When doctors finish a long shift at the hospital, you might expect them to want to do nothing but rush home to rest. But that’s not the case for Dr. Kishan Bodalia.
The GP trainee may well be quickly heading to a top London club to deliver an all-night DJ set.
The London-based doctor has revealed how he has spent the past five years leading a double life as a top DJ and a busy doctor.
This comes days after medical regulators revealed that an increasing number of doctors are cutting their hours to improve their “work-life balance”.
An annual report by the General Medical Council found that one in five UK doctors had reduced their hours in 2023, compared with less than one in ten in 2021.
Dr. Bodalia has been playing cards since his teens and for the past five years has also been balancing his life as a doctor.
The watchdog warned that the resulting staff shortages will put patients at risk unless urgent action is taken to address the trend.
Dr. Bodalia He said he recently finished an A&E shift at 1pm, before immediately flying to Ibiza for a 6pm DJ set.
But he still managed to return for his shift the next day at 8 am.
He admits that his “non-stop” lifestyle, which sees him performing alongside stars such as Fatboy Slim and Becky Hill, makes it a challenge to find the “perfect balance”.
But he says he is “proud” to have made “both dreams come true” and says practicing mindfulness, getting enough sleep and not drinking alcohol helps him recover between jobs.
The doctor said he recently finished an A&E shift at 1pm, before flying to Ibiza at 3pm and DJing at 6pm – he even returned for his shift the next day at 8am.
“Since I was a child, my dream was to be a doctor and have a successful music career, but I didn’t know if it was really possible,” said Dr. Bodalia.
‘I bought my first deck of cards in my teens and decided to take it a little more seriously in college.
‘During my third year of medical school, I entered a DJ contest… and won… this changed my life overnight.
‘From then on, I signed record deals with labels like Sony Music, performed at clubs and festivals around the world, and toured with icons.
‘I was Fatboy Slim’s special guest on his UK tour!’
He added: “I am proud to have made both of my dreams come true. But this does not stop there.
‘I recently finished an emergency shift at 1pm, got on a flight at 3pm and was on stage in Ibiza by 6pm.
‘I then returned home in time for my 8am shift the next day and managed to get seven hours of sleep straight.
“My secret: very careful planning and no alcohol.”
He admits that his “non-stop” lifestyle, which sees him performing alongside Fatboy Slim and Becky Hill, makes it a challenge to find the “perfect balance”.
He says he is “proud” to have made “both dreams come true” and says practicing mindfulness, getting enough sleep and not drinking alcohol helps him recover between jobs.
He is currently on rotation, working as a hospital doctor in obstetrics and gynecology as part of his training to become a general practitioner.
Dr Bodalia’s highlights include performing on a bus with his face on it for 500,000 spectators during London’s New Year’s Eve parade and arriving at Ocean Beach in Ibiza.
He said: ‘I’ve played Tomorrowland and Camp Bestival on the main stage to 15,000 people immediately before Becky Hill, who was the headliner.
‘I also headlined ValeFest in Birmingham, performed at Pangaea Festival in Manchester, Godiva Festival Starfields and many others.’
He is currently on “rotation”, working as an obstetrician and gynecologist as part of his training to become a general practitioner.
Dr. Bodalia admits that irregular shifts, long days and night shifts at the hospital can really wear you down.
But he admits that finding a balance can be difficult as a doctor with long shifts.
She said: ‘Finding the perfect balance has been a real challenge, but I’ve had to find a way because this is a life I’ve always dreamed of.
‘Irregular shifts, long days and night shifts at the hospital can really wear you down and don’t leave much for the DJ life, which in itself involves travelling, networking and late nights.
‘My biggest struggle is finding the time or space to relax.
‘I try my best to practice mindfulness, meditate and do things that help me recover, like seeing my family.
‘I am also very disciplined with my workout routines, sleep and nutrition because these are the foundations of optimal health, allowing me to perform at my best in everything I do.
‘There was one occasion when a hospital put me on an ‘on-call’ shift even though I had already given three months’ notice that I would be asked to take the day off to attend a major festival.
“But after a lot of negotiation, I managed to resolve it.”
However, Dr. Bodalia has to be selective about where he performs and tries to make sure each event is “special.”
“It’s also been a challenge getting the music industry to take me seriously… since they know I’m a doctor, it’s like they think my music is just a little hobby or something,” he said.
‘I’ve learned to switch from DJ mode to doctor mode.
‘When I’m in the hospital, I’m totally available to my patients.
‘When I leave work… the party begins!’
Dr. Bodalia has an exciting few months ahead of him, but he hasn’t revealed the details.
She added: ‘I’ve had to put some shows on hold for a couple of months because I’m going to be on a reality show.
‘I can’t say more than that yet, but it’s coming soon!’
“Being a doctor is a passion of mine and I will definitely continue to do so while on the program and in the future.”
The latest NHS data shows the waiting list for routine health service treatments in England has increased for the third month running.
An estimated 7.62 million treatments were pending at the end of June, up from 7.60 million at the end of May.
NHS data published last year revealed that one in five patients wait up to two weeks for a GP appointment, with some facing delays of more than a month.