Cade W. Clark, M.D., hematologist and medical oncologist, is now seeing patients at
Texas Oncology–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center. Dr. Clark shares the most valuable lesson he learned during his medical education and the childhood experiences that led him to pursue cancer care.
1. Did you always know you wanted to be a doctor, specifically specializing in cancer care?
I knew I wanted to be a doctor from a relatively young age. As a kid, I remember watching "Trauma: Life in the E.R.," a reality television show about emergency room doctors, and being absolutely captivated.
I was also exposed to clinical settings early on. My mother was a nurse, and I would accompany her to work on days I stayed home from school. (I may or may not have been playing hooky.) Those days were mostly spent in a gastroenterology suite, and I was enamored by everything I saw. Over time, I developed an interest in cancer, particularly on the cellular level, and was fortunate to pursue oncology even though I originally matched into radiology, which is another story entirely!
2. What do you think the future of cancer treatment will look like?
I think the future of cancer treatment will involve the manipulation of the tumors or the host immune system — or likely both to some extent. Eventually, I believe we will be able to force tumors to "show" themselves to our immune system or modulate our immune system to kill cancer cells without causing significant side effects. However, to do so, we will have to figure out how to alter the tumors in such a way that they can be recognized by the immune system.
3. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in your medical education?
Listen to the patient. Talk to the patient. Humanize the patient. The medical training system for physicians is heavily focused on passing the licensing and board examinations, which creates an unrealistic framework for how we approach treating patients in real life. There’s no doubt that the information learned is critically important to being a good doctor, but it’s just a small piece of the puzzle. Connecting with patients on a personal level is crucial in providing them the best possible care.
4. Do you have a favorite sport or sports team that you actively follow?
I’m a huge fan of the New Orleans Saints and, in a distant second, the Dallas Mavericks. I love football in general and can talk about anything and everything related to the NFL and college football.
5. What are your hobbies outside of work?
Outside of work, I love to spend time with my wife and my daughter. A few things we enjoy doing together as a family include attending football and basketball games and going out to eat or to the movies. We also love visiting Dallas’ staple spots such as NorthPark Center, Dallas Museum of Art, Perot Museum, and Dallas Zoo.
I also love cars, mainly '90s and JDM (Japanese Domestic Market) cars. My current project is a 2020 Toyota Supra that I’m building to compete in TX2K events. My father-in-law has a shop with a lift, so on any given weekend, you’ll find me there working on a car.
6. What is your favorite place you've ever visited?
Honestly, Florida is my favorite place to visit. Though I’ve been to places like Maui, I’ve vacationed in the Destin/Navarre/Pensacola area for as long as I can remember, so it’s special to me. We go at least once a year with my extended family, and I feel so much nostalgia every time. I love it.
7. If you had to eat one meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Does coffee and an almond croissant count as a meal? If not, I’d definitely choose pizza.