Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital
Chief, Enterprise Radiation Oncology, Mass General Brigham
Willem and Corrie Hees Family Professor of Radiation Oncology, Harvard Medical School
(Photo by Stu Rosner)
Do you have a favorite quote or mantra?
On the wall in my office, I have this passage from the Talmud, “Whosoever saves a life, it
is as though he had saved the entire world.” When I see my colleagues, students, and trainees devote themselves to every patient, this passage helps me see each person’s singular effort as a filament in the tapestry of our collective dedication to our patients and colleagues. We see so much suffering every day. Nothing is more important than helping others.
What have been the greatest surprises in your career?
The humility with which one has to approach medicine is a greater surprise than I could have ever imagined. I feel like I have a certain understanding of a field and a scientific approach, and one of the greatest surprises has been how much my hypotheses or assumptions have been wrong. Another surprise is how important it is to stand up for what’s right. As we gain more voice and power, this becomes exponentially more important.
What seems brave to one person can look like hubris to another. What helps you stay brave?
Being brave requires constantly reminding myself I am here to serve others. Bravery is knowing that even when I have to take a step that doesn’t advance my personal interest, I’m here for the betterment of others.
What sorts of concerns weighed on you as you decided to say yes to this new role as chief of enterprise radiation oncology?
Structures in the past have limited our abilities to be deeply collaborative across the enterprise. I was worried people would hunker down in our silos because anxieties arise whenever there’s change. But I’ve been deeply inspired by the openness of everyone I’ve talked to who recognizes our institutions’ incredible complementary strengths. Collectively, we have more expertise than any place on the face of the earth. Every time I meet with someone, I walk away inspired and encouraged by their vision, openness, eagerness, and dedication to working together for our patients and each other.
What keeps you up at night?
I worry about doing right by the people I lead. I’m exceedingly loyal to the department and the institution. But what does it mean to be loyal? For me, it’s less about buildings and brands and more about the people within them and those we serve.
What do you look forward to when you wake up?
I love meeting people and hearing their visions, hopes, dreams, anxieties, and insights. I’m starting to formulate how what I’m learning can be brought into a collective vision, and I still have an enormous amount to learn.
What do you hope will be your most significant contribution to medical science or human health?
I hope to help us transform cancer care by bringing together the brightest, kindest, most ingenious, innovative, and forward-thinking individuals. I hope we in leadership foster those minds and hearts to think big individually and collectively. And that we work well together, always keeping our eye on the ball: It’s not about us; it’s about our patients and colleagues.
Being brave requires constantly reminding myself I am here to serve others.
What would you tell your younger self from where you are now?
I would tell her we live in a large, expansive world, and there is a place in it for your genuine self. What’s most important is being kind, inclusive, ever-present with one’s thoughtfulness and contributing to the wellness of others.
Who are some of your heroes? If you could work with them on a project, what would it be?
I would love to teach nursery school with my co-teachers being Marie Curie, Abigail Adams, Dolly Parton, and Sally Ride.