Welcome Eva Valilis to Texas Oncology–El Paso Gateway
Dr. Eva Valilis finds helping cancer patients most rewarding; her hidden talent is playing the piano.
Eva Valilis, M.D., MPH, hematologist and medical oncologist, is now seeing patients at Texas Oncology–El Paso Gateway. Dr. Valilis shares a defining moment in her medical education and her favorite volunteer experience.
1. If you could tell prospective patients one thing, what would it be?
Trying to maintain a positive outlook while navigating cancer is essential, as is leaning on one’s support system. A cancer diagnosis can be frightening and stressful, so having loved ones you can count on is very important throughout treatment. It’s also key to remember that the field of oncology is evolving, and researchers continue to develop novel therapies that aim to meaningfully improve survivorship for many different types of cancer.
2. What has been a defining moment in your medical education?
In medical school, I had the opportunity to train in a community-based setting, caring for underserved populations in various cities nationwide. I found it to be very rewarding, and after completing my residency in internal medicine, I knew I wanted to continue this important work in my hometown of El Paso. My goal in joining Texas Oncology is to provide high-quality, leading edge cancer care to my fellow El Pasoans.
3. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an oncologist?
Oncology is the most rapidly evolving medical specialty. Cancer types that once had poor prognoses are now considered very treatable, and it’s very rewarding to witness patients receive treatments that allow them to enjoy life again. I’m also excited to see cancer treatment become more personalized by tailoring a patient's treatment to their specific disease.
4. What’s the best volunteer experience you had and what did you do?
During college, I became an ambassador for an international nonprofit bone marrow donor center and organized donor registration events. At the time, perfect matches were still preferred for leukemia patients who required bone marrow transplants. I helped register hundreds of donors, and a few of them ended up donating stem cells to patients and saving their lives. I continued to host registration events during medical school with the goal of educating the community on the importance of expanding the bone marrow donor registry, especially for underrepresented groups.
5. What do you do outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, and walking outdoors. I also love traveling to Greece where my extended family lives.
6. What is your hidden talent?
My husband says I have an uncanny ability to choose the perfect container to precisely fit leftovers. Impressive, right?
7. If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would choose my grandmother's spanakopita, also known as spinach pie. She lives in a rural part of Greece and rolls out each piece of filo by hand. It’s a very time-consuming task but one that she enjoys because she knows how much pleasure it brings to the entire family.
1. If you could tell prospective patients one thing, what would it be?
Trying to maintain a positive outlook while navigating cancer is essential, as is leaning on one’s support system. A cancer diagnosis can be frightening and stressful, so having loved ones you can count on is very important throughout treatment. It’s also key to remember that the field of oncology is evolving, and researchers continue to develop novel therapies that aim to meaningfully improve survivorship for many different types of cancer.
2. What has been a defining moment in your medical education?
In medical school, I had the opportunity to train in a community-based setting, caring for underserved populations in various cities nationwide. I found it to be very rewarding, and after completing my residency in internal medicine, I knew I wanted to continue this important work in my hometown of El Paso. My goal in joining Texas Oncology is to provide high-quality, leading edge cancer care to my fellow El Pasoans.
3. What is the most rewarding aspect of being an oncologist?
Oncology is the most rapidly evolving medical specialty. Cancer types that once had poor prognoses are now considered very treatable, and it’s very rewarding to witness patients receive treatments that allow them to enjoy life again. I’m also excited to see cancer treatment become more personalized by tailoring a patient's treatment to their specific disease.
4. What’s the best volunteer experience you had and what did you do?
During college, I became an ambassador for an international nonprofit bone marrow donor center and organized donor registration events. At the time, perfect matches were still preferred for leukemia patients who required bone marrow transplants. I helped register hundreds of donors, and a few of them ended up donating stem cells to patients and saving their lives. I continued to host registration events during medical school with the goal of educating the community on the importance of expanding the bone marrow donor registry, especially for underrepresented groups.
5. What do you do outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking, and walking outdoors. I also love traveling to Greece where my extended family lives.
6. What is your hidden talent?
My husband says I have an uncanny ability to choose the perfect container to precisely fit leftovers. Impressive, right?
7. If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would choose my grandmother's spanakopita, also known as spinach pie. She lives in a rural part of Greece and rolls out each piece of filo by hand. It’s a very time-consuming task but one that she enjoys because she knows how much pleasure it brings to the entire family.