Manisha Bhattacharya, MD, MBA, is the Neuro-Oncology Hospitalist at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. She joined Duke GIM faculty in July of this year after completing her 4-year combined Internal Medicine Residency and Management Leadership Program in June. To get to know her better, we asked her the following questions:
What brought you to Duke?
I came to Duke for medical school because of the unique curriculum and the opportunity to do a dual degree with the Fuqua School of Business. I was then lucky enough to stay for Internal Medicine residency and be part of the Management and Leadership Program for Residents, which extended my Medicine training by adding time to work on operations and strategy projects across the health system.
What are your interests in the field?
I'm interested in broadening access to cancer care across socioeconomic strata and understanding the impact of health policy and health systems design on our patients.
How did you get into this specific field?
I will be a hematology-oncology fellow next year, but getting to spend this year taking care of patients with primary brain tumors has been a valuable and fulfilling experience. Cancer patients can have plenty of "gen med" problems too, even when a brain tumor seems to be dominating their medical care. The patients and families I work with inspire me with their endurance and bravery as they face the many ups and downs of treatment.
"The patients and families I work with inspire me with their endurance and bravery as they face the many ups and downs of treatment."
What are your hobbies or interests outside of work?
Outside of work, I like reading (fiction and non-fiction), watching mini-series adaptations of classic mystery novels, and music.
Any recent books you've read that you would like to share?
For medical professionals at all levels, but especially trainees, I highly recommend "What Doctors Feel" by Danielle Ofri, who is an accomplished GIM physician and author. For a more general audience, but keeping with the physician-author theme, check out "Murder at the House of Rooster Happiness" and "The Missing Guests of the Magic Grove Hotel", both works of fiction written by our very own David Casarett in Palliative Care.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I sang in an a capella group in high school, and in 2009 got to be in the founding class of Major Groove, our Duke SoM a capella group!
What are your favorite local restaurants?
I certainly have a sweet tooth, so I will weigh in on bakeries- Guglhupf for croissants + pain au chocolat, Dulce Cafe for carrot cake, and Early Bird Donuts near Duke! Monuts on Ninth Street is also quintessentially Durham and has delicious breakfasty-lunch options.
Learn even more about Dr. Bhattacharya in the video below that was taken during her residency.
Follow her on Twitter @starscrapers
[video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0km5kIfpAFg]