Episodes

  • LMC #51 | Dr. J. Louis Hinshaw on Tumor Ablation, Histotripsy, and the Future of Interventional Oncology

    LMC #51 | Dr. J. Louis Hinshaw on Tumor Ablation, Histotripsy, and the Future of Interventional Oncology
    Oct 2 2025
    In this physician-to-physician conversation, Dr. Hinshaw traces two decades of progress in interventional oncology—from early radiofrequency ablation to modern microwave ablation and the dawn of histotripsy. He explains why indolent, chronic cancers (like many solitary fibrous tumors and neuroendocrine tumors) are especially well-suited to repeatable, organ-sparing treatments that preserve quality of life, and how multi-disciplinary care guides the “right tool for the right lesion” approach. He also previews what’s next: better targeting (e.g., cone-beam CT), safety learnings, and where histotripsy could realistically expand beyond the liver. HighlightsFrom RF to Microwave: Why microwave ablation became a turning point—larger, faster, safer zones; shorter procedures; and better consistency compared with early RF systems. Histotripsy 101: Noninvasive, ultrasound-guided, FDA-cleared (liver) therapy with a strong safety profile to date; active kidney trials and future potential in other ultrasound-accessible organs. Patient Impact: For indolent metastatic diseases, ablation can be repeated over years, controlling disease while preserving recovery time and daily life. Team Sport: When radiation, intra-arterial therapies, surgery, or ablation takes the lead—and why humility and multidisciplinary planning produce the best outcomes. What’s Next: Better targeting (e.g., cone-beam CT), workflow refinements, and continued lab/animal/patient-level research from UW’s ablation program. Top 3 TakeawaysRepeatable, organ-sparing care: Minimally invasive ablation lets clinicians control metastatic disease across years with quick recovery. Histotripsy is promising (and young): Early clinical use shows a favorable safety profile; efficacy and targeting workflows are rapidly evolving. Match the tool to the tumor: Outcomes improve when ablation, radiation, surgery, and intra-arterial options are chosen case-by-case via a collaborative team. How to HelpFor clinicians: Refer appropriate patients to centers with established ablation programs; consider multidisciplinary boards for complex cases. For patients/caregivers: Ask your team whether minimally invasive ablation or clinical trials (e.g., histotripsy) are options for your tumor type and location. For researchers/industry: Collaborate on targeting, safety, and outcomes studies to accelerate adoption and guidelines. Additional ResourcesAbout UW Radiology & Interventional Programs (faculty profiles, publications). About the LMC series — candid physician–patient conversations on science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of advanced disease. About the GuestJ. Louis Hinshaw, MD is Professor of Radiology and Urology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Chief of Abdominal Imaging, and Fellowship Director. His research and clinical leadership span image-guided tumor ablation (microwave, RF, cryo) and advancing minimally invasive oncology care, with numerous peer-reviewed publications and national awards. About the Host:Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show:Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com LMC Series Note:Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations. The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    35 mins
  • DMD #50 | Dr. Chris Hills on Orthopedics, Service, and Building Resilience Beyond Medicine

    DMD #50 | Dr. Chris Hills on Orthopedics, Service, and Building Resilience Beyond Medicine
    Sep 25 2025

    Dr. Chris Hills has taken an unconventional path in medicine. From medical school in Arizona to an Army scholarship and deployments overseas, his career in orthopedics was forged on the battlefield and refined in fellowship at Duke. Now settled in Jackson, Wyoming, he combines spine surgery with a love of the outdoors.

    Chris reflects on lessons from military medicine, the importance of balance in sustaining a career, and why professional detours often lead to the deepest growth. He also shares his family’s story of loss and how the Brody Hills Foundation—a program teaching mental resiliency through dirt biking and outdoor mentorship—was born.

    This conversation blends medicine, service, personal resilience, and the power of thinking outside the box to reach young people where they are.

