What attracted you to medicine?
I came to medicine the long way round. I actually started out studying Economics, only to find out that economists had few career options. I initially managed a drug store, then went into sales which involved lots of driving. Unfortunately, I was in a terrible car accident - I almost died - and my family pointed out to me how healthcare had saved my life. That got me interested in medicine. I began by studying nursing and obtained my registered nursing degree. One of the internal medicine physicians encouraged me to be a physician’s assistant, so I could work for him. When I looked into the course requirements, I found out the requirements to be a physician are not much different, so I decided to go for it. I did well and was accepted into the local Osteopathic College.
And what drew you to oncology?
While taking my pre-medicine courses, I discovered that I was good at histology, which is the microscopic study of cells. Histology is very important in blood and cancer medicine: we often look at a patient’s blood cells under a microscope to determine what’s going on. Then when I was doing my rotations as a fellow, I really enjoyed working in the cancer department. My dad died of colon cancer at the age of 49, which gave me a personal reason to want to fight the disease.
You also have a special interest in hematology. What’s that?
Hematology is the study of blood abnormalities. I do have a number of patients who suffer from hematological diseases of benign origin, like anemia. But of course, some hematology problems can have a malignant origin, which means they can be caused by cancer. Hematology and oncology are often paired together in medical studies.
You studied medicine in Iowa and Missouri. What brings you to Ohio?
Actually, I started out here! I was born and raised in Cleveland…Slavic Village, in fact; I attended St. Ignatius. I went to Iowa State because they offered me a wrestling scholarship. So it was a real homecoming for me when I moved back to northeast Ohio.
What do you like best about working at the LH/UH Seidman Cancer Center?
I enjoy working as a general oncologist, not just a specialist in one or a few kinds of cancer. It’s a lot of work, because I have to keep current with the latest research for all types of cancer. But I enjoy it, and I actually find it relaxing to read medical journals in my free time. And of course, it’s absolutely the best feeling in the world when you can bring all this knowledge to bear and help someone beat cancer.
You have over twelve feet of binders and folders containing medical articles that you’ve read, highlighted, and written notes on, so keeping your personal cancer library up-to-date seems to be a full-time job! Do you have any hobbies outside of reading medical journals?
Yes, I work out regularly, watch movies, and sometimes I even read non-medical books!