Primary Hospital: Integris Baptist Medical Center - Oklahoma
Specialty: Radiation Oncology
County: Oklahoma
Gender: M
Radiation oncology is a way of treating cancer with radiation therapy, which is different from surgery or chemotherapy. Our practice treats patients from all over Oklahoma and all across the world. We have treated patients from as far away as England, Lebanon and even India due to the specialized services we offer.
Why did you choose medicine and your field in particular?
I always knew I wanted to work with cancer patients. During residency, I was especially moved by the courage and spirit of pediatric cancer patients, and at that time, I knew I wanted to focus a great deal of my career on treating kids.
What are the most challenging aspects?
Proton therapy is a highly complex field. I have been practicing with heavy particles for 11 years and with protons for five, including my time at the University of Florida. It is still an evolving field, and this makes it fun but also challenging at times. We were the first center in the world to treat a patient with anal canal cancer with protons. Designing the initial fields and protocols took more than 100 hours of work, which was above and beyond my regular responsibilities. This was challenging yet worth it, as the patient did great and really benefited from our team’s collective hard work.
Do you foresee any breakthrough on the horizon that will significantly change your practice?
We are creating breakthroughs each and every day at ProCure. Protons will not completely get rid of (traditional) x-ray therapy, but they will reshape the field of oncology for the better. I’m not sure on what timeline this will happen, but to be able to be part of this revolution is incredibly exciting and inspiring.