    Highlights
    • Military track: Why Chris chose an Army scholarship, the reality of “all-expense-paid trips” to the Middle East, and how battlefield medicine shaped his skills.
    • Training + growth: Returning to fellowship at Duke after years as a practicing Army surgeon, and why that experience sharpened his education.
    • Work-life balance: Practicing in Jackson, WY, and making intentional choices to prioritize both family and recreation.
    • Facing loss: How his son’s death by suicide led Chris and his family to channel grief into meaningful outreach.
    • Wide Open: The Brody Hills Foundation: Using dirt bikes, outdoor adventure, and mentorship to give teenagers resilience, connection, and hope.
    Top 3 Takeaways
    1. Service shapes skill. Military medicine offers unparalleled training and perspective—preparing physicians for both clinical and leadership roles.
    2. Balance prevents burnout. Sustaining decades in medicine requires drawing boundaries, honoring family, and enjoying the place you live.
    3. Resilience is teachable. Youth can thrive when given mentors, meaningful outlets, and community—sometimes found in unexpected places, like dirt bikes.
    How to Help

    Learn more about the Brody Hills Foundation and its mission to build resilience in youth through outdoor adventure.

    🌐 Website: brodyhillsfoundation.org
    🔎 Social Media: Search “Wide Open – Brody Hills Foundation”

    Additional Resources
    • Brody Hills Foundation – programs, clinics, and mentorship opportunities.
    • Veteran-to-Veteran partnerships and training for mentors.
    About the Guest

    Chris Hills, MD is an orthopedic spine surgeon based in Jackson, Wyoming. After earning his MD in Arizona, he trained in orthopedics through the U.S. Army and completed fellowship at Duke University. He served nine years active duty, including deployment to Afghanistan. Today, he balances surgical practice with leading the Brody Hills Foundation, dedicated to mental health resilience in youth through motorsports and outdoor activities.

    About the Host:

    Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

    Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.

    About the Show:

    Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.

    In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

    Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

    LMC Series Note:

    Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations.

    The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    34 mins
  • LMC #49 | Dr. Gina D’Amato on Solitary Fibrous Tumor: Building a Registry and Racing Toward Targeted Therapies

