience like that, and then see, that is what because in, at that time in 19 sixties, there was the there and there was a, an exam called, EC FMG. That is Educational Council for Foreign Medical Graduates. Oh, okay. EC FMG.
EC FMG. That exam if you pass, the Indians or anybody from anywhere country, they are accepted to residency positions. That is the thing. So I got, I I got that, thing I wanted to go for. ESafe, MJ, I I wrote it in Madras, and I got, 75 and above.
I got a permanent certificate. Actually, I apply so that is the story. And then, we actually I, before going into Tirupati itself, I passed this exam in 63 itself. So Okay. When I went to Tirupati, if I had pursued, you know, at that time, there is war.
Change India and China war. Right. That was a tough time. Yeah. Yeah.
If I pursued you know, if I went to the, passport office to Madras, I could have people left like that. Right. Or other somehow or other, I, I missed that. I I got a job actually. They paid the airfare if I have got into, 64 itself.
65, I got a job in Manhasset as a residency in medicine. And they they said they will give my, airfare also, but somehow, I didn’t get in, and I got married in 64. Before I It all worked out. You got married, and then you came here. It all worked out.
You know, everything happens for the good. The, 64 end of, 64, when I applied there to All India Institute, I got a a a MD, program. So from 65 January to 68 December, I was in All India Institute doing 3 years of, MD, and then I got into assistant professor in Guntur Medical College. I worked for 4 years, 63 January to 72 December. That is 4 years.
4 years. 69 to yeah. Okay. 69 January to end of 72. Okay.
Then as I said, I wanted to so still, I was exploring to come to America. So meanwhile, what has happened is, I, there was another friend, who, who went to Iran, you know, I national Iranian oil company. He said, if you want to come as a stepping thing, you know, before going to USA, I thought, let me go to Iran, and then from there, I can go. I thought somehow That is so interesting. I mean, going from your journey, it started in a small village in Andhra Pradesh.
Then you went to, med school there in Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam. From there, you went to Delhi, then came back to Guntur. Guntur to Iran. Wow. What a jump there.
That is interesting. With, with my family, I can go. So I left India 73 March. And by then, you had 2 boys also. Right?
Yeah. Yeah. By that time, you know, Giri and, she and Giri were born. Right. She was born in, 66 January in my native place, and Giri was born at the place where I was working, Guntur Medical College.
So so with them, you know, with the family thing, they give, family, travel and everything by the National Iranian Com Company. And then I went for 1 I wanted to go for 1 year, and from there, I wanted to go. But they said, it is a 2 years contract. Don’t break that. So somehow or other, a 2 years I still.
Then 75 actually, at that time, I as I said, I wanted to go abroad and, look for, other opportunities, you know, in the in my own field, getting some more degrees like that. So I I, you know, first, as soon as I finished in my 2 years contract, I applied to residences in America. Somehow, I got into one residency in radiology in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh. Okay.
So it was from Iran to Pittsburgh. Where in Iran were you? In Abadan. Abadan. That is south.
Abadan, it is a biggest oil refinery. Okay. I next to Iraq, actually, Tigris River is the thing. You know? Separates the 2.
Yeah. Separates. Yeah. And, in Iraq, Iran Iraq war, that town is smashed. There is no more burden, that oil company has gone already.
Wow. So, so we had good 2 years of, really, service in internationally run-in our company. It is a good company. We are well, looked after. Then I there is nothing in there.
Also, I I applied for residency, and then 75 August, I landed in Pittsburgh. Oh, August. Okay. August. So being a MD radiology, they gave a credit.
Well, I initially, I’m doing, 3 years of residency. With 2 years itself, I got into, the that is enough, they said. And then I, I went for the boards, and I passed through that. Mhmm. Then 2, after, 2 years of, radiology there, diagnostic radiology in Pittsburgh, I went for a fellowship to Boston.
Boston University. Okay. 1 year 1 year I spent, in fellowship. And then fellowship was in radiology. Right?
