Resident Spotlight: Dr. Aditi Kane
Tell me a bit about yourself.
My name is Aditi Kane, and I am a PGY2 resident in Family Medicine. I live in London with my husband, who is also a PGY2 as well as our dog, Lily. I grew up all over the world and my journey finally brought me to Western in 2016.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Mumbai, India. As a child, my family travelled and moved often, due to my father’s job. As a result, we have lived in India and several cities in the United States before immigrating to Canada in 2000. I spent most of my school years in Ottawa. I completed my undergraduate degree in Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa, before attending medical school at Queen’s University in Kingston.
Where do you practice medicine and in what scope?
I am currently a PGY2 in Family Medicine at in the Western Urban Program. My home site is the St. Joseph’s Family Medical Centre, under the supervision of Dr. Laura Lyons. Following the completion of my residency, I am hoping to stay in London and the surrounding area and practice comprehensive primary care.
What are your research interests?
Although research has never been a focus of mine, I believe that Quality Improvement research is extremely important, and hope to use this method of research in my future career.
Why did you choose to pursue Postgraduate degree in the Department of Family Medicine at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry?
My decision to pursue postgraduate training in Family Medicine at Schulich Medicine and Dentistry was multifactorial. Firstly, the culmination of my experiences in medical school taught me that I valued generalist medicine, I enjoyed providing care for all age groups. I enjoyed knowing the patients I was treating on a long-term basis and craved the responsibility that comes with not only looking after one patient, but often his or her entire family. The Family Medicine Program at Western offered the flexibility I needed to mold my education in a way that would benefit me the most in my future practice.
Secondly, it was important to me to be at an institution which also offered an extremely strong Internal Medicine Residency training program for my husband. Western was the clear choice.
Thirdly, I wanted to train and practice medicine in an environment where I would have opportunities to experience both urban, and rural/regional medicine within easy commuting distance.
Can you tell me about your experience in the program?
I have had a phenomenal experience in the Family Medicine program at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. I have had the honour of working with Dr. Laura Lyons who has been an incredible mentor to me. Through her support and supervision, I have been able to create approaches to many common problems in family medicine. She offered me the perfect balance of independence and support when I worked with her at the St. Joseph’s Family Medical Centre. Through my experiences at Western, I have been able to network with various physicians in the community. This has been invaluable in helping me conceptualize what my future practice might look like. I have been incredibly lucky to work with supportive and knowledgable allied health professionals throughout my training.
I feel that the Western Family Medicine Residency Program has given me a strong base of knowledge upon which I will build my family practice.
What has been your greatest challenge?
One of the greatest challenges in medicine I have found is that often, the answer to a question is not clear. As doctors, we are often perfectionists, and are uncomfortable with uncertainty. One of the challenges in medicine I continue to struggle with is having to make a decision when there is no “right” answer. I think that we all fear making mistakes that can harm a patient. I do think that if a mistake does happen, it is our responsibility to be accountable for that mistake, and move forward to rectify it, as well as helping others learn from it.
What has been your greatest experience to date in your study/practice/ research?
My greatest experience to date in my education has been working at my home family medicine site and working with an incredible team of fellow residents, staff physicians and allied health professionals. One of the most meaningful experiences I can recall is being part of the goals of care discussions for a patient who had been very unexpectedly diagnosed with end-stage cancer. It was an amazing experience in learning how to speak with compassion to family members about their dying loved ones.
What inspires you in your work?
I am inspired to do my work by my patients, who put their trust in me to provide them with excellent, comprehensive primary care. I am motivated by the trust they put in me as their primary physician when making important decisions about their health. I am also inspired when I have the opportunity to teach medical students or junior residents, as I feel that it also makes me a better learner when I have to teach others.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope to be working as a full-time family physician in London. I also hope to have the opportunity to teach medical students or residents inmy practice. On a personal level, I hope to raise a family with my husband in the next few years.
What special interests or hobbies do you have?
I love to travel with my husband. We love experiencing the cultures and foods of foreign places. Additionally, cooking (and eating) is definitely a hobby of mine. I am always looking for delicious, creative recipes to experiment with!
What three words best describe you?
- Reliable
- Adaptable
- Sincere
