Dr. Jarushka Naidoo is an internationally recognised lung oncologist whose journey in medicine has taken her from Trinity College Dublin to some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, including Johns Hopkins and Memorial Sloan Kettering. She is the principal investigator for the €4.9 million Beaumont RCSI Irish Cancer Society Lung Outreach Programme, the largest single investment in lung cancer in Ireland’s history. The grant aims to support clinicians and scientists focused on lung cancer at the Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, to run Ireland’s first early detection pilot (which have already been underway), expand liquid biopsy and primary care research in NSCLC and develop investigator-led KRAS/IO trials.
“Medicine has always been a fusion of my two greatest interests: biology and drama. Biology fascinated me with its evidentiary and scientific nature, while drama was all about people and their stories.”
When asked why she chose to pursue a career in medicine, and why specifically oncology, Dr. Naidoo explains that “Medicine has always been a fusion of my two greatest interests: biology and drama. Biology fascinated me with its evidentiary and scientific nature, while drama was all about people and their stories.” Oncology, in particular, is a perfect blend of both—”it places the patient at the centre while requiring strong communication skills and a multidisciplinary approach.”
She reflects on the impact of completing clinical rotations in St. James’s Hospital during her third year as a medical student in Trinity, “My first rotation was in oncology. Every subsequent rotation paled in comparison. Oncology resonated with me because it requires an appreciation of surgery, medicine, pathology, radiology, and science, all converging to provide patient-centred care.” Dr. Naidoo elaborates that the ability to take complex medical information and translate it into something understandable for patients and their families “who don’t have that scientific background” was something she found deeply fulfilling “it hit all the right notes for me as a person”
Dr. Naidoo notes how different specialties tend to attract individuals with similar personality traits. “For example, those who enjoy oncology often find themselves drawn to infectious diseases as well, given the multidisciplinary nature of both fields. Similarly, individuals who prefer gastroenterology often lean towards cardiology, as both specialties involve intervention-based approaches.” This natural gravitation towards certain fields is something medical students may notice as they progress in their studies.
During her time at Trinity, Dr. Naidoo was an active member of the Dublin University Biological Society “BioSoc” and served as a committee member of the Trinity Student Medical Journal (TSMJ). Additionally, she was successful in obtaining the Foundation Scholarship in 2003.
When asked if any professors at Trinity had a significant impact on her career, Dr. Naidoo says “Absolutely. There are two mentors” that influenced her greatly, “Professor John Kennedy, one of the leading medical oncologists and the medical director of the Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, was my first consultant during my first rotation at St. James’s.” When she expressed my interest in oncology, he advised her to take the USMLEs and said to her, “if you’re really serious about this [oncology], we should get you to Hopkins.” Professor Kennedy had trained at John Hopkins himself and suggested she should consider following a similar trajectory. “It is interesting that my career did take me to Hopkins” Dr. Naidoo later trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, however, it was at Johns Hopkins where she secured her first consultant position “—the very institution where he had trained. It was a full-circle moment, showing just how small the medical world can be.”
She also cites the mentorship of Professor Ken O’Byrne, Clinical Professor of Oncology at Trinity, who is now a medical oncology at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland University of Technology in Australia, as a major influence during her time as a registrar at St. James’s Hospital. “He was the consultant that I was principally overseen by as a sort of a senior doctor” and coincidently, he specialised in lung cancer. “I admired the fearlessness of lung cancer specialists … they are, in many ways, firefighters in the medical field”.
“Community is a huge motivator. Being around like-minded individuals who value your work is incredibly sustaining. But the greatest motivation comes from my patients and their families.”
Working in oncology requires resilience. When asked if it was that sense of belonging that motivates her to push the boundaries of lung cancer research, Dr. Naidoo confirms that: “Community is a huge motivator. Being around like-minded individuals who value your work is incredibly sustaining. But the greatest motivation comes from my patients and their families. Lung cancer patients are truly fearless people and have really lived. I’ve had the privilege of working with patients who have had remarkable life stories.They continue to inspire me daily, and I see them as my people. The relationships I form with my patients make my work more than just a job—it’s a privilege.”
“It is incredibly fulfilling to see direct change in the lives of patients.”
Another motivator for Dr. Naidoo is the immediate impact research can have on patient care. “Few medical specialties allow you to see the impact of your research within your own lifetime, sometimes within just a year. For instance, if a clinical trial for early detection of lung cancer is successful, we could be detecting the disease earlier and saving lives within a very short timeframe and that will be from a trial that I wrote. It is incredibly fulfilling to see this direct change in the lives of patients.”
For current medical students, she advises to “firstly, find a mentor”. Textbooks provide knowledge, but “a good mentor is really worth their weight in gold and doesn’t just provide you with teaching opportunities, but can open doors for you in a tailored manner and introduce you to, as I say, community of your people”
Dr. Naidoo also stresses the importance of peer mentors or ‘friend-tors.’ “Having supportive classmates who understand and encourage you is very enabling.” Because traditional mentors can sometimes be a bit removed, generationally and with age gap differences, “peer mentors grow with you and help you be the best version of yourself which is a huge thing” These friendships help sustain you during the inevitable challenges of medical training.
“Many medical students come from a pedigree of achievement and are chasing achievement. But they should pursue meaning. They should be chasing what brings them fulfilment, and achievement and fulfilment are not the same thing.”
She also emphasizes the importance of self-discovery. “Many medical students come from a pedigree of achievement and are chasing achievement. But they should pursue meaning. They should be chasing what brings them fulfilment, and achievement and fulfilment are not the same thing” Dr. Naidoo encourages doing things that are exploratory of the self, to “go to another country— try an elective abroad, spend a summer in a laboratory” or working in a foreign hospital “to go spend the summer delivering babies”. She believes that the range of exposures will help will you understand where your true interests lie and “once they are on place, they tend to make good choices”
Pursuing a medical degree is not one for the faint heart and is a path faced with various challenges. Dr. Naidoo acknowledges that “Challenges are constant, but there is a misconception that people are naturally gifted in certain areas.” In reality, skills are built through consistent effort and good systems. “Instead of focusing on goals, I encourage students to develop systems that help them stay informed and relevant.”
She shares a personal system she has in place to stay up to date with the ever-evolving literature and research. “For instance, I make it a habit to read a medical paper every week and follow key researchers on social media to stay updated. The challenge in medicine, especially in oncology, is keeping up with rapidly evolving knowledge.” Developing and maintaining a system for continuous learning is essential to long-term success. “I recommend medical students create and maintain their own systems, and never deviate from that system,” whether that means following industry leaders, setting aside dedicated reading time, or attending relevant conferences. Medical training is not a straightforward journey. “To all those out there who are reading, yes, it is not easy. There will be seasons of exhaustion, doubt, and difficulty” however perseverance is key: ”As long as you remain committed, it will come out successful in the end”.
