Preethi John, M.D., medical oncologist, is now seeing patients at Texas Oncology–Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center. Read along as Dr. John shares what inspired her career and approach to patient care.
It has been a blessing to be a part of my patients’ lives and serve them as they walk through their journeys with cancer."
What inspired you to specialize in cancer care?
Oncology first sparked my interest early in my college career when I learned about the complexities of tumor biology. While my interest in oncology grew from there, I was ultimately inspired to specialize in cancer care for the opportunity to develop long-term relationships with patients. It has been a blessing to be a part of my patients' lives and serve them as they walk through their journeys with cancer.
What are you most looking forward to as cancer treatment continues to evolve?
In the future, I hope to see cancer treatments becoming more convenient and causing fewer side effects for patients. This would improve patients’ quality of life during treatment so they can continue living each day as they desire to.
What would you like your legacy as a physician to be?
I want my patients to think of me as a doctor who genuinely cared for them and viewed them as strong individuals with unique stories.
What advice would you give someone who is aspiring to be a doctor?
I would tell aspiring doctors that the journey to achieving your goals is long and challenging. But when you enjoy going to work every day and love what you do, it is all worth it.
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
If I could have one superpower, I would choose the ability to know how people feel without them having to say it. This would allow me to address peoples’ true needs and concerns.