This blog post was originally published in the June 2026 issue of doctorsNS magazine.

I am a community general surgeon living and working in Nova Scotia, currently practising at Aberdeen Regional Hospital in New Glasgow, where I have served the community for nearly 10 years. My journey to Canada – and eventually to service within the Canadian Armed Forces – was unplanned, shaped by personal growth, professional opportunity and a commitment to service.

I immigrated to Canada from India in 2007 at the age of 26, initially arriving in Greater Toronto Area to work in research at Princess Margaret Hospital. What was meant to be a brief stay extended into nearly a year, during which I gained invaluable academic and personal experience. I later moved to Nova Scotia to pursue General Surgery residency training at Dalhousie University, a transition that ultimately led to permanent settlement and a fulfilling career in rural surgical practice.

The armed forces have long held a special place in my life. As a teenager in India, I was a cadet – an experience that challenged me deeply during my formative years. The discipline, structure, physical demands and leadership expectations shaped my mindset and values, lessons that continue to influence me as a surgeon, a mother and an individual. Those early experiences instilled resilience and a sense of responsibility that have stayed with me through every stage of life.

After immigrating, I carried a quiet but persistent desire to remain connected to military service. For many years, I hesitated to accept Canadian citizenship, knowing it would mean relinquishing the possibility of serving in the armed forces back home. After nearly two decades in Canada, however, my roots were firmly established here – professionally, personally and within my community. Accepting Canadian citizenship allowed me to return to the structure and discipline that had once shaped me, this time in service to the country I now call home.

In 2023, I joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as a member of the Cadet Instructors Cadre (CIC), part of the Reserve Force, and became affiliated with the 219 Royal Canadian Army Cadets in New Glasgow. I completed my Basic Officer Training and Occupational Training at CFB Gagetown: a humbling and challenging experience that echoed my time as a cadet years earlier. Returning to a training environment not as a physician, but as a junior officer preparing to work with youth, reminded me of the value of humility, adaptability and learning from others. I now hold the rank of Second Lieutenant and participate in youth mentorship, marksmanship training and regular cadet training activities.

My involvement with the cadet program is particularly meaningful to me in the context of youth development and representation. As a person of colour, an immigrant, a local physician and a CAF officer, my visible presence in the community carries significance. For many cadets, seeing someone who reflects diverse backgrounds reinforces that leadership, service and belonging are attainable for all. Working with youth allows me to model discipline, confidence and community service while encouraging them to explore their own potential.

My engagement with the CAF represents a full‑circle journey, returning to the values that shaped me in youth and expressing them through service, mentorship and community involvement in the place I proudly call home.

I intend to continue my journey within the CAF, with the hope of eventually transitioning into the Reserve Force in a medical capacity. Serving as a physician and surgeon would allow me to contribute professionally while remaining grounded in the values of service and leadership.

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