    LMC #49 | Dr. Gina D’Amato on Solitary Fibrous Tumor: Building a Registry and Racing Toward Targeted Therapies
    Sep 18 2025
    SFT is rare—~17,000 sarcomas/year vs. ~300,000 breast cancers—and SFT is only a small slice of that number. Dr. D’Amato traces her path into sarcoma, the unmet need that drew her from lymphoma research, and the mentorship network that helped her build programs at Moffitt, Emory, and now Sylvester.We talk about modeling SFT in the lab (cell lines and engineered mouse models), why NAB2-STAT6 matters, promising signals (e.g., HDAC inhibition) being vetted before a first-in-disease trial, and the new Solitary Fibrous Tumor Patient Registry—a global effort to connect patient stories, molecular profiles, and outcomes so care teams can match treatments to tumor biology.Bottom line: more data → smarter trials → targeted options. Patients and clinicians can help—by enrolling in the registry, sharing pathology reports, and amplifying the work.HighlightsOrigin story: Family experiences with cancer → oncology → pivot to sarcoma to meet a critical gap.Why SFT is hard: 100+ sarcoma subtypes; each one rare within rare. Evidence takes time.What’s new: Building SFT cell lines, NAB2-STAT6 mouse models; early drug-screen “hits” under validation; HDAC inhibitors on the shortlist for a clinical trial.Registry mission: Capture diagnosis journeys, exposures, germline testing, pathology, and treatment response to map variant → site → therapy sensitivity and guide care.Real talk on research: Slow-growing tumors = slow cell-line culture; IRB, protocols, and flyers take time; philanthropy + institutional support bridge to federal grants.Top 3 TakeawaysPrecision beats guesswork. Understanding SFT at molecular and epigenetic levels enables targeted therapy—beyond “try this, then that.”Data is the accelerator. A well-run registry connects the dots between variants (NAB2-STAT6 subtypes), sites of origin, and treatment response.Everyone can help. Patients, families, and clinicians can enroll, refer, and share records to speed breakthroughs.How to Help (Registry + Research Fund)Join or Refer to the SFT Patient Registry (University of Miami – Sylvester)Who can join: Adults (18+) diagnosed with solitary fibrous tumor or hemangiopericytoma, fluent in English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole, willing/able to consent.What it involves: Short surveys about diagnosis/treatment, optional donation of blood/tissue, and sharing pathology reports.Contact: Peggy Gonzalez – 305-243-8091, pgonzalez@miami.edu.Show Notes (2)This registry helps researchers understand causes, biology, and treatment response in SFT—accelerating trials and future targeted options.Support the Horowitz Sarcoma Research Fundhttps://development.miami.edu/page.aspx?pid=383&id=ec01162f-1d17-4c44-89d6-addb185e07b5Funds support SFT research at Sylvester, including lab models, drug screening, and clinical translation.Additional ResourcesSFT Patient Registry – Sylvester (contact): 305-243-8091 | pgonzalez@miami.edu.20241120_D'Amato_Solitary Tumor…Horowitz Sarcoma Research Fund (donate): see link above.Key terms: NAB2-STAT6 fusion, HDAC inhibitors, epigenetics, sarcoma subtypes.About the GuestDr. Gina D’Amato is the Medical Director of the Comprehensive Treatment Unit, Assistant Director of Clinical Research, Sarcoma Medical Oncologist, and Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami.She earned her undergraduate degree in biology and her M.D. from the University of Miami, followed by internal medicine residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital. During her fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center, she pivoted into sarcoma under the mentorship of global experts such as Dr. Jonathan Trent.Dr. D’Amato has since built sarcoma programs at Moffitt, Emory, and Sylvester, where she is Clinical Lead for Sarcoma Medical Oncology. She is extensively involved in Phase I–III clinical trials sponsored by NCI and industry partners, co-directs oncology curriculum at the Miller School, and serves as Medical Director for Sylvester patient education programs. She also administers the Horowitz Solitary Fibrous Tumor Initiative Fund.She has authored or co-authored more than 25 peer-reviewed publications on sarcoma and connective tissue oncology, reviewed for leading journals (Cancer Medicine, Clinical Cancer Research), and received multiple NIH research grants, including a prestigious NIH Career Development Award (2002–2005).Dr. D’Amato is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.About the Host:Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to...
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    40 mins
  • DMD #48 | Education, Equity & Women’s Health: Dr. Marleen Temmerman on Building Systems in Kenya

    DMD #48 | Education, Equity & Women’s Health: Dr. Marleen Temmerman on Building Systems in Kenya
    Sep 11 2025
    Dr. Marleen Temmerman always wanted to make sure “people around the world had the same chances.” That vision carried her from early roadblocks (“But you’re a woman…”) to residency, then to Nairobi in the 1980s as HIV emerged. She helped stand up maternal–newborn research and services in high-volume public hospitals, founded NGOs advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights, and later served two terms in Belgium’s senate and as a department lead at the WHO.Now based in Kenya, she’s focused on durable system improvements: strengthening a major coastal referral hospital, launching a new medical school in partnership with local government and universities, expanding cancer screening/treatment, and training the next generation of Kenyan clinician-leaders. We discuss why funding shocks set programs back, how philanthropy and grant capacity can close gaps, and the practical ways physicians anywhere can contribute—through excellent local care, twinned research, mentorship, telemedicine, and targeted giving.HighlightsOrigin story: Pushing past gender barriers to train in OB-GYN and public/global health.Nairobi in the HIV era: Building perinatal research while scaling essential maternity services.From clinic to policy: Why she stepped into parliament and later the WHO to move women’s health forward.Capacity over charity: Scholarships, PhDs, and reciprocity so Kenyan clinicians lead the work.Systems work now: Upgrading a 700+ bed county hospital; standing up a coastal medical school; expanding breast/cervical cancer programs.Funding reality: Abrupt donor cuts ripple into maternal care and PMTCT; how foundations and local philanthropy can soften the blow.AI & telemedicine: Useful only when they reach public-sector patients—not just the few who can pay.Advice to trainees: Don’t take no for an answer; leave your comfort zone; aim high and build with communities.Top 3 Key TakeawaysEducation compounds across generations. Training local clinicians, researchers, and administrators is the highest-leverage intervention.Continuity matters. Gradual funding transitions preserve hard-won capacity; sudden cuts reverse progress in HIV, maternal health, and oncology.Everyone can help. Deliver excellent care at home, join twinned research/teaching projects, mentor via telemedicine, or direct donations to programs building local leadership.About the GuestProf. Dr. Marleen Temmerman is a global leader in women’s, adolescent, and child health and rights. She currently serves as Director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health at Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya, and holds the UNESCO Chair in Youth Leadership in Health, Education, Gender, and Sciences. She also chairs the Board of Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital in Mombasa and is an Adjunct Professor at the Technical University of Mombasa.Previously, Dr. Temmerman directed the Department of Reproductive Health Research at the World Health Organization in Geneva, served two terms as a Senator in the Belgian Parliament, and founded the International Centre of Reproductive Health (ICRH) in Belgium, Kenya, and Mozambique. With over 600 peer-reviewed publications, she is recognized internationally for her scholarship on HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, gender equity, and global health systems.She has supervised more than 60 PhD students across four continents and received numerous honors, including membership in the US National Academy of Medicine, Honorary Membership in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Fellowship in both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the African Academy of Sciences, the BMJ Lifetime Achievement Award, the title of Commander in the Order of King Leopold (2024), and Kenya’s Moran of the Burning Spear (2019).About the Host:Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.About the Show:Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your ...
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    40 mins
  • DMD #47 | Reinvention, Joy, and Coaching: Dr. Chrissie Ott on Finding Fulfillment in Medicine

