Brian J. Shimkus, MD

“I have always wanted to be a doctor, even as a young child. I’ve long felt that it was something that I was ‘born to do.’ I also believe that this is what drove me to specialize in the care of people with cancer. These are patients who really need informed, careful, dedicated medical care, and that’s what drew me to medicine in the first place. I feel fortunate that I became a cancer physician at a time when oncology as a medical discipline started to evolve rapidly. It has been both thrilling and rewarding to witness the growth of the knowledge about cancer... and to be among the first generation of oncologists to help people beat cancer.

“From my years spent taking care of people with cancer, I am perhaps closer to what I was ‘born to do’ than I could have ever expected. I’m never far from the fact that fighting cancer is about taking care of people. I am continually amazed by the strength and courage of my patients. So it is a priority for me to match their courage and fortitude with not only my medical best but with genuine compassion and total dedication to their best interests. Cancer changes lives — not just for patients but also for family and friends. I’m in this fight with them; from helping them beat cancer to doing all I can to improve their lives.”