What sparked your interest in radiation oncology?
While I was getting my Master’s in Information Systems and was applying to medical school, my mom, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had a follow-up appointment with her radiation oncologist, Dusten Macdonald, MD. Shortly after, she offered me the opportunity to work on prostate cancer clinical research. Over the next several years we continued to collaborate on various projects. There are so many Army radiation oncologists over the years who have mentored me, but Dr. Macdonald, Brent Tinnel, MD, and Chris Premo, MD, really graciously welcomed me into the field and Army medicine.
How did your prior experience shape your decision to return to radiation oncology?
My time in internal medicine gave me a broad and deeply human perspective on patient care – especially the longitudinal course of chronic illness beyond the acute phase, and how factors outside the clinic, such as community and family support systems, shape a patient’s ability to navigate their health. It reinforced that clinical decisions don’t exist in isolation; they play out over time within the realities of each patient’s life. My internal medicine training has pushed me to think about each patient’s journey beyond a single encounter or hospitalization and to anticipate the support they may need not just during radiation treatment, but in the months and years that follow.
Why Duke?
I had the opportunity to visit and shadow for a few days during the application process, and what stood out immediately was the people. The entire department – the residents, attendings, nurses, physicists, dosimetrists and other staff were all very open, approachable and engaged. More broadly, Duke offered the kind of training I’m looking for: a balance of high-volume, complex clinical exposure with strong mentorship and academic opportunity.