Hope at Duke

By Hope Uronis, MD, MHS
Medical Oncologist

While in college at the State University of New York–Fredonia, I was definitely a “library rat.” I would get up at 6:00 in the morning and go to the library to study.

I was interested in science but was not sure if I wanted to go the PhD route and become a researcher or get an MD to work with patients. I started volunteering in the pediatric oncology wing of a local cancer center, which was an amazing experience for me and one of the reasons I decided to apply to medical school.

At the University at Buffalo School of Medicine, I was even more focused, this time waking up around 5:00 a.m. Nonetheless, I almost quit medical school after my second year because I was tired of being in the classroom. I wanted to work with patients.

Once I began clinical rotations visiting patients, I loved my work. I enjoyed working with all of the patients and even volunteered to do extra assignments with patients.

During my hematology rotation, I had a great mentor who showed me the importance of proper communication with patients and how much of an impact that can have. In addition, I witnessed firsthand the type of relationship an oncologist can have with patients and their families.

After medical school, I completed my residency and fellowship at Duke. I worked with Dr. Amy Abernethy on palliative care research projects that focused on pain, nausea, and other problems that can be caused by cancer or its treatments. During this time, I learned how important it is to treat not just the cancer—the disease—but the whole patient and his or her emotional and spiritual needs as well.

I want to defeat the cancer, but I don’t want the patient to suffer during the process. Sometimes it’s not easy, but I work with each patient to try and accomplish this.

My goal is to balance controlling the disease while ensuring the patient has a good quality of life.

When I began my fellowship, I still didn’t know exactly what type of oncology I wanted to practice. At first, liquid tumors seemed interesting. I spoke with Dr. Johanna Bendell, a former Duke oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers such as cancers of the colon, rectum, stomach, and pancreas, and spent time working with her. I realized that I was interested in treating GI cancers.

Today, I work with Duke’s gastrointestinal multidisciplinary team. Our team is composed of medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses.

My time is divided between seeing patients and conducting research.

My favorite part of being an oncologist is taking care of patients. I love learning about patients and their families, and feel privileged to become part of their lives. I have a motto: I work on “one speed—as long as it takes to see the patient.” I try not to look at my watch, and I spend as much time as needed with each patient and family.

I also spend a lot of my time working on different clinical trials, including phase I trials for all types of cancer and several phase II trials on new drugs or new combinations of drugs for GI cancers.

I spend my free time with my husband and our nearly four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son. Our daughter already talks about wanting to be a doctor!