Yeah. Was it diagnosed? Specialization. Specialization. Neuroradiology.
Neuroradiology. Okay. Then, in 78, 77, 78, 1 year only, I was then, in Pittsburgh, in Boston. Then I searched for a job, and then I got into a job in Terre Haute, Indiana. Right.
Terre Haute, Indiana. Terre Haute, Indiana, uncle. I know I call you uncle, but it’s doctor Vedala, and I’ve known you, and you’re such a role model to many offers, and your entire family is highly looked up to. So coming to TeraHat Indiana. Right?
Why I came to TeraHat also in the Why TeraHat, and how did you settle down there? Because a classmate of mine, from Andhra Medical College is a hand surgeon. So I thought that connection came from there. He’s in indian Indianapolis. Indianapolis is one hour to Terre Haute.
Mhmm. And this Terre Haute is a, town of 65,000 population. Mhmm. There is a university there, and there is a technological institute, one of the best undergraduate technological institute called Rose Helman Technology. And there is a IU America, Indiana State University.
So it is a good, good 65,000 town. So one year 1 hour to Indianapolis. So I thought at least one friend is there. That is how I I landed And in Terre Haute. Mhmm.
I first joined, group practice with with a person for 4 years. Then, in same Terre Haute, I I became a solo. I got another hospital from this group I went. I worked for about 6, 7 years as a solo. Then in 1990 onwards, I got another hospital also, where I first got the post position, and I also got another hospital.
So I took 2 more people with me. Mhmm. And then for about, for about 14 years, I was, having a group practice in 2 hospitals. So you became an entrepreneur in that way. Right?
So Yeah. Your entire experience, your journey, and all the all the connections that you developed over the years, I’m sure that 14 years definitely would have been a successful 14 years. Right? Oh, yeah. Tell us a little bit about your entrepreneurship experience.
The yeah. Entrepreneur because, they in in terra heart at that time, say, radiology is a a good field, as I said. Considering about the time when I started in, in the in Delhi. And by the time I came to, United States 1970 when I finished my residency, 78, there were lot of developments in radiology. Right.
At that time, as you know, the CT scan has come. Wow. Computerizer comp computerizer tomography. That has revolutionized the radiology. Entire medical field because the diagnostic portion of a disease has become, more easy for, the physicians and surgeons.
See, without a CT, it is able to pinpoint why patient is having pain, why, like that any disease, they have to depend upon CT, whatever may be the thing. So CT has been so it has just come in 78 only. Actually, the 75, the first scanner, came to, the it was first in it is invented in Britain Mhmm. By by a person called Holmes Field, who is actually a radar scientist with the help of beetles. You know?
That fellow put a company and then started doing experiments, and he got the patent, you know, how to, visualize the inner portion of the, faster, it came only to the brain, then later on, it extended to the abdomen and pelvis and where are the things. So it is a new field. It has really that is an excitement for me also. And then the other then later on in another 5 years’ time in 19 eighties, now we got the magnetic resonance that is, MR. MRI.
So, MRI. And then this ultrasound has also picked up ultras of various areas. So like that, I really enjoyed. So the way that even though when I went to Boston, they asked me to stay, but instead of an academic field, I thought since I joined as a general radiology after coming from early in our institute, I said, let me try every field in the in radiology rather than only brain, you know, concentrating on brain only. That is So that is how I It’s so interesting to listen to this.
How you never put yourself into that small, you know, little market. You yeah. You never narrowed down your thought process. You were ready to explore. You were ready to experiment.
You were adventurous. And, also, as you said, the radiology field was new. It was growing. There were so many Exactly. Inventions coming in, and you had to keep up with that technology.
So how difficult was it for you to keep up with that technology? The it was a fast growing field, definitely. Yes. Yeah. I know.
A lot of, you know, here when you come to America, you know, you you develop, you know, when the when the developments have come, like the CT scan and then MRI, We we went to the courses, you know, and get yourself used to it, and then follow the mentors, you know, like in the, we I used to have some, people that in the, in the university of, Indiana University in, Indianapolis. So getting in touch with those, people and then get some acquaintance. And then when I started it, I asked them, I will come and join, you know, pick up some tutorials from you. Like that, I I’m, balancing like that, and then learning those things from them. That is how I started, using the, latest technologies.
