Dr. Vipul Mankad’s new book explores the intersection of modern medicine and ancient Indic philosophy, offering insights into healing, identity, and consciousness.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Dr. Vipul Mankad’s latest work, titled When Science Meets the Soul: A Doctor’s Quest for Deeper Healing, navigates the complex interplay between medicine, memory, and meaning. This book serves as both a professional memoir and a philosophical inquiry, engaging in a dialogue between contemporary biomedical science and ancient Indic thought.
As a pediatric oncologist and former advisor to the U.S. Senate, Mankad recounts his journey from arriving in America at the age of 23 with a medical degree and limited resources to achieving significant milestones in academic medicine. His career includes serving as the chair of pediatrics at the University of Kentucky, securing substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health, and playing a pivotal role in establishing a children’s hospital. While his professional trajectory appears to be one of clear success, Mankad is more concerned with the unresolved aspects of that success.
The narrative is heavily influenced by his experiences caring for children with life-threatening illnesses. Mankad reflects on how treating terminally ill patients brought him professional fulfillment, yet also led to emotional fatigue and moral dilemmas. He notes, “My professional work with brave young patients made me a better human being,” acknowledging that while medicine taught him compassion, it did not always provide him with inner balance. These pressures prompted him to revisit the Vedic and Upanishadic teachings he had encountered earlier in life, seeking a framework for resilience that transcended his clinical training.
The book’s middle section, titled “Nature and Nurture,” firmly anchors these personal reflections in scientific inquiry. Mankad draws on whole genome sequencing and archaeological research to trace the migration of modern humans from Africa to the Indian subcontinent over approximately 300,000 years. By examining his own genetic profile, he connects ancestral history with present identity, offering insights that resonate deeply with the Indian diaspora. He posits that identity is shaped not only by biology, culture, and environment but also by how individuals engage with what he refers to as the “game of life.”
Rather than viewing genetics as a predetermined fate, Mankad uses scientific findings to enrich the conversation about personal agency. He argues that understanding our biological origins can inform how we choose to live ethically and consciously. This section serves as both an explanation and an invitation for readers who are balancing inherited traditions with professional ambitions.
In the concluding chapters, When Science Meets the Soul shifts focus from the physical body and mind to the exploration of consciousness itself. Drawing on his experience teaching meditative yoga at Duke University, Mankad investigates whether awareness is merely a byproduct of neurochemistry or something more fundamental. He intertwines contemporary scientific inquiry with the philosophies of Dvaita and Advaita, encouraging readers to contemplate both dualistic and non-dualistic perspectives on existence without imposing a specific belief system.
The tone of the book is exploratory rather than definitive. Mankad does not claim to solve the enigma of consciousness; instead, he provides practical tools derived from meditation, self-inquiry, and disciplined observation to help readers maintain equilibrium in a turbulent world.
What sets this book apart is its balanced approach. It neither dismisses science in favor of spirituality nor trivializes ancient philosophy to mere metaphor. Instead, it presents both as complementary avenues for understanding suffering, purpose, and healing. For professionals navigating high-pressure careers—especially those shaped by migration and cultural inheritance—Mankad’s work offers a thoughtful companion.
Ultimately, When Science Meets the Soul is less about providing answers and more about fostering integration. It reflects a life spent at the intersection of achievement and introspection, inviting readers to consider how success, knowledge, and inner clarity can coexist.
The book is available for purchase on Amazon.
According to India West, Mankad’s insights offer a unique perspective on the convergence of science and spirituality.