Kavya Kurkal

Topic: Communicating sensitive information to the patient

A  final year M.B.B.S. student at Seth G.S. Medical College and K.E.M. Hospital, Kavya feels that breaking the news of a fatal disease such as AIDS or potential death should be dealt with sensitivity. Communicating such information across to the patient is a challenge and doctors should be trained to deal with it Kavya has maintained a consistent record of distinction throughout my academic career and is actively involved in clinical research. She is presently working on a study titled Stress In Doctors- A study of stress in Medical Students at different stages of their academic life and its effect on their psychological well-being’ and ‘Prescription Monitoring of patients attending Psoriasis OPD in Tertiary Care Hospitals and Private Set-ups’. She has participated in the Training Workshop on Emergency Medicine and Disaster Preparedness conducted by FlyingDoc Incorporation, USA and a CPCR training workshop conducted by Department of Anesthesia, KEM Hospital and is involved in the organising of several seminars and conferences. She is also a volunteer at ‘SAMUTKARSH’, an NGO for the care of underprivileged children in Mumbai and tribal people in rural areas in Maharashtra and actively took part in the rehabilitation efforts after the 2005 Mumbai deluge by raising funds to buy books and other stationary for children who had lost their homes. She has also volunteered at various blood donation drives, free dental check-ups and eye camps that provided free cataract operations twice a year under the Mumbai BUNTS association. Besides academics and community service, Kavya has also participated in several extra-curricular activities. She was the English Editor of the annual College Magazine, GOSUMAG- 2010 and participated in the UNESCO World Youth Festival on “Climate Change and Global Warming” held in Stuttgart, Germany 2009.