Saturday, March 9, 2013

Welcome Back!

It's a warm, sunny day today.  Spring is finally here, from the looks of things.  That means it's time for a new beginning.

On my way home from work last night, I stopped for a drink with an old friend of mine.  When I say old... I've known this friend since we were kids.   I can't remember a time when I didn't know him.  We were joined by two of his other friends, who I was meeting for the first time.  When I first meet people, and they ask what I do, my answer evokes either a blank look, a look of pity, or a lot of questions.

Thankfully, this time I got questions.

The two most common questions I'm asked are how I ended up doing what I do, and what is the most rewarding part of my job.  I'd like to share my answers here, as a part of my new beginning.

How did I end up as a pediatric oncologist?  I wasn't one of those kids who knew at age 5 he wanted to be a doctor.  In fact, I went to college hoping to be a research scientist.  It was only after my sophomore year that my father suggested to me that if I wanted to do medical research, a medical degree might be helpful.  So I started medical school in the Medical Scientist Training Program, on a track to get both an MD and a PhD.  Thankfully, just seven years later, I graduated with both degrees, ready to take the next steps.

Why oncology?  I was attracted to the science.  Understanding how cells work fascinated me, and when I realized that cancer is a perversion of the normal processes of cell biology, I knew what I wanted to study.

Why pediatrics?  That's even easier.  I love kids.  I love their undying optimism, their boundless enthusiasm for life, they neverending need to explore the world around them, and their seemingly limitless ability to love those around them.

The choice to become a pediatric oncologist turned out to be pretty easy for me.


What is the most rewarding part of my job?  That's pretty easy, too.  Earlier this week, I received an email from an old patient.  He wrote to tell me that it was the 15th anniversary of the day we met and I told him he had cancer.  He has now lived more time post-diagnosis than pre, and felt moved to tell me how much he loved his life and how happy he was to have met me.

I received a similar message two years ago.  An old patient wrote to me on her birthday.  She told me she had recently been researching her diagnosis... and realized that someone with her type of leukemia, who had the chromosome mutations that her leukemia had, ought to have died.  Not only was she celebrating another birthday, but she was preparing for her wedding, and she wrote to thank me for taking such good care of her.

How could I ever have considered any other career?

It's spring.  Time for new beginnings.  Time to renew my efforts in the lab, so that even more kids will be able to look back on the day they were diagnosed and be thankful for the modern treatments, born of an intense research effort, that have erased the day when a childhood cancer diagnosis was a death sentence.


Related Posts:

Who am I, and why am I here?

67 comments:

Just the Tip said...

Glad to see you're back.

I'm a bad blogger too, and just recently wiped my blog pretty much clean. I have a 2 year old & 3 year old with medical issues, and while I am grateful for all of the linking up I have done with other parents online, it is slightly scary to think of all the information & pictures I posted for everyone to see.

I love your blog, it's so well written, and what you do every single day, is amazing.

DrG said...

Glad to see you're back too.

Dan Gilbert said...

As the father of one of your patients you can add me to the long list of people that are grateful to have met you. Please keep up the good work.

Dan Gilbert

Pediatric Critical Care South Florida said...

I am a continuous reader of your blog and I love to read all your posts. Its been really great to be here. Your post is so informative and from it I learned so many things. Thanks a lot for sharing this post with us.

Unknown said...



Medical Assistant programs and medical assistant classes are now online at St.
Augustine School of Medical Assistants.


medical assistant
medical assistant classes
medical assistant certification
medical assistant programs
medical assistant school
medical assistant courses
medical assistant courses online
medical assistant classes online

Unknown said...

Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic.

pain management boca raton

chennaidentalcentre said...

welcome to CHENNAI DENTAL CENTRE, Chennai's Best Dental clinic with Chennai's best dentist as consultants treating all dental problem. VISIT AS AT http://www.chennaidental.com
The dental Hospital Provides root canal treatment,implant dentistry,crown fixing,orthodontics,endodontics,child dental care,elderly dental care ,laser dental treatments,sedation dentistry,microscope dentistry and all maxillo facial surgical cases like trauma etc. The director Dr D.P. Uma Magesh MDS has been in the field of dentistry for more than thirteen years providing best
gauranteed ,higher patient satisfaction and quality dental care in chennai with a motto of taking Indian dentistry to international standards at a cost affordable to all Chennai people.