    DMD #47 | Reinvention, Joy, and Coaching: Dr. Chrissie Ott on Finding Fulfillment in Medicine
    Sep 4 2025

    Dr. Chrissie Ott has lived more than one medical life: nearly a decade in primary care, another in hospital medicine, and now medical director of a skilled nursing facility serving medically complex children and young adults—while moonlighting as a newborn hospitalist.

    In this episode, Chrissie unpacks the moment of awareness that changed everything: realizing that the “dream” solo practice she built no longer sparked joy. She explains the practical (and emotional) steps of closing a micro practice, reframing sunk costs, and embracing the belief that reinvention is a sign of aliveness.

    We explore why burnout is often a thought trap, how right-sizing your clinical “dose” protects your nervous system, and why coaching (not performative “resilience” lectures) can return clinicians to themselves. Chrissie also shares creative pathways to access coaching—from group models to residency-supported programs—and why financial independence should empower physicians to practice on their terms, not rush to retire.

    Highlights
    • The awareness moment: daily meditation revealed misalignment—then gave permission to pivot.
    • Closing a micro practice: the logistics, the losses, and the gain of personal wellbeing.
    • “Dose makes the poison”: reshaping workload to fit a human nervous system.
    • Coaching vs. “resilience”: action-oriented tools that change habits, not blame clinicians.
    • The greenest growth edge: a practical lens for your next professional step.
    • Staying in medicine: redesigning scope and schedule so joy and service can coexist.
    Top 3 Key Takeaways
    1. Reinvention signals life, not failure. Career chapters can evolve while your identity as a healer remains intact.
    2. Right-size your dose. Adjusting hours, setting boundaries, and redefining roles can turn exhaustion into engagement.
    3. Coaching works when it’s practical. Values-aligned goals, small experiments, and accountability outpace generic “be resilient” advice.
    About the Guest

    Chrissie Ott, MD is a dual-boarded Med-Peds physician with a third certification in integrative care. She has served across primary care, hospital medicine, newborn hospitalist work, and currently leads a skilled nursing facility for medically complex children and young adults. As the leader of the Physician Coaching Summit, Dr. Ott coaches clinicians to cultivate alignment, meaning, and delight in their work.
    Connect: www.Chrissieottmd.com • www.joypointsolutions.com

    About the Host:

    Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

    Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.

    About the Show:

    Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.