Technologies. It’s very interesting because in those days, Internet was not that highly used. Yes. You did not have these even the phone calls are expensive, if I remember. Right?
Yeah. Yeah. I know. Came to the United States in the nineties late nineties, it was still so expensive to make phone calls. Right?
I know. The technology wise, to even to keep up with that, it was a lot of learning and lot of I know. Traveling and paperwork that you know, we used to print everything and have them in the hand to read. Right? So, so did you have to travel a lot to learn all these things, different technology?
Yes. Yeah. Because to get into the, CME Mhmm. Medical education. I used to attend the conferences getting because you require for to have a certificate, you know, my practice.
You you are required to do the number of CMA, credit hours should be there. Right. So I used to maintain those things. Those are the essential things of practice. You know?
Interesting. Interesting. That is the thing. Did you did you have men, mentees under you? Like, did you have young aspiring, radiologists coming in, and did you train them, or did you have any interaction with youngsters who were coming into the field?
Yeah. They I have good friends, you know, from, Guntur Medical College, and they are also in the neighboring, towns. You know? I so they are also helping me, you know, see how they are working like that. I used to spend some time Some time with them.
With them. And that is how I, it is an opportunity, you know, being in a small town, you know, And as the as the technology is improving, the number of, radiologists coming, it has become a tough field. There was a lot of shortage of radiologists. When the when these, MRI has started, people are just looking into those, big programs, and they are not coming to the community, community hospitals, small hospitals Smaller hospitals. All geared to academic areas, and they are not coming.
That was there is an acute shortage. Mhmm. That has really hindered my, hiring some good people, you know, in my practice and then practice. So so yeah. Like that, we, manage.
You know? You see, practice is always very, very, there is 2 more people means you should have very good rate. So, yeah, all in all, I, my my, 15 years with them was not any. It was smooth and It was smooth and you had a good one. Yeah.
But, you know, in any practice, there will be, give and take like that. It’s not easy at all at at any part of your life. Is not. Right. Right.
Right. Is it if you are on your own, it is a different thing. But, if you are unknown, you cannot take vacation and other things. Mhmm. You should always be there at the back end call like that, but that gives a leverage.
Very interesting, uncle. It’s not just to, you know, to understand the concept and I’m also trying to understand how different America in general was from the time that you came to the time that you now that what you’re experiencing now. So was there a cultural difference? Did it hinder you in any way? Did it what was the challenge that you faced when you first came to the country?
Yeah. Definitely, you know, it is a different, feeling. You know? You, you have come away from foreign, from from your home country to a big place where, the dominant persons are, you know, they are you have to whims and fancies. You have oops.
To we cannot go against them, you know, even though so, it is tough being I I was the, being a, group of 3 people. It radiology is a field we dependent we are dependent on the hospital practice because hospitals hide us. Right. You know? Unless you do a good job, they they don’t hide you because they always look.
So it is a give and take, and then they expect good service from you. Mhmm. You know? You see? And being a foreigner always is a you you know, it is a disadvantage.
You know? Whatever the other people do, the it doesn’t matter for them. Whereas if we make a mistake, they will clear. They will show us. Mhmm.
You know? These are the things that I went through. So as the, as practice grows up and then competition, you know, and then the medical malpractice. These are all the things that have come up. That is a really, you know, a challenge.
Mhmm. You know? You should you should always be on the lookout for on your shoulder who is coming. So they want to displace you. They every 5 years, they give you a contract.
Mhmm. At the at the time of giving the contract, they assess what all you have done before. Mhmm. How many, mistakes you made, what they are there any complaints, malpractice cases against you, and how the you see, you you are judged by your peers. Right.
Your peers are the worst. Yeah. You know, how much hard work you put put in, but you you are luckily, I’m, I’m being a solo. I made some name in the town. That’s why I they gave me a big hospital practice.
