Meet Suman Veeragandham, M.D. –
Hayward & Castro Valley Obstetrics and Gynecology

Dr. Veeragandham practices obstetrics and gynecology in Bay Valley Medical Group’s Hayward and Castro Valley offices. Over the course of 11 years in practice, she has helped bring 1,200-1,500 babies into this world. Even more impressively, she goes to work every day genuinely happy with her career and personal life, which includes marriage to a busy husband (who practices cardio-vascular surgery) and raising three, very active children.

Suman Veeragandham was born in India to a family of physicians, with both her parents and her grandfather being doctors. Her interest in medicine began at an early age while listening to conversations around the dinner table, realizing how gratifying the practice of medicine could be. Her grandfather was a professor of surgery who surrounded himself with books and encouraged Dr. Veeragandham to read and to learn. “My grandfather was a motivating individual and even today, here in the Bay Area, I encounter doctors who were taught by him in India and share their appreciation of him to me,” says Dr. Veeragandham.

In the 1970s, there was a growing demand for doctors in the United States, and as a result, her parents decided to move to Indiana. This transition was challenging for Dr. Veeragandham, who was a young teenager and the only Indian student in her class. But, she maintained a drive to learn and to pursue medicine and ultimately attended medical school, first at the University of Chicago and then at the University of Southern California, where she completed her degree. Dr. Veeragandham returned to Chicago for her residency at Rush-Presbyterian St. Lukes Medical Center. During her training, Dr. Veeragandham and her husband juggled a dual-career marriage, occasionally living in separate cities. She mentions, “Fortunately, my husband and I were very supportive of each other’s career decisions and we worked hard to encourage each other’s dreams.”

With her training completed, Dr. Veeragandham and her family joined her parents in Indiana and she practiced with her mother, also an obstetrician/gynecologist, for eight years. Her mother served as a mentor both personally and professionally and it was a special time for the two of them to work side by side as true partners.

The move to California allowed both Dr. Veeragandham and her husband to pursue new professional opportunities and Dr. Veeragandham is now settled in the Bay Area and is happy to have discovered Bay Valley Medical Group. What inspires Dr. Veeragandham most about obstetrics and gynecology is the opportunity to work with women. Day-in and day-out, she interacts with women of all ages, relating to them as a clinician and on a very personal basis. Additionally, she believes her specialty is generally positive. The atmosphere of delivering babies is truly unique, where she gets to see the loving expressions of mothers who are seeing their babies for the first time.

Dr. Veeragandham’s own three children: two daughters, twelve and ten and her son, six, take most of her time and energy outside of work. As a family, they spend a lot of time traveling or doing activities together locally. Her two daughters take Indian classical dance classes, which Dr. Veeragandham participates in as well. And while her children are still very young and exploring all sorts of interests, her oldest daughter is an avid reader and is considering the possibility of someday becoming a writer.

Dr. Veeragandham acknowledges the challenges of achieving work/personal life balance. Perhaps for physicians, such balance is even harder given the amount of time and compassion that is focused on their patients and their lives. While Dr. Veeragandham’s “me time” is limited, she has no complaints. She feels blessed to have a wonderful family and supportive work place, which she loves going to every day. Whenever she is in need of some relaxation, Dr. Veeragandham usually snuggles up on the couch with a good book or watches a sitcom show on TV. Dr. Veeragandham offers her patients and colleagues much wisdom--as an insightful, experienced clinician and as an individual who lives in the present.

“As long as you’re happy with what you do, count your blessings every day, and take a rest when you need to, life can ultimately be fulfilling even without perfect balance,” says Dr. Veeragandham.

Dr. Veeragandham practices obstetrics and gynecology at Bay Valley Medical Group, which offers multi-specialty services and has offices in Hayward, Castro Valley, Danville and Pleasanton. Dr. Veeragandham is located at Bay Valley Medical Group offices in Hayward, (510) 785-5000 and Castro Valley, (510) 581-2559.