Canada: Mangalorean Dr Deepika Lobo bags gold medal in MBA programme
Gerry D’Mello,
Daijiworld Media Network - Canada
Canada, Jun 23: Mangalorean brain Dr Deepika Delilah Lobo has made not only her beloved family but the entire Indian community in Canada proud by winning the prestigious ‘Allan J Greve’ gold medal for achieving the highest academic standing during MBA in Health Services Management at DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University in Canada.
Deepika is the proud daughter of Denis and Dorothy Rodrigues from Mangalore. She married Ravi Kiran Lobo in 2005, and the couple is blessed with a son, born in 2009.
After completing initial schooling in St Mary’s School, Mangalore, Deepika pursued medicine and completed MBBS at Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore with distinction.
When Deepika moved to Canada with her husband five years ago she knew nothing about Canada, and as is the case with many skilled and educated immigrants, couldn’t get work in her field. In India, Deepika had trained as a physician, and worked briefly as both a family doctor and in public health. After moving to Canada from Mangalore, following a stint in San Francisco, her credentials meant she could apply for only a residency programme. In her case, that meant the five-year program at McMaster University. Knowing it would be tough to get in (there are only a few spots for international medical graduates), she went in search of a “solid backup plan.” “I couldn’t fully rely on getting licensed here,” says the 31-year-old. So Deepika looked for other prospects.
To her surprise, the DeGroote School of Business offered an MBA specializing in health services management, which suited her perfectly. “I have always been into public speaking, and I love administration,” she says. With a toddler in daycare and family far away in India, the 28-month programme stretched Lobo to her limit, but she thrived, even making it to the dean’s list.
Speaking to Daijiworld in Canada, Dr Deepika says, “I just started my residency training in Public Health and Preventive Medicine, DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Canada and have five more years to go. I am extremely happy to be here at this point in my life doing what I love to do. PHPM residency allows me to be simultaneously involved in patient care, public health and health care planning. Going forward this will enable me to combine my clinical skills and MBA knowledge, and help create a health care system that is focused more on preventive care rather than acute care, a system that is patient and provider friendly while being cost effective.”