There are professions where the day ends when the office lights switch off. Neonatal medicine is not one of them.





For doctors who care for newborn babies, emergencies can arrive without warning. A call in the middle of the night, a baby struggling to breathe, a family waiting for good news, every moment demands calm thinking and quick action. In such a profession, physical stamina and mental sharpness become as important as medical knowledge.





For Dr Vikas Satwik , senior paediatrician and neonatologist at Motherhood Hospitals in Hebbal, Bengaluru, running has become the bridge between personal wellbeing and professional responsibility. It started as a simple fitness habit. Over the years, it turned into something deeper: a way to stay prepared for the lives that depend on him and an opportunity to support babies and families beyond the hospital walls.





A habit born far from home

The story began in 2013 during Dr Satwik's time in the United Kingdom. He watched colleagues participate in charity marathons and noticed that they were not running merely for exercise. They were running to raise money for causes they believed in. The idea stayed with him.





"Everyone around me was running not just for fitness, but to raise funds," he recalled.





The thought lingered long after the races ended. Slowly, running became a regular part of his life. Today, weekly 10-kilometre runs form the backbone of his fitness routine.





This year, he also participated in the 10K run for the first time. But for him, the race was never only about crossing the finish line.





"I run every weekend anyway. So I thought, why not run for a cause?" he said.





It is a simple sentence, but one that captures an important idea: sometimes the most meaningful acts are built into ordinary routines.





Why the cause became personal

Dr Satwik chose to support the Neonatal Foundation of India (NFI), an organisation that works to improve newborn care across the country.





For him, the decision came from experience rather than obligation.





"I have seen babies where NFI has supported us, and the difference it makes to families is huge. It changes outcomes, and it changes lives."





In neonatal medicine, the smallest interventions can make the biggest difference.





The doctor who is always on call

People often imagine running as a way to escape daily responsibilities. For Dr Satwik, responsibilities never entirely disappear.





Long hours are common. Emergencies are unpredictable. A doctor may need to make critical decisions in minutes.





"You need to be alert all the time. You can get a call at any moment, and you have to respond immediately. If I'm not fit, I can't do this job," he explained.





There have even been moments when a run had to share space with work.





"There have been times I've taken calls mid-run about a sick baby and guided the team."





That sentence says something important about modern medicine. Doctors often carry their profession with them everywhere. The pager may be gone, but the responsibility remains.





Running, in that sense, becomes preparation rather than recreation. It builds endurance not just for races but for the demands of a profession that asks for constant readiness.





Why fitness is becoming a necessity for doctors

Doctors spend much of their time encouraging patients to exercise, eat well, and take care of themselves. Yet studies have shown that healthcare professionals often struggle to prioritise their own health because of long shifts and irregular schedules.





Dr Satwik's approach to fitness is balanced.





"A lot of people focus only on the gym or only on running. I try to do both."





His routine includes interval runs for stamina, longer runs for endurance, and strength training to preserve muscle mass.





"If you only run long distances, you tend to lose muscle, and muscle is the currency in old age."





Strength today becomes independence tomorrow.






Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared by Dr Vikas Satwik and publicly available government and health organisation reports. The piece is intended for informational and inspirational purposes and should not be interpreted as medical advice or an endorsement of any organisation or event.