Unknown said...

Thank you very much., You are a good writer.
In addition to art that will give you good
I congratulate you
پارتیشن -
پارتیشن تک جداره - پارتیشن دو جداره - قیمت پارتیشن - پارتیشن اداری -
مبلمان اداری - پارتیشن اداری

Find Best Doctors and Book Appointments said...

hi i read this blog its very useful for cancer patient.

Unknown said...

The yearly wanted normal radiation advisor
compensation is about $75,000. This likens
to harshly $38 for every hour. Indeed specialists
simply beginning in their field can win a decent compensation.
The most reduced tenth percentile ought to want a
yearly salary of about $51,000, or $25 for every hour.
Encountered radiation advisors working in the top tenth
percentile ought to need a pay of up to $110,000, or
significantly higher. This six figure compensation is
equivalent to at any rate $55 a hour. The center half of
radiation advisors are agreeable in their compensations,
with an extent between $63,000 and $95,000 for every year.
This is between $30 and $46 a hour.know more click here.

Nagarjuna said...

it is great blog by this we can learn new ideas and enhance our aptitude by review this site

Pediatric Occupational Therapy | Jobs Houston, Dallas, Texas said...

You are doing great work for kids.
God bless you!

Contact Pediatric Physical Therapy in Bryan, College Station, Texas

Pediatric Physical Therapy | Bryan, College Station, Texas

scholarship essay writing service said...

Wonderful article. This post is very excellent

Thanh Moc Huong said...

lắp đặt máy làm lạnh nước
kho lạnh
cho thuê máy lạnh
bán block máy lạnh
sửa kho lạnh công nghiệp
kho mát
cung cấp kho lạnh
kho lạnh công nghiệp
kho lạnh
block máy lạnh
kho đông
cung cấp block máy lạnh
sửa máy lạnh công nghiệp
sửa máy lạnh chiller
sửa kho lạnh
kho lạnh đà nẵng
máy làm lạnh nước
máy làm bia sệt
cho thue xe tai gia re
van chuyen hang gia re
kho lạnh
kho lạnh mini
băng chuyền kho lạnh
kho lạnh
cung cấp kho lạnh
tủ làm bia sệt
cho thue may lanh
sua kho lanh cong nghiep
kho mat
làm kho lạnh

Expertise for Hire said...

Fighting deadly diseases such as cancer is very important, i love the fact that your blog actually talks about issues which affects the lives of people. This is a great blog that i find really helpful. Qualified article writers for hire

Anonymous said...

Hi All,

Good articles

It's a great way to get a clean, permission-based list to which you can market. Doctors Email List is basically using emails to put across the services or using emails as a marketing tool to sell your product.
we have the most high-value; low-cost email and direct mailing lists available on the web today.

Benefits of B2B Marketing Leads
Pegasi Media Group

·Earning higher ROI through cost-effective email marketing
·Increasing website traffic
·Expand the scope of your email marketing campaigns
·Save money by reducing direct mail expenditures

(302) 803 5211
sales@pegasimediagroup.com

Fahad Anwar said...

I read your blog I like it and I see but I'm looking for a we are offering and provide Best Cosmetic Surgeon in Lahore if want Best Cosmetic Surgeon visit over this website
Best Cosmetic Surgeon in Lahore

Unknown said...

Not more delaying to get famous at this time. Buy Facebook Followers as a way to acquire status and authority on internet in a small period. purchase facebook followers

Unknown said...

Avoid waiting to become well known today. Buy Facebook Followers as a method to get popularity and authority on the internet in a small span. facebook follow

Doctors in Delhi said...

There are no doubt many Welcome Back Blogs, also I have been following this blog from doctordavidsblog & it is really very nice to learn more about Welcome Back here.
Also check out Doctors in Delhi

umer hb said...

One of the Leading PlasticBest Cosmetic Surgeon in Lahore and Regarded as a Versatile and Safe Plastic Surgeon in Town.

Unknown said...

Great information - thanks a lot for the detailed article! You might also be interested to know more about our company. Techno Data Group helps you achieve your business goals through customized database, connect with interested qualified prospects who are seeking information to move forward in the buying process.Dentists Email List

Unknown said...

