From Pediatrics to Pfizer: Dr. Jyoti Ramakrishna Reflects on Her Journey and Overcoming Obstacles
“When I was recruited as Chief of Pediatric GI at the Tufts Floating Hospital for Children, it was indeed a proud moment; I broke the glass ceiling as a woman serving as chief of my specialty in the Boston area.” Today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Jyoti Ramakrishna is a renowned pediatrician. In her Women Who Win interview, she reflects on how she overcame obstacles such as gender biases in her professional journey, navigating her mid-career switch from pediatric gastroenterology to Pfizer, advice for families on selecting the right pediatrician, and the women in her life that made her who she is today. She writes, “I have come across many strong women over the years. Especially I have 2 aunts, one on each side of the family, who have always been there for me ever since I lost my mother. One is a PhD and the other an MD. Both my grandmothers were also very strong women. Any time I feel like complaining about my life I think of my grandmothers and kick myself.” We are excited to share her story for Women’s Health Wednesday!
1. Tell us your story. Where did you grow up and how did you know you wanted to pursue medicine, particularly pediatrics?
My personal story is rather long - I was born in Boston, both my parents were at MIT, then my father was recruited back to IIT Delhi when it opened; I went back to india as a baby, spending my first 10 years on IIT Delhi campus. After my mother died when I was 10 , things were a bit rocky until eventually my father also passed away when I was in 12th standard.
I then attended Lady Hardings Medical College in Delhi where I spent another 10 years, doing MBBS and MD Pediatrics. I wasn't 100% sure about medicine, and I was applying to IITs etc as well - it was just a matter of luck and timing frankly, but I loved it.
When I got into IIT after my 1st year of medical college I decided to stay in medical school. I knew soon after that it was either going to be Pediatrics, or I take my MBBS and do something else. I never had an interest in Adult Medicine. With my US citizenship, I came to the US to do further specialization; I still had to do the exams and repeat a couple of years but it worked out. I ended up doing my Ped GI and Nutrition Fellowship right here at Tufts, at the Floating Hospital for Children which is sadly closed now.
2. You were formerly the Chief of Pediatrics, Ped GI, and Nutrition at Tufts Medical Center. Tell us about one accomplishment and one challenge you were most proud of in your career?
After working at UMass Memorial Hospital for Children for eleven years, six of those as acting Division Chief, followed by MGH for Children for over 2 years, I was recruited as Chief of Pediatric GI at the Tufts Floating Hospital for Children. This was indeed a proud moment, I broke the glass ceiling as a woman serving as chief of my specialty in the Boston area; I was in the office that my respected Professor and mentor had been in and it was amazing to return to this hospital because anyone who has worked or been a patient there knows it was a very special place.
As far as challenges go, I feel like my whole professional life was one constant challenge - as a woman, as a non-white woman, as a non-Christian/non-Jewish person in medicine in the Northeast with a name like mine at the time. It was uphill all the way! Ultimately, I made sure I showed up with a smile, with confidence, and just kept being myself. Some days were hard but I was determined to be strong, to teach my students and residents well, and take excellent care of my patients. I worked hard at not letting myself be affected by multiple episodes of misogyny and bigotry and continued to believe in the innate goodness of the people around me. Because of this mindset - despite the bad days and incidents, there were many more good days and fulfilling experiences!
Another accomplishment was when I got my MPH from the Harvard School of Public Health - it was tough, and it was spread over 4 years. I pursued this part-time while I worked full time and as a mom of two middle school kids. I started when I was 50, and Harvard is a demanding environment, but I enjoyed it tremendously and learnt a lot!
More recently I made a switch. After over 30 years in academic medicine I joined Pfizer R&D where I run early stage clinical trials in Inflammation and Immunology. This is my third big accomplishment, to have successfully made a mid- to late-career switch! I am enjoying this opportunity to help bring new drugs from the lab to the clinic and have had the opportunity to work with some extremely talented researchers and scientists in the process.
3. What should every parent know about selecting a pediatrician for their child?
Having a baby is a life changing experience; thankfully most pediatricians are lovely caring people. Unfortunately insurance and location will mostly determine where you seek pediatric care. But even in a group of doctors there are different personalities and not everyone is a good fit for your family. Know that you can meet with a couple of different people before you decide.
Once you are a parent you cannot take a back seat in your child's life, you are their advocate especially in the first few years, so don't be shy! Mostly nature takes care of stuff - you go for shots, maybe a couple of seasonal illnesses. If your child had extra needs then you definitely have to find someone who understands and will advocate for your child right alongside you. I think a aediatricians office that is responsive as in they return calls, have a good user friendly portal and a good on-call 24/7 coverage is very important too.
Networking with other parents in your area (or who share any special circumstances) is another way to find a good pediatrician. Many resources are available online and you can definitely inform yourself of things such as - which pediatricians are covered by my insurance? which hospital does this pediatrician admit their patients to if needed? And which specialists do they refer to (if your child needs certain specialists)?
4. Is there an empowered woman in your life that you really admire? Tell us more!
I have come across many strong women over the years. Especially I have 2 aunts, one on each side of the family, who have always been there for me ever since I lost my mother. One is a PhD and the other an MD. Both my grandmothers were also very strong women. My dadi [grandmother on my father’s side] was widowed when my dad was 2 and raised 4 children, built a house, and was an amazing lady who spoke multiple South Indian languages and self-taught Hindi and English. In fact, she would write me letters in English!. My Nani [grandmother on my mother’s side] went blind and almost deaf due to an illness is her 30s but she taught herself Braille, read extensively, kept abreast of current events, and was fiercely independent around the house. Any time I feel like complaining about my life I think of my grandmothers and kick myself.
5. What do you like to do outside of work to relax and unwind?
I am a writer. I have written a book called 'A Fresh Look at Hinduism' (available quite cheap on Amazon!). I read a lot and wrote a simple, easy-to-read book aimed mostly at people who grew up not knowing, or people curious to learn about what it means to be a Hindu in today's world. I wrote this during my 2 pregnancies because I was thinking that my kids should have something that explained things clearly and easily! I also have compiled a straightforward unfiltered verse-by-verse translation of the Bhagwad Gita that I posted as one verse daily on Facebook for 2 years, and plan to release as a book sometime in the near future. But strangely I am not a religious person! I plan to write other books when I retire on diverse topics. I also have written poems all my life.
I like to be outdoors, go for hikes on trails or hills, and ride my bike on some of the nice bike paths we have in Massachusetts! I potter about my small garden. I love to travel, but nothing crazy, just a few targeted trips to fun places with people I am close to. I read a lot, though recently I have mostly switched to audio-books. Watching good movies or shows, etc, the usual I guess! I try to eat healthy and keep up my exercise routine for sure.
6. As we are the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
My next big dream is to find a platform where I can help people using my knowledge and skills. Child health and nutrition are my top priorities. We are in an age where the world seems unsettled - there are many children still going hungry and suffering illnesses related to malnutrition, while in parallel there is an epidemic of obesity. If I can find a way to help children who have been left behind and if any readers know of an opportunity where I could have a significant impact, I would love to hear about it!