Healing with purpose: The doctor who prescribes empathy | Fusion - WeRIndia

In the quiet villages of Pudukkottai, compassion meets medicine through the work of dermatologist Dr S Dhetchanamoorthy.

For over two decades, he has turned healthcare into a movement of awareness, equality, and empathy.

Dr Dhetchanamoorthy, now 45, leads a team of young volunteers who offer free consultations and medicines to the poor.

Each of his over 50 medical camps across Tamil Nadu carries a deeper message, that healing society begins with understanding its wounds.

He believes that while medicine can heal the skin, it is awareness that heals society.

His journey began in Aranthangi, where his carpenter father and government schooling shaped his values of fairness and service.

In 2005, he founded Thisaigal (Directions) with his school friends. What started as a student support group has evolved into a civic platform promoting equality, scientific temper, and women’s empowerment.

Unlike routine outreach efforts, his camps link local crises to broader issues.

When contaminated water hit Vengaivayal, he and his volunteers stepped in to treat skin problems and educate residents on sanitation.

Similarly, during the Ennore oil leak, they reached out to fishing communities.

Each camp offers free medicines worth ₹300-₹400 per patient and short talks on preventive care.

Dr Dhetchanamoorthy also connects local compassion to global empathy.

During the Israel-Gaza conflict, he launched the Heal for Gaza campaign, showing solidarity with civilians affected by war.

His initiatives often combine relief with education, highlighting how social and environmental neglect cause recurring crises.

In 2022, he authored ‘Corona Kalachuvadu’, a Tamil book documenting the scientific and emotional journey through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Later translated into English, it explores how misinformation, politics, and humanity intertwined during the crisis.

Through every effort, Dr Dhetchanamoorthy reminds people that healthcare extends beyond hospitals.

For him, healing means nurturing empathy, responsibility, and awareness.

His life’s work continues to bridge medicine with social conscience, proving that true treatment begins with understanding the cause.

Image Credit: Charlton26, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pudukkottai_Railway_station_boards.JPG