Very good. That is a eyesore to others. Right. You know? I have seen so many practices how they do.
Now nowadays, if you see radiology, nobody is working in the hospital. Everybody sits in a big group in with all computers. No human remote. Yeah. I was about to tell you that.
Everything is remote. Right? This led to lot of, you know, not having a touch, and then people are making lot of mistakes. A big hospital we used to be in the hospital 7 to 11. We used to be responsible for whatever.
Mhmm. Please come and help me. We are there. Right. That type of thing has gone.
Now even if a 500 bed an hour a 300 bed an hospital very good hospital, there is keeping only 1 radiologist to do some procedures. Rest is all going to big groups, about a 100 miles and 300 miles away on a near a platform. This is Thank you. People some doctors recently, I how their mistake, you know, mistakes are committed in own, our own doctors. Mhmm.
So this is all we think. That’s true. The tele telemedicine is definitely, a boon and a pain. Drawback. You know?
You that the touch is gone. Mhmm. Somebody, in a foreigner place that and then you have to beg and call this guy. You know? Please come and see.
And my, he he has to point out, no. Why don’t you look carefully? Is there anything else? Like that, it is happening. Mhmm.
Mhmm. The this is a, tele radiology business, you know, and the high lot of big companies, swallow the things. You know? They keep 1 or 2 people in a big hospital. So many.
Mhmm. So, that type of thing has gone. So that is, what I have seen. It is worrisome for you. Yeah.
Really not a good thing. I don’t know. So this is a big drawback what I have seen. Okay. That is what it is.
That is interesting. What would be your, your advice to the incoming medical students? Incoming medical students? See, incoming medical students, you know, they should they should develop, when you are a doctor, whatever it may be, you should have a concern to the patient. You see, even though you are looking at a black and white computer, CT scan or an MRI, you have to get into the field, and then you should approach the patient as if, a live thing, and then you should talk to the doc the respect to patient or anything if there is anything.
You should also communicate. You you know, as a radiologist, they say, you know, it is not good to sit in the table and look at the images. But if you are concerned, you are also to, go to the patient and see what exactly the thing Connect to the patient. Yeah. Yeah.
That is what it is. Definitely. Is there anything any interesting, episode from your life that you want to share in the field of medicine that you’ve experienced? ET. I I really like the radiology.
I, very and then, as I said, radiology has changed quite a bit. You know? Mhmm. And then people, specialization is, again, another drawback. You know?
See, we we’ll you should also correlate whatever the computer is giving, you know, the picture, but you have to correlate with the plain x rays also, the black and white. No. You say you have to compare those things also and see that just, in your own field. I’m I’m focused only to this, segment only, and I you you have that’s why general radiology is also you should have some basic, general radiology also. Interesting.
That is Uh-huh. Thank thank you so much, doctor Veda. It was so interesting to listen to your story moving from India to Iran to the US and how you have evolved along with the evolution of the field of radiology. And now, of course, as as you said, there is a teleradiology concept. Yes.
You know, we are yet to see how this this world of telemedicine is going to evolve. And Yeah. Of course, there are it may have to go undergo a lot of challenges, but, hopefully, they’ll be able to get it to the best possible, you know, effect for the patients and bring out the best outcome for the patients as well. Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate.
I enjoyed talking to you. Thanks everyone. You, Rajesh. Thank you. Thank you so much.
If you want to say anything, as a closing statement, please feel free. The same I I even though I everybody asked me, oh, what are you doing? Why are you, see, I enjoyed my 50 years. You know? And, yeah, I after that is, at the age of 75, 2015 is 75.
I said, enough, I don’t want to still go through, you know, maintaining the credit hours and sitting on the computer that I I didn’t I I love that, field, and then it is time for me to take Retired. That’s why I retired. You know? I don’t, regret for anything. In the life, actually, you should not have any regrets.
You know? That’s true. I agree with that. I totally agree. And I see that you’re passionate about running as well.
