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Conversations With Dr Barankin: Dr Babar Rao
What is a typical day like for dermatologic expert, Barbar K. Rao, MD, FAAD? Benjamin Barankin, MD, FRCPC, asks Dr Rao for insights into his life and hobbies in this latest episode of Conversations With Dr Barankin.
Dr Barankin is a dermatologist in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Dr Rao is a clinical professor of dermatology and dermatopathology of the department of dermatology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, NJ, as well as associate clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University in New York City, NY.
Transcript
Dr Barankin: Hello, and welcome to the podcast Conversations with Dr Barankin. I'm Dr Benjamin Barankin, a dermatologist in Toronto, Canada. In these succinct interviews with our dermatology colleagues, we'll ask these bright and talented minds their thoughts, experiences, and pearls of wisdom that are fun, interesting, and actionable.
Let's get started. I'd like to welcome Dr Babar Rao to this podcast. He is board certified in both dermatology and dermatopathology, and he's a leading authority on pigmented lesions as well as a pioneer in dermoscopy and confocal microscopy.
Dr Babar Rao has completed residency training and fellowships at the University of London, UT Southwestern, New York University, and Cornell University. Currently serves as a clinical professor of dermatology and dermatopathology of the department of dermatology at the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr Rao is also an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University.
Dr Rao, thank you so much for joining me.
Dr Babar Rao: Thank you. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
Dr Barankin: Babar, let's start off with something fun and easy, maybe tell us about your favorite book, or what book you're currently reading.
Dr Rao: Currently, I'm trying to read the part two of the book, but my favorite book over the last 10, 15 years has been the Sapiens, where basically the book summarizes in a way how possibly we got here, where we are now as humans, and where we may go or where we may end up.
Dr Barankin: Yuval Harari's books have become big global bestsellers, and summarize where, as you said, we've been, where we're going, in a very understandable and interesting way. He's amazing. Any favorite songs or music? Are you a fan of music?
Dr Rao: I am. As you know, I'm bilingual, so if I have to talk about English music, then my favorite all the time you have to think is Ray Charles, where he's singing about "Here We Go Again." Obviously, I like some other Indian and other Urdu music, but Ray Charles anytime.
Dr Barankin: Are you a fan of movies? Have you seen any movies in the last couple of years?
Dr Rao: Yes. Lots of movies, but one of the movies which I can see anytime, and I'm always equally hyper, is the movie "Taken."
Dr Barankin: Liam Neeson, sure, great movie, absolutely. Any morning rituals for you? Do you meditate, do yoga, go for a run, read? What do you do?
Dr Rao: If it's a working day, I would like to just sit down, have a cup of coffee, and don't touch my phone or not listen to radio, TV, or anything for a while, so that I can get things together in my head and ready to move on. If I was on a non-working day, and I'm in California, where I have a farmhouse, I like to walk outside and look at the sun or listen to the birds. It could be so beautiful if you have time to look at it. [laughs]
Dr Barankin: Babar, if you could have three people over for dinner, excluding family and friends, who would they be, what might you discuss over the dinner?
Dr Rao: That could be so many, but I would love to have a drink or dinner with our ex-President Obama, and see, with all the difficulties any president have, he had more than usual, how did he handle that stress and how still kept cool and have sensible answers all the time.
Another person, which I wish I could go back in time and interview, is Nelson Mandela. Not interview, just have a chat with him at dinner or whatever. He was in prison for such a long time, and how did he continue to basically keep thinking about the same mission and not went crazy in these many years, and still came out as successful.
If you give me another choice, then, out of many other choices, I would like to chat with Lady D, or Lady Diana. Being from an average family in England, she ended up with royalties and princes and all that. I just want to chat with D how was it like, how did she keep herself composed, and how did she handle all that. That would be very exciting.
Dr Barankin: Having those three over for dinner would make for a very entertaining [laughs] and inspiring dinner, no doubt.
Dr Rao: [laughs] Yeah.
Dr Barankin: Babar, any advice you would give to your 18-year-old self?
Dr Rao: I probably would say, have more fun as you go, as you are trying to achieve everything, but have more fun, have more time for friends and family.
Dr Barankin: Most of us would definitely agree with that. Maybe, we take things too seriously in our academic pursuits, and taking things easier and having some more fun, I agree. Babar, if you weren't a physician, what do you think you might love to do instead?
Dr Rao: That's a tough one. I'd been thinking about it. If I was not a physician, then what would I like to do? I might have various thought processes, but probably I will be a teacher still. I believe if I have this capacity, or this capability, where I can translate in some friendly way to other people whatever I know, I would probably be a teacher in some shape or other.
Dr Barankin: Any favorite hobbies, any favorite forms of exercise?
Dr Rao: My favorite exercise, if I have time, I like to play ping-pong all the time. Otherwise, hobbies-wise, once again, it come down to be with my friends and a loved one I like, and enjoy and relax.
