Dr. Liji Thomas is a medical doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynaecology who has since taken up medical writing to help others understand more of the wealth of medical knowledge available today. She did her undergraduate medical studies in Trivandrum Medical College, and her postgraduate studies in Calicut Medical College, both in Kerala, India, and passed out at the top of her class. The latter institution is one of the busiest in South Asia, handling on average 25 000 childbirths a year. In her senior residency year she earned a name for coaxing patients through their pain and distress to achieve a normal or assisted vaginal delivery in almost every case she personally handled.
She then worked as a private consultant in obstetrics for some time, being in sole charge of 40 deliveries a month, on average. Her philosophy is that every woman deserves a full opportunity to achieve a normal delivery, but with complete safety. She has adhered to this code of conduct throughout, comforting and supporting each patient through the process of childbirth, with only as much medical intervention as was absolutely necessary. She is glad to reflect that she achieved a very low Cesarean section rate of only about 2.5% during her years of obstetric practice.
Eventually she determined to take a break and bring up her children. She and her husband were firmly convinced that there is simply no substitute for a mother at home – and she has never regretted that decision.
It was during the early part of this period that she explored the field of freelance writing. Slowly but steadily she built up a small but sound foundation of clients who referred their work to her. She also began to write on her own account at the same time, building on her medical background and writing skills to write technical and medical articles.
She enjoys bringing scientific research down to a level where it can actually be of use to someone searching for information, as well as meeting job-specific standards.
When she is not writing, she enjoys housecleaning (yes, really!), baking, making soap, and home-schooling her children. All of them have inherited her love of reading if not of cleaning. In addition, the family is involved in setting up their own organic fruit and vegetable farm.