I love your blog, it's so well-written, and what you do every single day, is amazing.
Send Flowers to Norway

Quytran2593 said...

https://images.google.co.kr/url?q=http://yduoctphcm.net//
https://images.google.co.ls/url?q=http://yduoctphcm.net//
https://images.google.co.ma/url?q=http://yduoctphcm.net//

sofy grass said...

buy Vidalista Professional online on sale best price in australia

BA -Topic Help said...

Hello there, I have just learned the best way to prepare Pizza. The cooking process is awesome. Are you looking for  BA - Latest Topic Ideas for research project? We have various topic ideas that will guide you towards completing your Bachelors in Arts. Basing on the area of specialization we will brainstorm ideas and guide you to select the topic idea. Kindly contact us and we will assist.

Unknown said...

All this as well as far more could be in you cat if you are utilizing this platform conscientiously. buy targeted facebook likes

Unknown said...

Best way to easily snapseed download on Android

Unknown said...

Adopt latest web marketing trend. Buy YouTube subscribers and Contend your opponents. buy youtube subscribers

Facebook Marketing said...

I am happy to find this post very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I always prefer to read the quality content and this thing I found in you post. Thanks for sharing.

Organic Facebook Page Likes said...

The post is very nice. I just shared on my Facebook Account.

Tafrepa said...

Tafrepa is an online platform set up by Honey Bell to showcase their exhaustive range of over the counter pharma/medical as well as general well-being products.
supplements for hair loss
hair serum for regrowth
hair removal cream for sensitive skin
Weight Loss Supplement Online

Kiya rony said...

Read More
Malwarebytes is the best antimalware but sometimes user face issues with it. some of the issues are like malwarebytes not opening on windows 10 or malwarebytes not responding, etc. You need to contact malwarebytes customer service to get the help from expert technician. or try to reinstall malwarebytes premium to fix the issue.

Anonymous said...

Thats cute!
DalagangFilipina.info

Tafrepa said...

Tafrepa is an online platform setup by Honey Bell to showcase their exhaustive range of over the counter pharma/medical as well as general well-being products.

Follikesh tablets
Hair growth tablets in india

Susanne Patzelt said...

Hi

There is a good deal more to see about this. You can search for college classes online that focus on that.

Yours,
Oscar Reyes

Gaming Glasses said...

do gaming glasses work? For starters, the right pair of gaming glasses do work. And, they can help you improve your level of play, improve vision and clarity, and help reduce stress and strain on your eyes, especially when you are playing your favorite games for hours on end, or engaged in an online competition and simply can't put down your controller.

* anti blue ray glasses
* Light up glasses

Malware bytes said...

Simply dial 1-877-916-7666 from wherever you are to get access to our highly trusted tech support center. Explain your issue and get an authentic solution form our engineer without any delay.

elisamartin08 said...

Good post....thanks for sharing.. very useful for me, I will bookmark this for my future needsAre you stuck with your Hp Printer Error 0x610000f6 issue? you in getting your issues settled without going through any cash and furthermore you can do it without anyone else and furthermore from inside your home as it were.for getting your error solved you may simply visit us and contact us on our toll free number.

Americas Pharmacy said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mhmod said...

شقق للبيع في التجمع الخامس من المالك مباشرة
شقق للبيع في التجمع الخامس من المالك مباشرة
من المالك مباشرة شاليهات للبيع بالعين السخنة
من المالك مباشرة ارض للبيع بالتجمع الخامس
من المالك مباشرة شقق للبيع بالتجمع بالتقسيط
شقق للبيع بالتجمع الخامس

mhmod said...

افضل شركة تنظيف بالبخار بجدة
افضل شركة عزل فوم بجدة
افضل شركة تنظيف بالبخار بالطائف
افضل شركة تنظيف بالبخار بالباحة
كشف تسربات المياه بالطائف
شركة كشف تسربات المياه بمكة
شركة عزل خزانات المياه بمكة
افضل خدمات صيانة منزلية بجدة

rukmandisharma said...

Solar Modules

A sunlight based module ordinarily comprises of a gathering of 6x10 sun powered cells. The sunlight based cells' productivity and wattage yield can fluctuate contingent upon the sort and nature of sun oriented cells utilized. A sun based module can go in energy creation from 100-365 Watts of DC power. The higher wattage yield, the more energy creation per sun based module. A sun based cluster of modules comprising of higher energy-delivering sun oriented modules will, along these lines, produce more power in less space than a variety of lower creating modules. Be that as it may, the expense is higher for more prominent creating modules.

