Undergrad Institution; Degree and Major:
Duke University, Durham, NC (2003)
BS Computer Science, BS Economics
Magna Cum Laude
Medical School:
Duke University School of Medicine (2008)
In practice since:
2014
Your Specialty:
Radiation Oncology
Where and for how many years did you train AFTER medical school:
University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL
Preliminary Internal Medicine, PGY1
Duke University School of Medicine
Radiation Oncology Resident, PGY2 – 5
How did you choose your specialty?
Participating in the journey of a patient with cancer is immensely rewarding to me. This was the foremost reason for me to choose a career in oncology. I found the perfect mix of patient interaction, medical imaging, and procedural tasks in Radiation Oncology. I’ve always liked to build things with my hands and designing a radiation treatment plan that leads to a potential cure for a patient with cancer is one of the best things I could ever make.
What do you like MOST, and like LEAST, about your specialty?
I like most the combination of cutting edge technology and patient interaction. During consultation, my patients and I speak plainly about my recommendation for radiotherapy and life after a cancer diagnosis. Behind the scenes, a team of planners, therapists, physicists and myself aim one of the world’s most complex and sophisticated machines at cancerous targets that are often near critical normal tissues.
High quality medical care requires immense coordination and this is especially true in oncology. I like least the situations where coordination of care is not done well or barriers to coordination prevent effective treatment for a given patient.
In your opinion, what attributes are important in anyone choosing this specialty?
Well-read, detail-oriented, confident, and affable. These attributes are key to establishing a strong rapport with oncology patients. Comfort with 3-dimensional medical imaging is helpful for radiation treatment planning. Successful radiation oncologists are just as likely to have undergraduate degrees in the humanities as they are physics or engineering.
Hobbies/special interests:
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Travel, cooking, tennis, basketball.