Surgery, a Beautiful Work of Art: A Conversation with Dr. Shubhangi Patil
In this feature, we speak with Dr. Shubhangi Patil, an experienced clinician and peer reviewer, about how treating surgery as a beautiful work of art and mastering the basics through digital learning allows her to maintain clinical excellence across borders.
Surgical professionals around the world use SURGhub to improve patient outcomes. In this series we highlight their stories.
Dr. Patil’s perspective on the surgical theatre is rooted in the belief that the profession is "a beautiful work of art." This view was nurtured early on by mentorship and a path guided by curiosity. While an aptitude test in the 10th grade first sparked her interest in medicine, it was the immersive environment of clinical rotations in India that solidified her calling.
“Surgery is beautiful. If you can step into it, it is a beautiful work of art”
"Surgery became interesting to me as I could accompany my seniors on their rounds," she recalls. "The post-graduates were incredibly helpful during my internship, involving us in clinical tasks and the vital administrative side of surgical practice. My professors made surgery feel like a cakewalk."
Though her path led her to significant leadership roles—including serving as the Chief Medical Officer at KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC in Belagavi—that early surgical foundation remains the bedrock of her professional identity.
“When days are hard, I know I can count on my team”
Now based in Dubai, Dr. Patil balances a demanding portfolio as a peer reviewer for PRS Global Open and a specialist reviewer for orthopaedic literature. She has found that even in high-pressure environments, the solution to clinical hurdles is rarely a solo effort. When days are hard, she relies on the fact that her team will reach out to brainstorm alternatives, ensuring that patient care never falters due to a lack of resources or ideas.
"We discuss and implement those alternatives together," she says. "I have been fortunate to work with efficient teams; that collective effort is what keeps the standard of care high, even in challenging settings."
Dr. Shubhangi Patil previously worked at KLES Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital & MRC, Belagavi.
In an industry that evolves daily, Dr. Patil has always sought ways to stay updated through Continuing Medical Education (CME), conferences, and workshops across India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). She discovered SURGhub after her initial clinical training years, finding that it provided a perfect platform for continuous professional development.
Despite her busy schedule, she has seamlessly integrated the platform’s modules into her routine. "I found SURGhub post my clinical phase while browsing online courses. I’ve fitted it into my learning schedules alongside other certifications," she explains. For Dr. Patil, the platform ensures that the latest global standards are always within reach, regardless of where her career takes her.
“There is a lot of potential in small towns, provided they know how to navigate it the right way”
Dr. Patil is particularly passionate about guiding the next generation, especially those working outside of major metropolitan hubs. She believes there is immense potential for surgical excellence in small towns, provided that young practitioners learn how to navigate the landscape with the right skills and mindset. To her, "navigating it the right way" means that surgeons, post-graduates, and those in auxiliary training must proactively leverage digital platforms like SURGhub.
By utilising the globally recognised guidelines and resources provided on the site, clinicians in any setting can further improve their approach and deliver significantly better results to their local patient population.
To help students build that foundation, she suggests a structured "SURGhub Cycle" that prioritises communication and safety:
Communication First: Mastering telephone consultations and interprofessional dialogue.
The Clinical Foundation: Understanding instrument testing, inspection, and aseptic techniques before stepping into the operating theatre.
Critical Care: Focusing on wound management, burns care, and emergency protocols.
"Master the basics," she advises. "Be proficient with anatomy—practice the diagrams and label them properly. Remember the universal colours: yellow for nerves, red for arteries, and blue for veins."
Beyond technical skills, Dr. Patil emphasises the importance of networking and diligent documentation. She encourages students to attend CMEs from their second year onwards and to maintain a personal logbook to track their progress.
Shubhangi's Top Course
Essential Emergency & Critical Care
Topic: The critical foundations of care for all critically ill patients
Description: In this course, you will explore Essential Emergency and Critical Care, acquiring a comprehensive understanding of the foundational concepts, essential skills, and indispensable tools required to recognise critical illness, respond quickly and rescue the patient from reversible illness.
"Surgery is beautiful. If you can step into it, it is a beautiful work of art."
- Dr. Shubhangi Patil
About this Story
This profile is part of our Impact Stories series, highlighting how SURGhub learners are applying global surgical standards to local challenges. Our mission is to ensure that high-quality surgical education is a bridge—not a barrier—to saving lives worldwide.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect the official policy, position, or standpoint of SURGhub or its partner organisations.
About SURGhub
The United Nations Global Surgery Learning Hub (SURGhub) is the premier training platform in global surgical care. A joint initiative of the Global Surgery Foundation (GSF) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), supported by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) and implemented in association with the Johnson & Johnson Foundation, SURGhub provides seamless access to quality-assured online courses for frontline surgical care workers in resource-limited settings worldwide. With tens of thousands of learners across over 200 countries and territories, SURGhub is transforming access to lifesaving surgical education.
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