Ekdanta Developers said...

2 BHK flats for sale in Panvel

The private structure has bank endorsements from bank HDFC, LIC, IDBI, ICICI. This resale Flat is in Ready to involve status with reasonable conveniences like Swimming pool, Indoor games, Drainage office, Lifts, Security, Club house, Park, Gym, Visitors stopping, Play ground, CCTV, Jogging track, Fire Safety, Jacuzzi, Badminton court, Yoga room, Community corridor, Maintenance staff, Basketball court.

Fervent Enterprises said...

Internal Audit in Delhi

A quality internal audit adds value to an organization by improving its processes and adding value through objective assurance. By reducing risk, controlling, and governing processes in a systematic, disciplined fashion, it will assist an organization toward its strategic objectives. Boards and principal executives reap the benefits of Advisors' Internal Audits. The professionals help businesses enhance the quality, effectiveness, and value of their internal audit program.

Anonymous said...

Best Rodent Control Services in Mumbai

Experienced irritation control administrations in Mumbai can assist with settling any sort of nuisance pervasion, be it cockroaches, kissing bugs, bugs, mosquitoes, house flies, insects, reptiles, termites, rodents, rodents, wood drills, and other frightening little creatures. Proficient organizations for clean and safe vermin control Mumbai use eco-accommodating techniques like microbial insect poisons, best-quality shower medicines, and natural nuisance control. When you share your irritation control necessity with Mumbai bug control organizations, they will appoint reasonable exterminators to your location to take care of business on a case by case basis.

Compusoft said...

Office 365 solutions in Mumbai

Office 365 plans incorporate the work area rendition of the most recent Office applications, where clients can introduce across various PCs and gadgets. The completely introduced applications include: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, and Access (Publisher and Access are accessible on PC just) and you can introduce them across different gadgets, including PCs, Macs, Android tablets, Android telephones, iPad, and iPhone. At the point when you have a functioning Office 365 membership that incorporates the work area form of Office, you generally have the most modern rendition of the applications.

Energetica said...

Energetica India Magazine

Mining organizations all throughout the planet apply Imago's answer related to geography information the board and displaying instruments to empower groups to make more certain, productive choices utilizing quickly accessible, great pictures. Seequent as of now coordinates its Leapfrog, Oasis montaj, Target, and Minalytix MX Deposit with Imago's answer, making it simple for geologists, engineers, and different partners to extricate information and gain from geoscientific symbolism. The objective is to open huge potential for mining and different businesses, changing picture information into significant experiences for land exercises.

Rebecca Digital said...

Best SEO company in Mumbai

As a main SEO Company in Mumbai, we realize that a careful arranging and key execution is the way to accomplishing extraordinary SEO results. When you reach us for SEO Services, we will start our proposals with a free examination of your site. Our SEO administrations incorporate focusing on the most encouraging catchphrases for your business and industry, making a great backlinks, and advancing your On-page and Off-page. Mumbai, the Financial Capital of India, is a superb model exhibiting the variety of India. In addition to the fact that we have enormous worldwide ventures working out of this dynamic city yet we additionally have the absolute most encouraging new companies and nearby organizations working perseveringly to arise as pioneers in their separate fields.

Myportservices said...

Radar Based Proximity Sensor

To conquer the mishaps of weighty vehicles at the mining destinations, Radar-based vicinity sensors help mine administrators in limiting the danger of mishaps and injury. Radar-based sensors sent at the front and back of their dump trucks. The sensors give dynamic item recognition in vehicle vulnerable sides without expensive or tedious adjustments to existing crash aversion gadgets. The sensors discharge fan-molded light emissions recurrence radio waves. To keep away from bogus alarms, every sensor was arranged to make a detecting region relating to its vulnerable side, disregards objects outside the space. An installed video observing framework permits the administrator to check for any blocks. Every sensor is secured by a tough IP67-appraised lodging, which guarantees dependable activity, in any event, when shrouded in built up on mud.

