When doctors finish a long shift at the hospital, you might expect they want to do nothing other than rush home to put their feet up. But not for Dr Kishan Bodalia.
The trainee GP may well be found hot footing it to a top London club for an all-night DJ set.
The London-based medic has revealed how he’s spent the last five years leading a double life as a top DJ and busy physician.
It comes days after medical regulators revealed that increasing numbers of doctors are slashing their hours in order to improve their ‘work-life balance’.
An annual report by the General Medical Council found that one in five UK doctors reduced their hours in 2023, compared to fewer than one in 10 in 2021.
Dr Bodalia has been spinning the decks since his teens and for the past five years he has also been balancing life as a physician
The watchdog warned that the resulting staffing shortages will put patients at risk unless there is urgent action to tackle the trend.
Dr Bodalia said he recently finished an A&E shift at 1pm, before immediately flying out to Ibiza for a 6pm DJ set.
But he still managed to make it back for his shift the next day at 8am.
He admits his ‘non-stop’ life style, which sees him perform alongside stars such as Fatboy Slim and Becky Hill, makes it challenging to find the ‘perfect balance’.
But says he is ‘proud’ to have made ‘both dreams a reality’ and claims practicing mindfulness, getting plenty of sleep and drinking no booze helps him recover between jobs.
The doctor said he recently finished a A&E shift at 1pm, before flying out to Ibiza at 3pm and DJing at 6pm — he even made it back for his shift the next day at 8am
‘Ever since I was a child, it was my dream to become a doctor and have a successful music career but I didn’t know if it was actually possible,’ Dr Bodalia said.
‘I bought my first set of decks during my teenage years and at university, I decided to take it a little more seriously.
‘During my third year of medical school, I entered a DJ competition.. And I won… this changed my life overnight.
‘From that point 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 during his UK tour!’
He added: ‘I am proud to have made both my dreams a reality. But it’s non-stop.
‘I recently finished an A&E shift at 1pm, caught a flight at 3pm and I was on stage in Ibiza at 6pm.
‘Then I was back home in time for my shift the next day at 8am. And I managed to get a solid seven hours of sleep.
‘My secret: very careful planning and no alcohol.’
He admits his ‘non-stop’ life style, which sees him perform alongside Fatboy Slim and Becky Hill , makes it challenging to find the ‘perfect balance’
He says he is ‘proud’ to have made ‘both dreams a reality’ and claims practicing mindfulness, getting plenty of sleep and drinking no booze helps him recover between jobs
He is currently on ‘rotation’, working as an obstetrics and gynaecology hospital doctor as part of his training to become a GP.
Dr Bodalia’s highlights include performing on a bus with his face on it for 500,000 spectators during London’s New Year’s Day Parade and making it to Ocean Beach in Ibiza.
He said: ‘I’ve performed at Tomorrowland and Camp Bestival on the main stage to 15,000 people immediately before Becky Hill, who was the headliner.
‘I’ve 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 obstetrics and gynaecology doctor as part of his training to become a GP
Dr Bodalia’s confesses that Irregular shift patterns, long days and night-shifts in hospital can really take it out of you
But he confesses finding a balance can be difficult as a doctor with long shifts.
He said: ‘Finding the perfect balance has been a real challenge but I’ve had to find a way because this is a life I always dreamt of.
‘Irregular shift patterns, long days and night-shifts in hospital can really take it out of you and it doesn’t leave much in the tank for DJ life, which itself is busy with travelling, networking and late nights.
‘My greatest struggle is finding the time or space to unwind.
‘I do my best to practice mindfulness, meditate and do things that help me recover, like seeing family.
‘I am also very disciplined with my workout routines, sleep and nutrition because these are the foundations to optimum health, allowing me to perform at my best in everything I do.
‘There was a time when a hospital put me down to work an ‘on-call’ shift even when I’d already given three months’ notice to have the day off for a major festival show.
‘But after a lot of negotiation, I managed to get this sorted.’
However, Dr Bodalia has to be selective about where he performs and tries to make sure every event is ‘special’.
‘It’s also been a challenge getting the music industry to take me seriously… as they know I’m a doctor, it’s like they think my music is just a small hobby or something,’ he said.
‘I’ve gotten good at switching from DJ to doctor mode.
‘When I’m in hospital, I’m fully there for my patients.
‘When I leave work… the party starts!’
Dr Bodalia has an exciting few months ahead but is staying tight-lipped about the details.
He added: ‘I’ve had to put shows on hold for a couple of months because I’m going on a reality TV 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 this whilst on the show, and going into the future.’
The most recent NHS data shows the waiting list for routine treatments in the health service in England rose for the third month in a row.
An estimated 7.62million treatments were waiting to be carried out at the end of June — a rise from the 7.60million treatments recorded at the end of May.
NHS data published last year revealed one in five patients are waiting up to two weeks for a GP appointment, with some facing delays of more than a month.