Dr Barankin: We have a ping-pong table on our basement that's got a lot of use during this pandemic. Once this is all over, Babar, I'd love to have you over for a ping-pong tournament.
Dr Rao: Anytime.
Dr Barankin: Wonderful. How do you find balance between your medical career, your family, your personal interests?
Dr Rao: It comes down to basically have a system of organization and prioritize things, like which needs to be done when, and then continuously review those. Basically organization, and then having a, I don't want to even call them assistant, like people you work with who are helping you to achieve what you're trying to achieve while you are guiding them, so, organization and good people to work with you.
Dr Barankin: Surround yourself with good people, right?
Dr Rao: Yes.
Dr Barankin: Babar, if you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
Dr Rao: Still California, I think.
Dr Barankin: What do you love about California?
Dr Rao: First of all, it's a liberal state, as you probably know, so you can live your own way. It's almost difficult to have all four weathers, mountains, and oceans, and agriculture, and full of education, and everything else. I probably would still choose California.
Dr Barankin: It is an amazing state, I'd have to agree with you there. I love attending the AAD meetings there, whether it's San Diego or San Francisco, I've always had a wonderful time there. What would your ideal day look like?
Dr Rao: Usually, nowadays, I've slowed down a bit, so I'm working nine to five. In that, even half day's mostly thinking, planning, organizing, and other half day's usually patient care. Usually, half intellectual part and half managing patients which I love to do.
Dr Barankin: I like that you say that you're slowing down and only working nine to five [laughs] .
Dr Rao: Yeah. [laughs]
Dr Barankin: I won't even ask how long you worked before. [laughs]
Dr Rao: [laughs] That was a lot.
Dr Barankin: What's been your greatest travel experience? Where do you hope to travel next?
Dr Rao: If I have to pick one more time and go, probably I'll go back to Italy. Whenever I go, other than I've got good friend there, good food, scenery, happy people, and most of the people can still speak English. You can communicate with them, so I'll go to Italy anytime, again and again.
Dr Barankin: We were there a year ago, and I agree, you can't go wrong with Italy. What would you tell your children about going into medicine today? Would you encourage them to go into, or other people's children?
Dr Rao: If they have a liking for it. If they like to be in healthcare field, I would definitely encourage them, because it's still a great field financially and taking care of other people-wise.
It's a long journey. If they don't like it, I'll definitely tell them don't do it, because it's a long journey, and hard and tough, while you can achieve your goals other ways, whatever you like. If they like it, I will encourage it, if they don't like it, obviously, I'll say do whatever you like.
Dr Barankin: Babar, any favorite quotes or words of wisdom that you follow or appreciate?
Dr Rao: Since I'm so much involved so far with teaching and sharing knowledge and all that, and learning from other people, in my recent textbook of dermatology, which was published a couple of years ago, my code there was basically to acknowledge that all I know, I know from other people, obviously, by reading their references, the papers, or something. Whatever I know, I like to share it with other people. The code that I know, I know from others. A little bit I know I like to share with all.
Dr Barankin: Like standing on the shoulders of giants.
Dr Rao: Yes. [laughs]
Dr Barankin: Any cool websites or apps that you use in clinic or for fun?
Dr Rao: Mostly, I'm using these teaching [laughs] apps for teaching medical students. I have a software company, and we have our own apps, but basically to help students to learn better. If I name one, it may not be fair, but actually, there is a very interesting app, which is fun app for dermatologists by a visual diagnosis, and it's cool stuff to look at the way we want to teach and learn dermatology.
Dr Barankin: What would you say is the best way, at least for you, to destress?
Dr Rao: Listen to music or exercise. If I'm not in a position to listen to music or exercise, then, I'll have a beer.
Dr Barankin: Babar, if you were offered a free trip to space, to the Moon or maybe to Mars, would you take it and why?
Dr Rao: I actually won't take it, because the Mars or Moon, I actually have a height phobia, I'll be scared to death. I probably won't go.
Dr Barankin: That's reasonable. Wrapping things up, Babar, what's the best investment you've made in your life whether it's a stock, or your house, or a car, or education?
Dr Rao: Financially, I'm not into looking at Wall Street. I've never done any investment myself. I have a guy who helps me. The investment which I have made, and I'm proud of it, and I'm happy about is how I have invested my time in helping other people.
They could be my friends, relatives, or my students, or residents, or fellow-doctors. If was able to invest my time in a way which was useful for somebody else and even me, because that satisfied me indirectly, my investment is my time investment in trying to help other people. That's the best part I like.
Dr Barankin: That's wonderful. Dr Babar Rao, thank you so very much for joining me for this podcast, for all the work that you do in dermatology and teaching and publishing. We're forever grateful in our specialty. Thank you.
Dr Rao: Thank you so much.
