Fiji-born Dr Asha Ram moved to Tasmania to study medicine as a teenager. Now, she is the Founder & Director of Sanctum Medical Aesthetics’ three clinics in Hobart, Launceston and Noosa.

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You grew up in Fiji, and came to Tasmania to study medicine on a scholarship. What was the transition from one part of the world to another like?

It was incredibly challenging and confronting! I was only 17 years old, barely an adult, and I had moved countries, climates and cultures. I had to settle into a university residential college, and they were wild and unruly in the 70s! I adjusted every aspect of my existence, and had to further find the reserve to focus on my medical studies with no friends or family. It was a seminal experience that saw me transform and evolve through necessity and survival.

What was the journey to becoming the founder and director of Sanctum Medical Aesthetics?

I have always had ideas. I’m creative. I see opportunity and get energy from converting concepts into reality, and then sharing the outcome with a community. It is powerful and rewarding.

I was at a point in life where I wanted to change the way I worked. I wanted my workplace to more than a service provider. I had a vision to create an urban skin sanctuary - a special, private space which was a retreat from the exterior world, filled with joys for all the senses. A place where the individual was comfortable, felt respected, could recharge and could get science-based skin health and rejuvenation advice and treatments. I wanted to create a clinic that I would like to attend! And so Sanctum was born.

What does a day in your life look like?

I’m awake early - I love watching the sun rise, and I work best if I have a few hours to myself before I interact. I often have my best ideas in this space and time. I jot notes, browse, draw or listen to music. It seems to oil the cognitive wheels!

Three days a week, I’m at work by 9am, seeing patients, mentoring doctors, and supervising my nursing team - these are busy days. My door is metaphorically open all day, so I am used to being available to everyone. Once I leave work, I am fairly reclusive. I need time to myself to read, listen to music, create around my home, and rest.

The four days of the week that I am not physically at work are gloriously unscheduled! Pilates, catching up with friends over coffee, painting, sleeping in, redesigning spaces, and planning the next projects. I love dining out, and combine visits to Restaurant MARIA and Aløft with bringing fascinating individuals together around great food and wine. It’s not a bad life!

Is there anything unique or special about working as a medical aesthetics clinician in Tasmania?

Tasmania is isolated, despite all of the modern connectivity that we enjoy. It has shortcomings: equipment takes longer to get here, we have a smaller workforce, and the population is only very gently increasing. Conversely, that very isolation demands from me my very best effort. I want to deliver at world-class standards. It is as if coming from Tasmania makes one more competitive, as if we feel we have something to prove to the rest of the world. I like that!

For you, what’s so wonderful about Tasmania?

Tasmania is unique placed in terms of what it offers for a daily lifestyle. Clean air, safe cities, incredible accessible landscapes, coastal, mountainous and inland environments, and insane food, wine and arts experiences.

What are three must-dos for every visitor to Tasmania?

Talk to a local - they will happily share a tip and point you in a direction. Inhale deeply - the air is just so crisp, clean and pure. Be adventurous - eat out, drink wine or the amazing beers and ciders, walk on a beach, visit a market, drive into the countryside, and experience the arts.

Where do you get away to for a Tasmanian staycation?

Sometimes I will check into The Tasman, and have a staycay in my own city. I like to experience Hobart from another viewpoint, and will get friends to meet me for breakfast and a waterfront walk in the morning.

On the weekends, I escape to our shacks, House of the Weedy Seadragon, in Pirates Bay. They are simple restored fisherman’s cottages, but the location is remote and invigorating. A stop at The Dusty Mermaid inevitably sees me leaving with treasures, and I also love a wild beach walk, fresh fish and chips from the local van, and the best coffee from Cubed Espresso Bar. There’s so many wineries and gin distilleries to visit, too. The day ends with a sauna overlooking the sleepy bay.

Describe your perfect Sunday in lutruwita/Tasmania.

I need a change of pace on Sundays. It begins with coffee and papers or magazines (I’m a print girl), or reading books and listening to music, maybe with a swim or massage thrown in.

If friends are in town, I love a drive to the Valley of Love (New Norfolk). Books are my addiction, so I pop into Black Swan, have lunch at The Agrarian Kitchen, and potter about the specialist and antique stores. Last visit, I found a rare edition of Van Gogh’s early drawings!

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Q&A: Dr Asha Ram