Dr. Hrishikesh Pai — A Compassionate and Dedicated Journey towards improving Women’s Health
- Tell us about your journey so far.
I am grateful to my father, the late Padma Shri Dr. Dutta Pai—a freedom fighter and renowned gynaecologist—who inspired me to pursue medicine with purpose. Motivated by his dedication to public health and patient care, I committed my career to advancing women’s health and reproductive care in India.
After completing my MD, I pursued advanced training in the UK. I earned an MSc in Clinical Embryology from the University of London, followed by the FRCOG (Hon) from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK. These achievements provided me with global best practices in gynaecology, motivating me to introduce this standard of excellence in India.
Dr. Hrishikesh Pai states that the establishment of the Bloom IVF Group was a key point in his professional journey. Today, Bloom IVF has a presence in nearly eight advanced IVF centres across India, having helped innumerable people realise their dream of parenthood.
I have been fortunate to preside over several prestigious gynaecological societies in various positions, such as Secretary General and Senior Vice President of FOGSI, President of ISAR, and now as a Board Member of the International Federation of Fertility Societies (IFFS) — representing India on the global stage.
- Every success story begins with challenges, which have shaped both my journey and the field of reproductive medicine in India.
At the onset of my career, Infertility and IVF treatment in India were very much at an infant stage in India. There was limited awareness, infrastructure and technology towards assisted reproduction treatment in India. Childless couples face considerable social stigma and high treatment costs implied limited accessibility. During that period, I decided to prove that IVF treatment is not only effective but ethical too.
For Dr. Pai, it was sheer dedication and concentrated efforts that paved the way to introduce new technologies to India via global collaboration and continuous learning. More couples can now access treatments like assisted laser hatching, oocyte and ovarian tissue freezing, IMSI, and embryoscope systems. In this way, he fostered innovation, brought IVF to India and made fertility treatment accessible and affordable.
- Reflecting on what sets our work apart brings focus to our unique approach and philosophy..
With hard work and faith, I realized my dream of improving women’s reproductive health. To me, medicine combines science and art, where technology and compassion work together. I always prioritize medical excellence, ethics, integrity, and innovation.
Guided by this philosophy, I founded Bloom IVF, where we practice precision and empathy—customizing fertility protocols, offering advanced screening, and tackling challenging infertility cases.
Simultaneously, I make sure to dedicate quality time and efforts in teaching, researching and policymaking to ease the bottlenecks of our coming generation of patients as well as medical professionals who are keen to become reproductive specialists.
- To uphold this edge, staying ahead of the curve has always been essential..
We have witnessed tremendous progress in reproductive medicine, particularly in the application of artificial intelligence to embryo selection, cryopreservation, and genetic diagnosis, among other areas. Continuous learning is crucial for staying ahead in this genre. I participate in global conferences, collaborate with international experts, and serve on medical boards, helping to set industry benchmarks.
I envision an AI-enabled future in infertility treatment, alongside personalized genomic interventions and fertility preservation for cancer and career-focused patients. I ardently hope we will soon deliver more effective fertility treatments that are precise, affordable, and inclusive.
- Beyond technology and expertise, personal and professional growth continues to be a driving force..
For me, it is essential to be a humane person. I always believe in giving back to society through not only treating but also disseminating knowledge by tutoring the next generation of doctors and gynaecologists via workshops and relevant academic programs. I am immensely satisfied that these young gynaecologists are likely to perform even better. Mentoring the young generation has always been a passion of mine, and I will continue to do so in the future.
- Beyond business — giving back to society.
Medicine and medical treatment should be accessible to all. We have established an IVF unit at D.Y. Patil Medical College to provide affordable fertility care to patients who are unable to access advanced treatment. I also support various initiatives for women’s health awareness, family planning, and cancer-related fertility preservation within the public health sector.
Following my father’s example, for a doctor, serving humanity should be their life’s main purpose. We should utilise our learning and experience to help people recover and regain their health, whether through medical practice, education, or various public health initiatives, and make a definitive impact.
- People first — staying connected to your audience.
Doctors should always be available to people. While attending to patients, they should listen to them, make them feel valued, and support them in every possible way. It is their trust in the doctors that plays a vital role in helping them recover, and that too, effectively.
Patient feedback is equally vital, as it helps improve the doctor’s approach towards their patients, both clinically and emotionally.
As doctors, we should focus on holistic well-being in addition to treatment outcomes. As caregivers, we should be empathetic and patient-centric in our approach.
Today, medicine is about holistic well-being, not just outcomes. By listening to patients’ stories, we evolve as caregivers.
- With patient relationships evolving, adapting to the new era of work has become crucial for every healthcare provider.
Healthcare has reached a new level. With the inclusion of technology, we have digital and virtual consultations, and decision-making is increasingly based on real-time analytics while precision in performance has led to remarkable results.
At Bloom IVF, we have integrated digital systems, telemedicine, and various relevant AI tools to enhance our workflow and processes, while also improving the accessibility and accuracy of our delivery.
At a personal level, I strive to maintain a work-life balance through structured routines, regular exercise, and quality time with my family. As doctors, we must always maintain mental clarity and empathy.
- Vision for the future.
Over the next five years, I envision expanding Bloom IVF’s global presence. I am keen to collaborate globally in AI-enabled fertility solutions and reproductive genetics. I plan to establish a well-established mentorship ecosystem to empower young doctors to lead India in reproductive medicine.
I dream of making the advanced fertility care universally accessible, ethical, and effective, so that every childless couple can realise their dream of parenthood.
- A message for our global readers.
My advice to readers is to remain dynamic and embrace change, while never forgetting their core values. Everyone should be passionate, humble and perseverant towards their goals. In personal and professional life, always be compassionate and integrated in whatever you do.
Always measure success by helping people regain their health and well-being, even if we can help just one person heal and recover, it makes a difference.
