R. Daniel Zaunbrecher III, M.D., colon and rectal surgeon, is now seeing patients at Texas Colon & Rectal Specialists–Austin Central and Austin South. Dr. Zaunbrecher discusses potential advancements in surgical oncology and the path that led him to a career in medicine.
What excites you most about joining an organization like Texas Oncology?
I am looking forward to joining an established organization with a large network of physicians, where I will be able to continue to learn and broaden my skill set.
What are you most looking forward to as cancer treatment continues to evolve?
As patient outcomes continue to improve, so will patient satisfaction. Historically, the treatment has been worse than the disease for certain cancer types, but with new medications and techniques, we are seeing patients not only going into remission but thriving.
What is a surgical advancement you hope to see during your career?
I hope that the use of artificial intelligence spreads to the field of surgery to assist in complex decision-making regarding patient disease.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
My wife and I enjoy hiking and take advantage of the bike-friendly area we currently live in. I like to lounge around the pool during the summer and will take any opportunity to ski during the winter.
What’s the best volunteer experience you've had and what did you do?
In medical school, I was fortunate enough to be involved with an organization that spends two weeks in Kenya each year. During those two weeks, we set up primary care clinics in nearby villages and treated both common and uncommon conditions.
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
As a child, I wanted to be a professional baseball player. However, once I got older, I wanted to go to veterinary school after college. Through a series of fortunate events and the realization that I enjoy conversing with patients, I decided to go to medical school and ultimately pursue a career in surgery.
Do you have a favorite national or state park?
One of my favorite—and most memorable—trips was to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It is unbelievably vast in real life. Our weeklong trip consisted of camping and hiking into the canyon.