September 2012

At various stages of our lives, most of us experience situations or events that help us to mature and may lead to decisions that affect our futures. Two such events in my life forged my career choice as a communitybased oncologist.

Education in medical ethics is required in medical school and residency programs, yet there is so much variability in the timing and delivery of this education and many house staff report inadequacies and gaps in their ethical training.

"Don't quit." These are words of wisdom passed down from one oncologist to one in training. Two months into my fellowship, I had the opportunity to listen to Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee speak at my home institution.

Imagine navigating through a crowd of 25,000 oncology professionals in the largest conference center in the United States. In this environment, it is easy for even the most seasoned oncologist to feel overwhelmed.

This fellow shares the insights he’s gained from his wife, a pediatric oncology nurse, and how they help in the care he provides.

This author shares patient experiences that have taught him how much an oncologist offers, beyond chemotherapy.