Physician-Scientists: Bridging the Lab and Clinic

The consummate physician-scientist is compassionate and adept at patient care, yet also has the technical ability to find novel therapies in the laboratory from lessons learned in the clinic. Through my work in these two environments, I hope to find curative therapies for people with brain tumors. David Akhavan, MD, PhD

My experiences with patients in the clinic mean I bring more depth to the research questions we are trying to answer. As a physician-scientist at a National Cancer Institute-designated center, I have access to research funding and clinical trials that other cancer centers do not. This is vitally important when developing a career in research and medicine, and it helps us complete more clinically impactful research. Andrea Jewell, MD

Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to pursue medicine. In college, I interned for a biotech company where they were using the latest molecular biology techniques to understand the process of claudication due to severe peripheral artery disease. This was an amazing marriage of medicine and science to improve human health. I knew this was the career path for me. Gregory Gan, MD, PhD

I am committed to providing my patients with the best treatment available today. But I recognize that we can do better than what we have today. I became a physician-scientist so I could use my curiosity for cancer biology to find ways to improve cure rates, reduce side effects and cost of treatment, and ultimately help my future patients do better than the patients I treat today. Shane Stecklein, MD, PhD