    In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

    Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

    The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    40 mins
  • LMC #46 | Bridging Science and Survival with Dr. Heather Hayenga | Living with Metastatic Cancer Series

    LMC #46 | Bridging Science and Survival with Dr. Heather Hayenga | Living with Metastatic Cancer Series
    Aug 28 2025

    Heather Hayenga never set out to study cancer. Her career began in cardiovascular research, fueled by the sudden loss of her father to a heart attack at just 52. But in 2013, everything changed when Heather herself was diagnosed with solitary fibrous tumor, a rare and aggressive cancer.

    In this powerful conversation, Heather opens up about:

    • How personal tragedy inspired her early work in cardiovascular modeling
    • The pivot from heart disease to oncology after her own diagnosis
    • Developing CRISPR-based, RNA-targeting, and immunotherapy approaches in her lab
    • Balancing life as a mom, professor, and patient while paving new pathways in rare cancer research
    • Why she believes individualized medicine is the future of both oncology and cardiovascular care

    Heather’s story is one of grit, hope, and the belief that science and humanity are strongest when they work together.

    Highlights
    • From basketball court tragedy to a lifelong career in medical research
    • Building cardiovascular modeling tools that may soon change clinical decision-making
    • Engineering CRISPR and RNA-based solutions for solitary fibrous tumor
    • Navigating the realities of rare cancer: few patients, limited data, and creative therapies
    • Balancing academia, motherhood, and patient life with unshakable determination

    Top 3 Key Takeaways
    1. Hardship fuels innovation — personal experiences can ignite a research mission that impacts millions.
    2. Rare doesn’t mean hopeless — breakthroughs in ultra-rare cancers can ripple into treatments for more common diseases.
    3. Medicine is becoming personal — the future lies in patient-specific therapies and collaborative care.

    About the Guest

    Heather Hayenga, PhD is an associate professor of bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. Her career began in cardiovascular modeling after the sudden loss of her father to a heart attack. In 2013, Heather was diagnosed with solitary fibrous tumor, a rare cancer that radically reshaped her research path.

    Since then, she has spearheaded efforts in CRISPR-based therapies, RNA-targeting strategies, immunotherapies, and drug repurposing—merging her expertise as a scientist with her lived experience as a patient. A devoted mother and mentor, Heather is proof that resilience and innovation can coexist even in life’s hardest battles.

    About the Host:

    Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

    Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.

    About the Show:

    Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.

    In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

    Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

    The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    37 mins
  • LMC #45 | Finding Humanity In Oncology with Dr. Christina Gomez | Living with Metastatic Cancer Series

    LMC #45 | Finding Humanity In Oncology with Dr. Christina Gomez | Living with Metastatic Cancer Series
    Aug 21 2025
    Dr. Christina “Christy” Gomez has built a career defined not only by expertise in gastrointestinal cancers but also by her unique approach to narrative medicine. Raised in Miami by Cuban immigrant parents, she knew from childhood that medicine was her calling, even when her father reminded her of the sacrifices it would demand.In this intimate conversation with Dr. Peter Crane, Christy shares:Her early conviction to pursue medicine despite being the first in her family to do soThe lessons her patients have taught her—captured in handwritten scraps of quotes that became her book, Stopped in My TracksWhy silence, listening, and narrative medicine matter just as much as tests and treatmentsHow parenting her adopted son has deepened her perspective on healing, patience, and resilienceThis episode is a reminder that medicine is more than diagnosis and treatment—it’s about being fully present with the person in front of you, and about honoring the sacredness of their story.HighlightsTurning bedside conversations into Stopped in My Tracks—and why patients’ exact words matterNarrative medicine 101: listen first, pause before answering, reflect back stories with careTeaching trainees to keep purpose alive during residency/fellowshipFacing uncertainty with patients: naming it, walking together, and planning A/B/CParenting through a physician lens: using everyday “healing moments” to teach resilienceTop 3 Key TakeawaysMedicine is storytelling. Listening deeply—and sometimes letting silence work—creates room for healing.Honesty builds partnership. Patients want clear truth delivered with compassion and options.Choose medicine because you love it. Purpose sustains you when the work is hard and the path is uncertain.About the Guest:Dr. Christy Gomez is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist whose career blends rigorous science with the art of narrative medicine. Born and raised in Miami to Cuban immigrant parents, Christy felt called to medicine from an early age, a conviction that carried her through medical school, residency, and fellowship into a field she deeply loves. Specializing in GI cancers, she pairs clinical expertise with an uncommon gift for listening—collecting patient quotes that capture the raw truths of life with cancer. These stories became the foundation for her book, Stopped in My Tracks: A Physician’s Collection of Cancer Patients’ Quotes, a work that reflects her belief that healing begins with human connection.Beyond her clinical practice, Christy is a mother, mentor, and advocate for patient-centered care. She is passionate about teaching the next generation of physicians to pause, listen, and honor the sacredness of the patient-doctor relationship. Whether through her writing, her conversations in the exam room, or her role as a parent, Christy reminds us that medicine is not only about treating disease but also about witnessing humanity and carrying patients through uncertainty with compassion.🌐 Website: christinagomezmd.com📖 Book: Stopped in My Tracks: A Physician's Collection of Cancer Patients' QuotesAbout the Host:Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.About the Show:Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    40 mins
  • LMC #44 | Living with Metastatic Solitary Fibrous Tumor with Steve McBee | Living with Metastatic Cancer Series

