From Sri Lanka to the stage
Dr Janaka Pieris is not your average GP. With over 30 years of clinical experience across Sri Lanka, the UK, and Australia, he brings both depth and nuance to his practice. But outside of medicine, he’s also an award-winning poet — writing under the name Janaka Malwatta — with works published in Cordite, Rabbit, and Peril.
In a moving conversation with Dr Srishti Dutta for the first episode in the Medical Flyways miniseries, Dr Pieris reflects on a life shaped by migration, racism, and creative courage.
A Voice Shaped by Experience
Dr Pieris describes himself as an “NHS refugee,” disillusioned by the pressure and politics of the UK system. Drawn to the autonomy of Australian general practice, he found new freedom in his clinical work — and his writing.
His poetry collection, blackbirds don’t mate with starlings, was inspired by a deeply personal incident involving racism during his time as a junior doctor. The title of his book, stems from a hurtful remark made by a colleague, now stands as a defiant reminder of identity and survival. “The act of bringing something into existence that wasn’t there before gives me more satisfaction than anything really — outside of family life,” he shares.
On Art and Risk
Juggling a full-time practice, parenting, and poetry, Dr Pieris found time each day to write — often starting before dawn. With encouragement from London double-act D'Archetype, he was invited to take his work to the stage, overcoming his fear of rejection both in art in the same way as one does with medicine.
“If you’re going to be a creative artist, you will get rejected,” he says. “But you do it anyway.”
Dr Pieris’ story is a compelling reminder that medicine is just one part of a doctor’s identity. For international medical graduates and creatives alike, it’s an example of what becomes possible when you make space for both purpose and passion.
Listen to the full episode here, or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Have a story to share? Email us at info@wave.com.au
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