COMMENTARY
‘ AUM ’ - The Power of Sound .
NAVEEN PATIL , MD , MHSA , MA , FIDSA ; SOWMYA NAVEEN PATIL , MBBS , MD , FAAP
AUM is a Sanskrit word which means “ to sound out loudly .” It is a spiritual and one of the most sacred symbols in Hinduism . This sound symbolizes empowerment , independence and the ultimate truth . Dr . Vishal Rao , a head and neck surgeon practicing in Bangalore , Karnataka , India , who specializes in vocal cord tumors has committed his career and life to give his patients the power of AUM . He has empowered many patients with their own voice and helped them maintain their independence and dignity of life with the voice prosthesis AUM .
In November 2017 , Naveen ’ s father , 85 , was diagnosed with a growth on the vocal cord after developing hoarseness of his voice that persisted longer than normal . The retired judge , fiercely independent and self-reliant who has always led a healthy life , found himself prey to his only vice , smoking ( he has been a lifelong smoker ). He was on the brink of losing the thing he was always so proud of , his independence . Our family consulted with many physicians and surgeons in pursuit of the best treatment options to salvage his speech and maintain a good quality of life . That is when Sowmya ’ s medical school classmate , Dr . Vishal Rao , a very unassuming and brilliant surgeon , came as a blessing in disguise . It took just one visit with Dr . Rao for our family to decide that we would not seek care from anywhere else . We were at that instance exploring the option of taking him to other renowned cancer centers in India .
Dr . Rao helped us decide between laser ablation and radiation for his diagnosis . He finally underwent laser ablation performed by Dr . Rao , as that was deemed the best option for his age and to conserve his speech . It was to our great relief that the pathology report showed a low-grade localized
From left , Naveen Patil , Vishal Rao , Sowmya Naveen Patil
tumor with a 95 % cure rate . He is three months post-op , with excellent recovery of his speech and only mild hoarseness . He did not need a voice prosthesis or speech therapy .
There are approximately 30,000 cases of throat cancer diagnosed in India each year , many die undiagnosed or without care . Most cases are due to chewing tobacco and smoking rather than cigarettes . Eighty-percent of these patients belong to the lowest socioeconomic class , making affordable medical care beyond their reach . People who are able to obtain care end up losing their speech . This is mainly due to their inability to afford voice prosthesis at a cost between $ 300 and $ 1,000 , an expensive proposition for an ordinary Indian . Dr . Rao believes that speech and communication are not only basic tenets that sustain life but also provide individuals with a right to freedom , dignity , justice and peace with oneself . To give back to his patients their quality of life and hope for their families , he formed a team of physicists , engineers and material experts , and over a period of two years , designed and pioneered a new voice prosthesis called AUM . This device costs the patients less than a dollar , approximately $. 75 ( Indian Rupees 50 ), and his prosthesis is now being used all over India and in other parts of the world . He is a recipient of multiple national and international awards for his invention and was also instrumental in helping pass many anti-tobacco legislations . Dr . Rao received the prestigious Judy Wilkenfeld Award for International Tobacco Control Excellence in 2017 at a ceremony held in Washington , D . C .
“ The good physician treats the disease ; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease .” Dr . Rao is an embodiment of this adage by Sir William Osler .
We are very thankful and ever grateful for Dr . Vishal Rao and many others like him who have committed their life and career to the betterment of society .
220 • THE JOURNAL OF THE ARKANSAS MEDICAL SOCIETY VOLUME 114