Finding Balance
Doctor Paula Malhotra masters the delicate balance of work and family life
Balance. It’s something we spend a lifetime trying to achieve – whether it’s work and social life, family and career or self-care and caregiving. It can be hard to know when you are giving enough to each side. Working moms are all too familiar with the balancing act of finding time with family against what is required to provide for their needs.
It’s a learning curve.
With Mother’s Day on the horizon, we thought it was the perfect time to profile mother and physician Dr. Paula Malhotra. Now in her fifteenth year as a dermatologist, including the last four at her own practice, SKN Institute in downtown Elmhurst, Malhotra balances a busy career with family life alongside her husband, Nitin, also a physician, and their two sons, Aryan, 11, and Ishaan, 7.
“I find such joy in the pride my sons have as they ask about my day or how I navigate a particular issue at work.”
– Dr. Paula Malhotra
“Staying present for my family while running a growing business is honestly one of the most challenging parts of my life,” Malhotra admits. “But one thing I have learned is that finding balance does not always mean all things are equal. There is definitely an ebb and flow between work and family life.” Sometimes the tug is greater at the office; sometimes the family needs more from her.
At this point, Malhotra has learned to give herself some grace. The strong team she has built at the office, along with a support system at home, allows her to give her best to both places.
But it’s a daily challenge. The work/life balance requires a certain mindfulness – something Aryan and Ishaan have helped their mom learn. “Having my sons has helped me become much more intentional with my time,” Malhotra feels. What matters most is being able to show up consistently, with purpose and ultimately, love.
Kids have a way of keeping us naturally grounded. For Malhotra, one of the biggest takeaways of time spent with her sons is patience and humility. Aryan and Ishaan help her see that not everything is urgent and perfection doesn’t always have to be the goal.
At her core, Malhotra is a nurturer – an attribute that carries her a long way. Not only with her sons, but also with her office team and ultimately, her patients. “When I am at work, I am focused on delivering the best care for my patients, while creating a positive and supportive environment for my team.”
Family time is no less important. Coming down from a busy day requires a certain focus in and of itself to switch gears. Malhotra sees the importance of unplugging – setting down the phone and soaking in these moments that matter the most and impact the well-being of the family as a whole. And not just for the children. Carving out precious time for Nitin is important. Meaningful time to disconnect from everything else to play a game of tennis or even just take a walk together helps the doctors keep their balance.
Motherhood has also made Malhotra a more empathetic physician and leader. A mother knows each child as a unique person. Each has different needs, sensitivities and takeaways from any given situation. Seeing and hearing children as individuals produces positive results.
These habits carry over to Malhotra’s awareness level with respect to patient care and the individuality of every situation. “I find myself approaching each patient interaction with greater patience, compassion and understanding,” she said.
A team approach at home helps with balance, as well. Before starting her own practice, Malhotra was the parent on duty while Nitin built his pain management practice. She managed household responsibilities as well as school and social calendars for the children while working part-time herself. Since the launch of her own practice, however, the balancing act continues as Nitin has stepped into so many of the home responsibilities she used to handle.
Knowing the home and family are thriving with Nitin’s help, Malhotra has been able to spend more physical and mental energy building her practice. “Nitin’s help has been a godsend,” Malhotra knows. “Ours is a partnership that allows both of us to pursue our passion while keeping family at the center.”
Still, at this stage in life, Malhotra’s roles as mother, physician and business owner have much overlap. Being a strong leader, whether at home or the office, means setting clear values, leading by example and guiding with kindness.
“I want my [office] team to feel valued, heard, and empowered, while also creating a culture of accountability and growth,” she feels. In the end, Malhotra believes people give their best when they feel supported, understood and valued.
The doctor hopes her dedication and example are imprinted on her sons. “My work shows my children what it looks like to pursue my passion with dedication and purpose,” she knows. “I find such joy in the pride my sons have as they ask about my day or how I navigate a particular issue at work.”
Dr. Malhotra at home with her husband, Nitin, and sons Aryan, 11, and Ishaan, 7
To truly make it all come together, Malhotra’s life requires much flexibility. But that’s not something new. Malhotra was forced to learn to adapt and connect with new people in a short period of time from an early age – something that has helped her when mentoring and allowing students to shadow her in the office or when she performs services she has donated to local fundraising events.
Malhotra was born in India. By her second birthday, her family had moved to Saudi Arabia, where her father began his first dermatology practice. Not long later, her mother and the family emigrated to Peoria. Her father came a year later. He repeated his studies to recertify his medical degree in the U.S., as he worked simultaneously to support the family.
The family moved to West Virginia for five years as her father completed his residency. Ultimately, they settled in a rural town in Kentucky, where he opened his own practice.
As an individual with a naturally shy personality, Malhotra knows the challenging parts of her upbringing have aided her on life’s path – both personally and professionally. Now, having garnered almost a decade and a half of wisdom over her medical career, success has taken a different shape, particularly since becoming a mother.
“In the beginning, success was much more achievement-driven, with a focus on milestones, recognition and pushing myself to the next level,” she feels. “I’ve come to realize that success isn’t just about what you accomplish. It’s just as much about how you feel along the way and the impact you have on the people around you.”
