Choosing a medical specialty can be a daunting task, but one of my mentors distilled it into two guiding principles: find the disease you are fascinated by and the patients you love caring for. My biology classes prior to medical school had already sparked an interest in the mechanisms of cancer and how developing therapies work to target them. It was during my time getting to know cancer patients through the Sarcoma Scholars program and my clinical years of medical school that I learned that they were the patients I loved caring for.
From conversations with sarcoma survivors and those who had lost loved ones to sarcoma emerged themes of fear, uncertainty, sadness, hope, bravery, and resilience. In the hospital wards and exam rooms of Mayo Clinic, where I was a student, I saw these themes play out in the lives of my patients. I delivered good and bad news; explained curative and palliative treatments; laughed with some patients and even cried with others. In doing so, I got a taste of what it would be like to spend my career walking alongside these patients during one of the most significant challenges of their lives. I loved caring for these patients because each one taught me something about life that left me a better person.
Of the three oncology disciplines, I enjoyed the procedural side of surgical oncology yet desired the long-term patient relationships of medical oncology. In radiation oncology, I found my perfect balance of the two. I look forward to staying close to the people and places that guided me towards this rewarding career path as I embark on my residency training this summer at Mayo Clinic.