    LMC #44 | Living with Metastatic Solitary Fibrous Tumor with Steve McBee | Living with Metastatic Cancer Series
    Aug 14 2025

    Steve McBee was on top of the world—literally—logging hundred-mile ultramarathons, running a successful marketing firm, and living life at full tilt. Then, a chance MRI after a minor accident revealed a tumor deep in his left temporal lobe.

    What followed was a series of surgeries, proton beam radiation, and 15 years of clean scans. Until, in 2021—just two days after standing on the podium at a three-day ultra—Steve learned his rare cancer had returned and spread to his pancreas, thigh, and liver.

    In this candid conversation with Dr. Peter Crane, Steve opens up about:

    • The shock of moving from “cancer-free” to metastatic in a single appointment
    • Why he’s turned his experience into advocacy for patients with rare cancers
    • Building a “patient brand” to improve communication with care teams
    • The creation of the Solitary Fibrous Tumor Foundation to unite patients, clinicians, and researchers worldwide

    This is more than a story about a rare disease. It’s about refusing to be defined by it, finding purpose in the middle of uncertainty, and creating the community you wish you had when you started.

    Highlights include:
    • Running a hundred miles days before a life-changing diagnosis
    • Turning a rare, isolating condition into a connected global community
    • How to prepare for medical appointments like a pro—even when you’re the patient
    • Lessons from 19 years of navigating a disease with no known cure
    • Why collaboration between patients and doctors is the future of rare disease care
    About the Guest:

    Steve McBee is a lifelong endurance athlete, entrepreneur, and rare cancer advocate. Diagnosed in 2006 with a then little-known tumor (hemangiopericytoma, now classified as Solitary Fibrous Tumor), he has undergone multiple complex surgeries—including brain, pancreatic, thigh, and liver resections—plus systemic therapy.

    Today, Steve is the driving force behind the Solitary Fibrous Tumor Foundation, a patient- and supporter-led nonprofit dedicated to:

    • Connecting the global SFT community
    • Building a clinical registry and natural history study
    • Driving collaborative research
    • Advocating for better treatments and awareness

    When he’s not walking 5–10 miles a day in recovery, Steve is mentoring patients, building advocacy tools, and reminding the medical community that patients can—and should—help lead the way.

    🌐 Learn more: sftcommunity.com/newsletter
    💼 Connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stevemcbee

    Top 3 Key Takeaways:
    1. Build your patient brand. Clearly communicate who you are, what you value, and how you prefer to work with your medical team.
    2. Connection is treatment. Rare diseases demand collaboration—between patients, doctors, and researchers—across borders.
    3. Do hard things on purpose. Voluntarily facing challenges prepares you for life’s involuntary ones.
    About the Host:

    Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

    Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.

    About the Show:

    Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.

    In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

    Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

    The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.


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    38 mins