Dr Balaji Kalband

I’ve been a neurologist for nearly two decades, but the most meaningful highlight of my career has been over the past few years. In April 2023, I learnt that Fiji—despite having an estimated 10,000 people living with epilepsy—didn’t have a single neurologist. In fact, outside of Australia and New Zealand, none of the Pacific Island nations have resident neurologists, including Papua New Guinea. 

Once I became aware of that gap, I approached the Fijian government and offered to visit in a purely charitable capacity. Since then, I’ve run more than 76 clinics over the past three years, and it’s been the most gratifying work I’ve done. 

Fiji is often seen as a luxury holiday destination, and it can be—but the reality inside many public hospitals is very different. Resources are extremely limited. The upside, particularly with epilepsy, is that meaningful improvements don’t require complex infrastructure. Careful history‑taking and sensible changes to medication can have a real and lasting impact on someone’s life. Epilepsy is also my core area of practice, which made this work both practical and personal. 

So far, we’ve seen around 385 new patients across those clinics, with well over a thousand visits including follow‑ups. Given Fiji’s population, that’s still a small proportion of those who need care, but each patient represents a life that has been directly affected. 

One of the biggest challenges is the stigma around epilepsy. Despite being more prevalent than breast cancer and multiple sclerosis combined, it’s rarely talked about. Many families keep it private because of longstanding cultural misconceptions. Addressing that silence—helping people understand that epilepsy is common and treatable—has been just as important as the clinical work itself. 

I’ve informally named this initiative the Ocean Project. It isn’t a registered charity, and there’s no funding or donations involved. I travel for a week at a time, moving across the island with the support of local doctors who give their time and help coordinate clinics. I cover my own travel and accommodation, and together we reach as many communities as we can. 

Looking ahead, my aim is to extend this work into other Pacific nations, particularly Papua New Guinea. Fiji was the natural starting point because it has a relatively more structured healthcare system, but the need elsewhere is just as urgent. It takes time to first show that there is a problem, and then to show that practical, sustainable solutions are possible. It’s work I believe in strongly, and it continues to be the most rewarding chapter of my career.  

Dr Balaji Kalband

That was probably the hardest part. It took close to a year to build trust. I began those conversations in 2022, and there was initially a lot of scepticism. People understandably wanted to know why I was doing this and what my motivation was. 

At one point, I even put it in writing that I would never charge patients in Fiji. I was completely comfortable with that. I was already satisfied with my work here, and this was never about financial gain. For me, it was simply about contributing what I could. 

All I was offering was my time and my skills. It wasn’t a financial sacrifice so much as a personal commitment. Over time, once it became clear there was no hidden agenda—no intention to set up a private practice or pursue anything for personal benefit—people became more comfortable and supportive.

Dr Balaji Kalband

I’ve taken what I call a three‑part approach, which I refer to as the PED model: provide, empower, and develop. 

The first step is providing care—being there and helping patients—which is where most of my focus has been so far. 

The second step is empowerment. I want to teach local doctors and medical students how to recognise and manage epilepsy. While it may be some time before these regions have full‑time neurologists, you don’t need to be a neurologist to diagnose epilepsy. With the right training, these skills can be taught. 

The third step is development. Access to medication is limited, so part of my role is advocating for better investment in appropriate treatments and basic infrastructure. 

Right now, simply providing care is already a major undertaking, but the long‑term impact will come from empowerment. Epilepsy is one condition where you don’t need sophisticated testing—often a good clinical history and sensible medication changes can make a profound difference. 

Sustainability matters to me. I might be able to see a proportion of patients over the next couple of decades, but epilepsy isn’t going away. Lasting change means building local capacity so care continues well beyond my involvement. 

Dr Balaji Kalband

In my spare time, I’ve been working on a novel. I was partly inspired by The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which is set during World War II. 

My own story is set around the same period but follows a young girl from Poland, with a different perspective. The idea came from an assignment while I was completing a screenplay writing course at the Australian Film and Television Institute, and I’ve been developing it since. 

Alongside medicine, writing has become something I genuinely enjoy. It’s a different way of thinking and a welcome creative outlet. 

Dr Balaji Kalband

There’s a Polish poet I greatly admire, Wisława Szymborska, who won the Nobel Prize in 1996—the same year Australia’s Peter Doherty was recognised. I came across her work through Peter Doherty’s biography, where he describes meeting her at the Nobel ceremony, and that stayed with me. She’s someone I would have loved to sit down with and talk to. 

Among those who are living, I’d choose Tom Hanks. I admire him not just as an actor, but as a storyteller. Across his work, there’s a warmth and thoughtfulness that I find compelling. 

Bonus points – are you cooking or heading to a restaurant? 

Dr Balaji Kalband

I’d definitely cook—most likely some Indian favourites like dahl and biryani.  

Does pineapple ever grace your pizzas? 

Dr Balaji Kalband

 Oh, I love it actually. That’s the first thing I eat on the pizza. 

Do you prefer cats or dogs? 

Dr Balaji Kalband

That’s actually been a recent discovery for me. I never really had an answer—until I got a dog about two years ago. That’s when I realised I’m probably more of a cat person. 

I adore my dog and love him dearly—he’s wonderful—but he does need a lot of attention. Having him has made me realise that, at heart, I’m a cat person who just happens to have—and very much love—a dog.

Which season speaks to you, summer or winter? 

Dr Balaji Kalband

Summer

Tell us something surprising about yourself 

Dr Balaji Kalband

I completed a screenplay writing course at the Australian Film and Television Institute. It was a great experience and actually sparked my interest in storytelling. One of the assessment tasks led to an idea that I’ve since developed into a novel, and writing has become a really enjoyable creative outlet for me.