I see you’re running in the neighborhood and Yes. That is How do you get to running? I forgot to ask earlier. Yes. Just How did you start running?
You see, again, another thing I see, in my childhood or in my, high school or anything, I’m not a accelerator. I am just on the I I don’t pursue much, you know. But having come to, see, just after you come back from the hospital, you have there is some so I said, no. No. I have to because I I like the tennis.
I used to play a little bit with, people who are of my age. I used to, go to the tennis court and just have some. Then afterwards, I said, let us do some regular walking. You know? Mhmm.
So that after coming back, I used to go for 3 miles, you know, from my house. So that is how I started. So 3 miles, 6 miles. That is the only thing I can do. You see?
For running and other things, you don’t require a skill, Raji. I had no uncle, sir. Many of us struggle to run. So Yeah. I see you’re running at this age, and I’m how does he do this?
Walking and a little brisk it is a little brisk jogging a little bit, not too much. I don’t want to be, do a mile in, 8 minutes or 12 no. I cannot do that. I have to be realistic. Right.
You know? That’s why there are a lot of people from Terre Haute, some doctors. They you they were participating in this marathon, mini marathon 30. So somebody told me, Ranganad, you are going, 6 miles you are telling. If you are doing 6 miles, you can easily do it, but they are so I said, oh, what is the time limit?
4 hours, you have to finish before, or otherwise, they don’t count. Okay. Let me see. That is how, you know, at the age of 65 or something, 68, I started in 2,008. I know.
I know why why I here in America, everything is a family. They they put it. You know? If you go, let us bring the family also as a family. Here, everything, you know, counts.
You know, let us go to this, and then let us see, explore. Like, that family can be, involved. That is how I first start this, me this event, I know, what is called, the the, in, Indianapolis. It is a very well, kept, running that was before the, race Memorial Day race. There is a car race in Indianapolis.
You know that? Okay. That is that is a big event in Indianapolis. Mhmm. There is a speedy there is a there is a speedway.
Mhmm. There is a speedway of, about 200 miles. The 200 lapses they do. That is that is one of the features, again, from Teriheart, there is a family called Halman family. Uh-huh.
They introduced her that car racing, speed car racing. So there is a tech there. So before that, this is called, Indiana 1 fest or something that you they say. I forgot this name. Before the Memorial Day weekend Mhmm.
1st, 1st Saturday of every year, they have this mini marathon and marathon. So I pick it up, a mini marathon of 13 miles. That is lot of people in, from Terre Haute, even the ladies, Indian ladies, they used to participate and walk and that is how. Even though I didn’t go to the training camp, I myself started doing it just before going to the race. So that is how and then I thought, let me involve my family also.
Like that, it seems when he came to, this town, he went 2 times I heard in mini marathon, he went here also. And he said, that is very good, Nana. He said. Yeah. Exactly.
It’s interesting. So you how many half marathons and how many 10 k’s you’ve done? I I’m only 13. I went for 9. 9.
Wow. You make it sound so No. Easy. You started at 65, 68 years old, and you started running. And I see you’re running even now.
You are now a young I did just what. 4 year old gentleman running in this, in this I used to I I used to tell my friends, you know, come on. Let us go. That is how some people have joined, and then still they are doing mini marathon, my close family friends. And there’s a uncle.
You are the role model for us this day. Absolutely. I mean, we look up to you for everything. So thank you so much. This is fantastic to, you know, to see a person who takes life, you know, to the makes the best out of what is given to you, and you take life at to the fullest, and you seem to enjoy the aspect of it.
Enjoy. That is what is that’s what I wish, everyone would take out of this podcast is your enthusiasm for life. So thank you so much for being on the podcast. I really appreciate your time. Okay.
Thank you, Raji. Thank you Thank you. Having me. Okay. It’s our pleasure.
It’s our honor. Thank you, everyone. Please subscribe to Proteon Pulse. Don’t miss the beat, and I will see you in the next episode. Thank you very much.
Thank you. Bye.