"Medicine for the Soul"

Lakeridge Health Physicians Find Solace – and a Bit of Fame – in Choir

When Lakeridge Health physicians Dr. Priya Iyer and Dr. Suchrita Mensinkai joined more than 30 other physicians on the stage of Canada’s Got Talent earlier this month, it was the culmination of what has been a deeply healing and comforting experience for these talented health-care professionals.

Dr. Iyer and Dr. Mensinkai, a respirologist and family physician, respectively, are part of Voices Rock Medicine – a choir of diverse female physicians who use music as a way to deal with the pressures and challenges they face every day, which has been amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It has been a stressful time for everyone during the pandemic and particularly those in health care,” explained Dr. Iyer. “I’ve always enjoyed singing and I joined the choir after hearing about it from a friend. It has been a good distraction and outlet for me and other physicians.”

Dr. Iyer notes that one thing she loves about the choir is getting to know the different women. “To have this community, it's so lovely to know all these people with different backgrounds and experiences,” she said. “It’s wonderful to have shared this experience with these women.”

It’s a sentiment echoed by Dr. Mensinkai, who joined Voices Rock Medicine in 2021 after attending a conference for female physicians and felt inspired to find a similar community. “It’s been a really difficult couple of years trying to keep our patients and ourselves safe,” explains Dr. Mensinaki. “I started thinking about what I could do to bring me joy and take a break from the constant worry. The choir gives me that little bit of time to play and recharge with an amazing group of women before coming back to my role and responsibilities as a physician,” she said.

The group was thrilled when they got the call to audition for Canada’s Got Talent. Leading up to the performance, the choir had only rehearsed virtually and a handful of times in-person.

“The first outdoor rehearsal as a group felt magical,” described Dr. Iyer.

The practice seemed to have paid off, with the choir receiving a standing ovation by the crowd and the judges during their Canada’s Got Talent performance. The physicians describe the experience as an honour and privilege to perform on stage and inspire others to take care of themselves.

Congratulations to Dr. Iyer and Dr. Mensinkai!

Watch the performance by Voices Rock Medicine on Canada’s Got Talent here.