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For many, becoming a doctor is the end goal stable income, respected career, and a clear path forward. But for one Malaysian doctor, that “stable life” didn’t feel like the final destination.
A stable career that didn’t feel right
After years in the medical field, Nithiyah was earning around RM15,000 to RM16,000 a month, with fixed working hours and having the weekends off.
On paper, everything looked perfect. But deep down, she couldn’t shake off a feeling that she was meant for something more.
“There was a voice inside me constantly telling me I was built for something different.”
That voice eventually pushed Nithiyah to make a bold decision, to leave her stable job and start her own clinic from the ground up.
Zero experience
Making the leap wasn’t easy as Nithiyah had no entrepreneurial background and had to relearn everything from scratch, such as marketing, finances, taxes, and even how to run a business.
To make things even tougher, she didn’t take any loans or external investments, where everything was funded using her own personal savings.
At the same time, Nithiyah was juggling life as a mother to two young children, all while running her clinic for up to 14 hours a day, six days a week and doing locum work on Sundays.
“My daughter would often ask me, ‘Amma, why are you working every day?’ The guilt was overwhelming and I felt torn between being a present mother and a dedicated doctor.
“But I then chose to shift my mindset by seeing my children as my biggest motivation instead of limitation.
A storm called DVT
Just when things couldn’t get more challenging, life threw even more obstacles in Nithiyah’s way.
While still heavily pregnant with her second child, she fell and broke her ankle.
Due to her pregnancy, Nithiyah couldn’t undergo surgery and had to continue working with a cast.
Soon after, she was diagnosed with DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis), a potentially life-threatening condition caused by restricted blood flow. In the end, Nithiyah made the difficult decision to prioritise her unborn child even though her recovery would take years.
From zero patients to building her name
When Nithiyah first opened her clinic, she had a harsh dose of reality in the form of seeing fewer than five patients on some days.
On top of that, there were also nights she cried in private, unsure if she made the right decision.
“You never know if you’re going to survive or if you can even get your money back.”
But she kept going. Slowly, things began to change. Today, her clinic is thriving even boasting consistent 5-star reviews from patients.
Beyond financial independence, Nithiyah’s biggest reason in opening her own clinic was to provide better care for the public.
“Having worked in the government healthcare sector, I saw firsthand how limited time and resources affected patient care.
“Everything was rushed, and I wanted to give more personalised care and treat patients as a whole.
“Running my own clinic allowed me to do just that without any pressure to rush or hard-sell treatments.”
‘Not only passion, but survival’
Reflecting on her journey, Nithiyah acknowledges that today’s working world is vastly different than what it was.
“People are no longer defined by a single career path. Many juggle multiple roles just to survive. It’s not solely about integrity anymore. It’s a rat race out there.”
“My advice would be to start somewhere. Whether it’s baking, makeup, or even going live on TikTok, do something that makes you feel fulfilled.”
After spending more than a decade in her medical career and two years in her clinic, Nithiyah doesn’t deny how difficult it was going from a stable income to having no salary for 18 months.
But for her, it was worth it.
“Scream, cry, let it out…but don’t give up. The end result will be worth it.”
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