What happens when a critical care doctor swaps stress for running shoes? Meet Dr. Uzzwal Kumar Mallick, a familiar name in hospital corridors - and now on running tracks. He serves as an Assistant Professor in Critical Care Medicine at the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital, and a Visiting Consultant at Popular ICU. His days are intense. Long shifts, high stakes, constant pressure. It is as exhausting as it sounds. Yet, outside the ICU, he runs long distances and completes half marathons. He has even finished an ultramarathon.
His journey begins in childhood, far from hospital wards and medical charts. As a boy of five or six, he lived an active life. Football filled his afternoons. Cycling took him to school along rough village roads. Life was simple, physical, and full of movement. “I used to play football and cycle every day,” he recalls. Injuries came early, though. Small knocks turned into bigger setbacks. Even during his SSC years, he faced hearing loss after an incident.
Then came adulthood, and with it, a sharp turn. After completing his MBBS, life grew busy. The cycle became a motorcycle. And yes, another accident followed. Activity slowed. Movement faded. A sedentary routine took over. Weight crept up quietly.
Picture: Dr. Uzzwal Kumar Mallick.
He watched others from a distance. Social media showed friends running marathons, living what looked like healthier lives. “I wanted that life,” he says. Yet wanting and doing are very different things. One day, he decided to try. He joined a running event. The result? Brutal honesty. He struggled to run even 200 meters. It took him an hour to cover five kilometers.
Instead, he studied his weakness. “My problem was lack of practice,” he admits. That realization sparked a shift. He began running regularly. Slowly at first, then with more discipline. He added cycling and swimming to his routine. This was no longer a hobby. It became a system. He trained both online and offline, learning pacing, breathing, and recovery. Step by step, he improved.
Results followed. He completed several half marathons. Then came an ultramarathon. That takes real grit. No shortcuts there. But his story did not stop with personal success. He looked around and saw a gap. Doctors, like him, were overworked and inactive. So he built a community. A space where doctors could run, stay active, and support each other. That idea became “Doctors’ Run.” The concept is simple - doctors running together, promoting health through action. Doctors’ Run has already hosted two major events. One was “Run for Stroke Prevention” on January 24, 2026. The other was “Run for Heart Health” on May 2, 2026. Both focused on awareness and drew strong attention.
Picture: Dr. Uzzwal Kumar Mallick.
For him, running became more than exercise. It became therapy. “Running is not just for weight loss,” he explains. “It is also for mental health.” These events carried a clear message. Health is not only about treatment. It is about daily choices. Small steps matter.
In his medical career, he reached major milestones. He became the first doctorate in critical care medicine in Bangladesh. He trained both at home and abroad. His work includes more than 21 research projects. He believes one thing strongly. “Your first duty is to keep yourself healthy.”
His achievements in critical care medicine speak volumes. He has represented Bangladesh on global platforms. From Australia to Brazil, his work has reached the top forums. He is one of the authors of the World Brain Death Project, and the article was published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) under the title 'Declaration of Brain Death by Neurological Criteria,' which is a universal guideline all over the world.
Picture: Dr. Uzzwal Kumar Mallick.
In Bangladesh, he focuses on building systems. Training doctors. Expanding ICU facilities. Turning basic care units into proper intensive care setups. But challenges remain. ICU access is limited. Costs are high. Not everyone can afford care. He urges innovation. Digital tools to track bed availability. More training programs and stronger public systems.
He believes running should grow across the country. Not just for athletes, but for everyone. Office workers, students, and parents alike. He dreams of a future where running becomes a daily habit. Like brushing your teeth. He says health is the greatest asset. Not money. Not status. Health. Without it, everything else fades.
He wants new runners every day. People who start small. Walk first, then jog, then run. No rush. Just progress. He also calls for unity among the running communities. Collaboration over competition. Shared goals over ego. Imagine parks full of runners. Streets are alive with movement. Communities cheering each other. Not a bad picture, right?
Picture: Dr. Uzzwal Kumar Mallick.
Dr. Mallick’s journey reminds us of something simple. Change starts with one step. He faced the same barriers many people face: time, stress, and fatigue. Yet he pushed through. Not perfectly, but consistently. His story is not about speed. It is about starting. It is about showing up again and again.
He turned concern into action, action into habit, and habit into impact. That is a cycle worth following. As he looks ahead, his goal stays clear. Build awareness. Grow communities. Inspire change - one run at a time.
In the end, his message is simple. Move your body. Protect your health. Enjoy the process. Because if a critical care doctor can find time to run, what’s your excuse?