Steelion said...

prefabricated bathroom pods manufacturers

Flexible, hearty, enduring, refurbishable after some time, inventive, premium quality and ageless. These are only a portion of the modifiers that ring a bell when a Bathsystem case is the focal point of consideration. The Bathsystem bunch embraces a quality first organization theory, everything necessary is venturing inside a Bathsystem case and one can feel the surprising nature of the business' driving item.

Mark Tayler said...

According to the experts, Cash App direct deposit is faster than any other way of payment. The best part of the direct deposit service is that this one service lets the users get paid not only from the employer but also from the IRS, government, and many other federal agencies. Anyone who has enabled Cash App direct deposit can receive salary, tax refund, stimulus checks, impact payments, and so many other types of payments. In order to enable direct deposit on Cash App, one must have access to an activated Cash App card. Follow these steps as mentioned in this post- Cash app login error?

Ezra Ryan said...

How is the best ent surgeons in lahore

Samad Sultan said...

Doctor Rashid Zia is the best ent lahore

Edward said...

Cash App direct deposit is an electronic way to receive a paycheck from an employer. To set up direct deposit on a Cash App you need just a routing number.

your country kitchen said...

Gluten Free Atta is made with confined, cleaned wheat flour which has been heat-treated to destroy a wide scope of dangerous microorganisms which are accessible in normal wheat flour. This chips away at the poop and besides thwarts honking.

Read More:- Gluten Free Atta

Scarlett Johansson said...

Who Is Emma Stone? If you are a die heart fan of Spider-man movies, then you will know about Emma Stone. But there is no idea whether Emma Stone’s naked scenes are there in this movie.

catherine williams said...

AOL email service comes with a huge range of benefits. But, if you don't know how to fix AOL desktop error code 100, how you can expect to avail all the help of AOL. There is more than one way to fix AOL desktop Issue. Before everything else you need to ensure that your device is connected with a strong internet or Wi-Fi signal. After that ensure that your antivirus is not interfering with AOL email. For more information, you can contact AOL Desktop Support.

Read More:
AOL Desktop Problem

Buy Crypto Currency said...

Coinbase may likewise confine your record in the event that it's considered to be at a high gamble of crypto extortion. Assuming that the stage distinguishes indications of dubious action, it will restrict trading until it can make quick work of what's happening. Factors like various fizzled logins or logins from an obscure PC might be thought of as dubious by the stage. In this way, restricting record action is eventually for your insurance.

Read More:- coinbase login account || coinbase login uk || pro coinbase login

Fares Questus said...

No matter what the passage, you can drop your reservation as long as 24 hours from the hour of booking without being charged an abrogation expense gave you made the booking multi week or more before flight. The United Airlines ticket undoing strategy permits full discounts in the event of death (of the traveler or a direct relation), particular sorts of diseases, and jury obligation. The approach covers a wide range of tickets, including those bought with cash, Visa, or check, as well as grant tickets, promotion admissions, mass tolls, and net charges.


Read More:- United Cancellation Policy

Gaurav said...

badam khane se kya hota hai सर्जरी या फिर किसी तरह की दुर्घटना के बाद की कमजोरी में बादाम खाने से लाभ होता है l

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing this post. You are sharing very important points in this article and this article can be important for everyone. So we should time spend on this, But I will talk to you later. Because I am busy With my research work, I want to know complete detail about forum posting and I want to do this type of work for my websites and for my apps to get good traffic. So I am trusting nsdigiworld , because they are providing good service at a cheap rate. This firm is more popular and this firm working technique also great. So more detail, You can talk from this site expert. I hope so, You will like all the digital marketing services of this company and You will do work long term with this.


Send money from PayPal to cash app said...

If you have been facing any issues regarding how to send money from PayPal to cash app contact cash app customer service to resolve your issue.

Send Money from Chime to Paypal said...

If you have been facing any issues regarding how to send money from Chime to Paypal contact Email customer service to resolve your issue.

Delete Match Account said...

Match Customer Service helps you to solve all the issues you are facing with your match account like Match login issue, password reset issues, billing issues, account recovery issue, and wish to delete match account contact Match Customer Service. They will assist you with the easiest and the best solution for your problem.

Forget Icloud Password said...

Have you Forget Icloud Password? don't worry contact, contact customer service they will assist you to resolve your issue.

johnsmith said...


If you have problem with, Cash App Bitcoin Verification Please read my blog
Cash App Bitcoin Verification