By Dr. Diva Dhingra, M.V.Sc. Surgery and Radiology, Fredna Vet Diagnostics: In a dark radiology room between black and white images, lives are changed long before the surgery begins.
This is where my story truly found its light. It all began when I got selected for a postgraduate seat in Pathology. I was excited. As someone who always had an inclination towards Surgery,
Medicine and Pathology, pursuing a master’s degree in any of these subjects felt like a natural progression. But life has a way of revealing truths unexpectedly.
On the very first day in the department, we were assigned a post-mortem examination of a horse. Standing there, I asked myself a question that changed everything: Do I really want this? Or did I want to help the animal when it was alive?
That day taught me something profound — liking a subject does not necessarily mean you will enjoy practicing it for the rest of your life.
A few days later came the mop-up counselling process. I stood at a crossroads: Should I reappear for the PG exam? Should I fight for a Surgery and Radiology seat? Destiny, hard work, and perhaps a stubborn belief in myself aligned — I secured a seat in Surgery and Radiology.
And that is when I realized where my heart truly belonged. Radiology fascinated me — the ability to see what is hidden beneath, to interpret silent stories inside a living body. When a new CT machine was installed in our college, I chose my thesis topic on CT (lower respiratory tract infections in dogs) — the first in the college and university.
It was uncharted territory. There were struggles, doubts and limitations. But persistence prevailed and I passed with flying colours. Even before my final thesis viva, I had secured a job at an exclusive diagnostic imaging centre.
That moment proved something I deeply believe in — sometimes being stubborn about your dreams is exactly what helps you achieve them.
On this Women’s Day, I want to tell every woman — pursue your dreams fiercely. Specialize. Master something. It gives you an identity. It gives you recognition. It feels empowering to know you are exceptionally good at something. In a world full of generalists, dare to be a specialist. Of course, challenges will come.
I faced them too. I was told, “Radiology is a technician’s job.” I heard, “A surgeon is recognized only when he performs surgeries.” Some said, “You cannot jump directly to CT — it’s too advanced.” But I cancelled the noise. I listened to my heart. And I jumped.
That jump would not have been possible without unwavering support. My mentor and guide, Dr. Apoorva Mishra, stood by me with guidance and belief. Her mentorship reminds me that every woman needs at least one strong mentor — someone who opens doors, builds confidence and teaches you not just skills, but courage. Mentorship shapes destinies. My family and my friend, Dr. Chetanya, were pillars of strength through every uncertain moment.
I still remember performing my first foetal examination and seeing live foetuses on the screen. I was awestruck. Proud. Humbled. That moment confirmed I had chosen correctly. Soon, I was performing whole body contrast CTs, barium meals and advanced imaging procedures.
A year into my professional journey, I have performed abdominal angiographies, dynamic retrograde urethrography, oral contrast CT with gastrografin, and even CT scans of rabbits and turtles. Each case has been a lesson. Each scan, a responsibility.
Radiology is not just about images. It is about outcomes. Accurate and timely diagnosis changes prognosis dramatically. A case suspected to be acute pancreatitis turned out to be a linear foreign body — a game changer for that patient.
A small bulge on the forehead revealed itself as chondrosarcoma. Mast cell tumours were detected with precise surgical margins enabling successful surgery.
Oronasal tumours that would have remained undiagnosed were redirected for chemotherapy. Emergency cases of hemoabdomen where the point of origin could be identified. Splenic torsions caught in time.
But diagnosis also carries emotional weight. There are moments when I see a scan and know the patient may not survive a day or two. Informing a pet parent about that reality is heartbreaking. Balancing risk and benefit when anaesthesia or contrast procedures could endanger a critical patient is a heavy responsibility.
As said in the movie Spider-Man, “With great power comes great responsibility.” When you manage a team, when patients’ lives are in your hands, those words become real.
Every day, scans give me strength — the joy of solving complex cases — and vulnerability — the humility of knowing that sometimes, nothing more can be done after the scan ends.
This journey has also shown me that we need supportive ecosystems. Institutions that encourage innovation. Mentors who uplift. Colleagues who collaborate instead of competing. Families who believe. When women are supported instead of questioned, they don’t just survive — they excel.
Today, as a veterinary radiologist, I stand proud — not because the journey was easy, but because it was chosen.
To every woman reading this: enter the field that ignites your soul, especially if it deals with emotions and lives. Women have an extraordinary capacity to balance precision with empathy, science with sensitivity, responsibility with love. We can handle complexity. We can handle pressure. And we can handle it with compassion.
Dream boldly. Specialize deeply. Lead fearlessly.
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