Joining the mission to cure cancer

I still remember when I found out about my interview for Baylor College of Medicine Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Training Program at the Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. I was ecstatic. I saw Texas Children's was on a mission to cure cancer and blood disorders in children, and I was grateful for the opportunity to become a part of that mission.

Seeing how far the hospital has come to change the playing field for children with blood disorders and cancer was astounding. The physicians, nurses, pharmacists and support staff, among others, were really making a difference. Since starting here, I have met incredible families and have found great friends and colleagues. Though I have seen families struggle with challenging medical conditions, what I see most often is how strong and optimistic our patient families are. More importantly, I have seen families who have gone through difficult scenarios and support fellow families to show that everyone is in this together.

Our bedside exposure also gives us an opportunity to see the importance of research. All of the fellows and staff at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Centers are working continuously on projects with the goal of one day putting all of this information together worldwide to cure the diseases we see our patients face every day.

As a fellow, we are on the front lines of our patients' treatment. We see patients at their best and their worst times. We field their phone calls and become a part of their support system. My co-fellows would probably agree that to see a child gain strength and maturity, to see a family bind together as a unit, is inspiring. To have the opportunity to work with my co-fellows, my attendings and, most importantly, my patients makes this job a pleasure every day. I see this field changing now and in the future. In the meantime, I am fortunate to have the opportunity to observe such strong passionate families and friends everyday which makes my job the most I could ever ask for.