Oncology Times is excited to welcome two new experts to its Editorial Board: Stephanie L. Graff, MD, FACP, and Aparna Raj Parikh, MD. Together, they will help Oncology Times continue to provide essential clinical news and analysis for the cancer care community.
Graff now leads the Editorial Board as the newest Board Chair. She is Director of Breast Oncology at Lifespan Cancer Institute and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Brown University. Parikh offers her expertise as a board member. She is Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Assistant in Medicine, Hematology, and Oncology at Massachusetts General Hospital?.
Recently, Graff and Parikh took the time to sit down with Oncology Times to share what led them to where they are today. Check out the discussions below to get to know two oncologists who share a passion for the profession and the patients they serve.
Supporting Patients & Oncologists
When Graff was in high school, one of her teachers told her that whatever you do in life, you have to love to read about it. "I think this is really great life advice and phenomenally true," Graff told Oncology Times. "In high school, and then in later years, reading about science and math and then the science of oncology-the pharmacology, the pathophysiology-was really fascinating to me."
Graff found herself drawn to oncology and the "deep human connection that we make with our patients as oncologists was just so compelling." As she explored the various specialties, the field of breast oncology and the predominately female patients spoke to her. "The ability to connect with these patients made it feel like home," she said. "So, here I am, all these years later, a breast oncologist."
When discussing what motivates her and her work as an oncologist, Graff emphasized her love of patient care, as well as the ability to connect and mentor others in the field. Since transitioning into her current role at an academic institution, Graff finds the ability to support aspiring oncologists at various points in their careers very rewarding-from fellows and residents to undergrads and postdocs. While she has had mentorship opportunities before, "this is the first time that I have a more direct way to help support that next generation of scientists as they advance in their careers and that's been really heartening for me."
Clinical research is another source of passion for Graff. "Nothing quite excites me like having a patient on a clinical trial," she noted. "Nothing excites me more than talking about trials and how we can improve them for our patients. Where [do] we go next from where we are today? How can we make the new drugs that are emerging and developing on the market safer and better for patients?"
Whether it is patient care, research, or taking a leadership role in the profession, Graff is energized by the many aspects of an oncology career. "That's one of the really beautiful parts about being an oncologist," she noted. "In my day-to-day life, I get to constantly rotate between these different facets of what I do and my identity, and I think it's wonderful."
Over the course of her career, Graff has learned many lessons. Two of the most valuable: 1) the world is small, and 2) listen to the patients. "The oncology community is such a small network [and] everybody's just a phone call away," she said. "I've really been amazed at the way that it's just so easy to connect to one another and provide the best care that way. I find that kindness and collaboration are just universal and I love that about the field of oncology and what we do."
Outside of oncology, Graff-who is a mother of three-enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and staying active in her local volleyball league.
Graff is excited to be a part of the Oncology Times community. "We are always an email, tweet, or letter away. I hope that if there's ever something that you're interested in diving deeper into or want to learn more about or an expert you want to hear more from, that you send a message in," she said, "because, again, the oncology community is small and that's how we all rise together...And so, I'm glad you're here; I'm glad to be here with you."
Dedicated to Patient Care & New Cancer Technologies
Coming from a family of doctors, medicine has always been a huge part of Parikh's life. Initially, she thought she was destined to become an infectious disease doctor. "I really cared about health care for marginalized populations and low/middle-income countries."
During medical school, Parikh spent time in Africa and witnessed firsthand the significant impact cancer had on these communities. "I saw so much cancer and cancer-related suffering in low/middle-income countries," she noted. "In my personal life, I also lost close loved ones, including an uncle and friend, to cancer."
These experiences led to a career dedicated to cancer research, discovery, and care. "I saw a career in oncology as a unique opportunity to be a part of cutting-edge research and science while also advocating for underserved patients to ensure that the innovation that comes from cancer discovery is not just for the rich and well-off."
Today, Parikh specializes in gastrointestinal oncology and oversees the colorectal cancer program at Massachusetts General Hospital?. "We also do a lot of work in liquid biopsies, including how these new liquid biopsy tools may actually be able to help us detect cancer earlier," she said. "I have also been thinking about ways to potentially use these detection technologies for communities where screening is challenging, not only in the U.S., but abroad."
When asked to share lessons learned for fellow oncologists, Parikh emphasized that a career in oncology is a marathon not a sprint and a strong support system is crucial. "My biggest piece of advice is to surround yourself with good people-both personally and professionally," she said. "Surround yourself with people you want to work with and people that you would entrust your care and your family's care with. I believe the rest will fall into place when you are part of a team that lifts one another up instead of tearing each other down."
While discussing how she spends her time outside of work, Parikh emphasized the importance of consistent exercise. This comes in many forms, including biking and running, but Parikh is vigilant about making time for physical activity. "This is a non-negotiable for my physical and mental well-being," she told Oncology Times.
Making time for loved ones is also a top priority. "My most cherished time now is really holding on to these moments with my children as they grow," Parikh said. "My husband and I are very intentional about our time and enjoying these little moments with our family."
As a member of the Editorial Board, Parikh is looking forward to contributing her expertise and passion to the Oncology Times community. "This is a wonderful team and I feel very privileged to be on this journey with other people that I truly respect and value."
Catlin Nalley is a contributing writer.