BURLINGTON, MA—Dr. Smita K. Patel, MD, is a physician at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, MA. A volunteer at Akshaya Patra, she specializes in psychiatry and behavioral medicine.
In addition, she consults for Liver and Kidney Transplant team, and is a clinical Associate Professor at Tufts Medical school.
Calling herself a regular person, she says all physicians chose the profession to help the community and the people in need.
Here is a Q/A with Dr. Patel:
INDIA New England News: Please tell our readers about your work and what you enjoy most about it?
Smita Patel: I enjoy working in the medical field and mainly with people with addiction.
INE: If you’re engaged with any charity or non-profit, please tell us why this organization and what do you do for them?
SP: Cummings Foundation: -$100K for 100 – five years in selection committee, out of which one year as Vice Chair in the committee and then one year as a chair.
Akshay Patra: involved as a donor and then in Committee.
Lahey Hospital: part of peer support physician during Covid surge to help colleague to deal with burn out from stress.
IMANE: Committee members for two years and then rejoined this year.
In India: During Covid, started helping some families with providing groceries every month.
INE: What are your hobbies and interests?
SP: Traveling, spending time with family and friends.
INE: In what way you feel you have most positively influenced or served the local community and your company/organization and professional field?
SP: In my opinion all physicians chose the profession to help the community/ people in need.
INE: What is your rare talent?
SP: I am a regular person without any rare talent.
INE: Your favorite books?
SP: I read to relax during vacation.
INE: Your favorite quotes?
SP: “Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged. Philanthropy to me , is being engaged , not only with your resources but getting people and yourself really involved and doing things that haven’t done before ” by Eli Board
“We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give” – By Winston Churchill
INE: Who inspires you the most?
SP: Both sides my Grandfathers were philanthropist, paternal Grandfather with school system and Maternal Grandfather donated free water supply to whole town – his statue is still there at the main water supply plant. My Mother started a program for women to be self-sufficient – and health educations to poor community. My mother inspired me to be a physician.
INE: Your core value you try to live by?
SP: Do not do/act the way you do not want others to do to you. My Prayer -“God grant me the serenity to accept thing I cannot change and strength to change I can. Wisdom to find the difference.”
