Leaders
Healthcare leaders put in a great deal of effort to advance the field. Their contributions are not limited to clinical settings, they also have an impact on healthcare policy, research, and education, which advances the development of a more efficient and equitable healthcare system.
Dr. Chidrupi Sharma is a highly specialized doctor in emergency and critical care medicine. She has held prominent positions in several corporate hospitals in Hyderabad, including Continental Hospital, Yashoda Group, Apollo and Star Group. Despite her successful corporate career, Dr. Chidrupi felt the need to start something of her own and founded Freedom Hospitals which is a pioneering standalone emergency facility in India.
Embarking on a distinctive exchange with Women Entrepreneurs Review magazine, Chidrupi divulges the intricate facets of her transformative journey as a prominent leader in the country. Let's explore further.
How did your time at IIM Calcutta shape you as an individual and as a professional?
My time at IIM Calcutta provided me with the opportunity to meet and learn from a group of individuals from a wide array of industries. These interactions helped me gain insights into how businesses work and provided a broad perspective on leadership and management. The program has enabled and equipped me with essential business acumen, essential to lead an organization.
Tell us about the key areas of expertise you have developed over the years.
At the core of my heart, I am a teacher. Throughout my career, I have been the academic head at most of the hospitals I have worked in, training postgraduate students in emergency medicine and critical care medicine. I teach life-saving skills, and as an emergency physician certified by the UK board, I have completed my master's in emergency medicine, post graduate diploma in Infectious diseases and a fellowship in intensive care medicine. Recently, I added another feather to my cap by finishing a fellowship in aviation medicine, becoming part of the first batch in India to achieve this from Kent Sussex in London.
I also train the general population in CPR and first aid through Essential Life Saving Skills (ELSS) India. I have already trained over 30,000 people, including cops, and my dream is to extend this training to schools, colleges, security personnel, and beyond. I am certified by prestigious institutions such as the American Heart Association and the American College of Surgeons and have collaborated with organizations like Niti Aayog, worked in disaster management, and contributed to hospital preparedness programs with USAID.
I am also a flying doctor. My expertise extends to airlifting critically ill patients from one state to another or even from one country to another. This was particularly significant during the COVID-19 pandemic when I facilitated Agra's first-ever airlift and ECMO transfer, a procedure that bypasses the lungs. Ensuring patients' survival during these transfers has been both challenging and rewarding.
What led you to establish Freedom Hospitals? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the venture and its key areas of expertise.
Having worked in corporate hospitals, I found myself often caught in a rat race. Financial considerations would overshadow patient care sometimes, and I wanted the freedom to treat my patients based on their needs and not their ability to pay. This inspired me to establish Freedom Hospitals. It is a standalone emergency unit which is the first of its kind in India. We provide immediate lifesaving treatment for emergency medical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, and trauma. Post this, we transfer patients to the hospital of their preference for further treatment. We are not tied to any single hospital but instead have MOUs with multiple hospitals nearby.
Every person deserves access to quality healthcare, & we must break down barriers & make this a reality for all
We also have a well-equipped diagnostic lab and an operation theater. A team of visiting specialists provides consultations and performance surgeries as well at our facility, which enables us to provide affordable and quality healthcare to a larger population.
What have been the most critical challenges you encounter in your current role? How do you overcome the said roadblocks?
Any entrepreneurial venture is a challenge. From managing finances to setting up a hospital with all the necessary licensing and compliance and government regulations, it is no small feat. We are a full-fledged hospital, which means that we must adhere to a plethora of laws and standards.
Another challenge is building the right team, especially in a setup like ours. Finding the right team members who align with my mission and work is crucial. I am fortunate to have found a fantastic team who are as passionate and hard-working as I am.
What has your success mantra been over the years?
My success mantra is that I love my work. I am extremely passionate about what I do and believe that my hospital is my sanctum santorum. It's where I find peace, fulfillment, and purpose. My passion for work gives me energy and rejuvenates me. I genuinely look forward to working every day and cannot imagine a life or day where I am not treating my patients.
A business leader you admire: Prime Minister Modi for his commitment, sincerity, and tireless efforts to enact transformative change in a nation as vast and complex as India.
Advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs/ business leaders: By prioritizing sincerity, commitment, and self-satisfaction, you can cultivate a rewarding journey and inspire meaningful change in your lives.
Dr. Chidrupi Sharma, Founder, Freedom Hospitals
Dr. Chidrupi Sharma is a distinguished emergency and critical care physician with extensive experience leading corporate hospitals such as Continental Hospital, Star hospitals, Apollo Group and Yashoda Group. Her academic journey includes a master's in emergency medicine, infectious diseases training affiliated with UNSW Australia, and a fellowship in aviation medicine from Kent Sussex. Her expertise spans CPR training through ELSS India, disaster management, and pioneering ECMO airlifts for critical COVID patients.
