Dr Shriram Nene Recalls Early Resistance from Indian Doctors After Moving from US

Dr Shriram Madhav Nene, husband of Bollywood actor Madhuri Dixit, faced early resistance from local heart surgeons in India when he shifted from a medical career in the United States to entrepreneurship.

Career Shift

Born in London and raised in the United States, Dr Nene had a thriving career as a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon before moving to India in 2011. He initially did not know how popular his wife was in India when they married in 1999. His goal in moving was to scale medicine and make healthcare widely available through media, technology, and smart services.

Facing Pushback

Industrialists wanted him to join hospital panels and perform surgeries, but he declined because his vision was different. Local doctors viewed him as a threat and tried to block his entry into the field. He convinced the Indian Parliament to issue licenses because there was previously no system to license doctors trained abroad, and officials recognized a shortage of medical schools and doctors.

Current Ventures

After facing the initial pushback, Dr Nene transitioned into an entrepreneur. He founded RnM Moving Pictures, producing films for Netflix and theaters as well as educational content. He is also developing a medical platform called Pathfinder Health Sciences to improve lifestyles and lifespans using media, apps, wearable technology, and smart services.

Context

Doctor Nene and Madhuri Dixit returned to India after living in the United States, where they had raised their two sons, Arin and Ryan. Foreign-trained medical professionals often face complex regulatory hurdles when trying to practice or set up healthcare ventures in different countries due to local licensing laws.