Lakeridge Health Physician “Walks in the Footsteps” of Her Grandfather in Career Choice

When Dr. Sohini Mitra reflects on why she became a physician and an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, she’s taken back to her childhood in India.

“My grandfather trained an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist in India. But back then, men were discouraged from practicing in women’s health, so he became a family doctor,” explained Dr. Mitra, who is also the Obstetrical Site Lead at the Ajax Pickering Hospital. “I was often able to sit in his clinic and see him interact with and help patients so that inspired me as a child to pursue medicine.”

Dr. Mitra joined Lakeridge Health at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020 and shared that it has been a “very interesting” journey.

“I had just graduated from residency at that time, so I was a brand-new physician and there was a lot of uncertainty and a lot of things to learn. However, the team at the Ajax Pickering Hospital have been incredible. The other Obstetricians have really supported me, and the labour and delivery nurses are phenomenal – probably some of the best I’ve ever worked with.”

As Dr. Mitra builds her career in a place that she loves, she also continues to take personal pride in walking in her grandfather’s footsteps.

“I think he would be very proud to know that I was so motivated by him to pursue the same career path,” she said with a smile on her face.