Hospice Duties Changed His Career Course
Three years into earning a chemical engineering degree at the University of Kansas, Ronald Chen, MD, MPH, took a sharp turn.
He paused his studies to spend a year volunteering at a hospice in North Carolina. The inspiration came when he attended a conference session hosted by a volunteer group from the facility.
“It made me realize that I was missing something and not doing exactly what I wanted,” Dr. Chen said.
Shortly after the conference, he packed his bags and headed to Winston-Salem to join other volunteers from across the world. The group prepared meals, spent time with patients, and took care of other needs for the residents at the six-room hospice. It was a life- and career-changing year.
“The experience of taking care of dying patients made me realize my calling,” Dr. Chen said. “After a year, I went back to finish college and changed majors so that I could apply to medical school.”
When he returned to Kansas, he earned a biochemistry bachelor’s degree and went on to attain a medical degree from a Harvard/MIT joint program. He completed a residency and a master’s in public health at Harvard.
But it was the hospice experience that set his career path.
“I’ve dedicated my life to cancer patients,” said Dr. Chen, who’s starting his second term as chair of the ABR Radiation Oncology Qualifying Exam GU Committee. “That continues to be the fire that keeps me going every day. I see patients every week and I’m passionate about the clinical work that I do.”
After spending a decade working at the University of North Carolina, Dr. Chen returned to the University of Kansas to continue his career. Having grown up in nearby Topeka, KS, he came back to his alma mater in 2019 to serve as a professor and chair of radiation oncology.
“I thought it was a really good fit,” he said. “It was a great career opportunity for me to have a chance to be a leader and grow my career. Plus, my parents are here; my sibling is here. Being closer to family is a great draw.”
Dr. Chen can easily list more reasons why moving back close to home was a good decision.
“I love the Midwest,” he said. “The living here is easy. It’s not as crowded. The cost of living is affordable. We have a great public education system. My kids have gone through school and done very well. It’s a great place to raise a family.”
It’s also a great place to stay active. Dr. Chen plays tennis at least once a week to alleviate work stress and bond with friends. Things occasionally get a little spicy on the court.
“I have a group who are regular tennis folks, buddies of mine,” he said. “The camaraderie is great. I also like to talk a little trash every once in a while. Well, more than every once in a while.”
Lightening the mood also sometimes carries over to his work. Xinglei Shen, MD, an associate professor in radiation oncology at the University of Kansas Health System, has seen it.
“He likes to joke and, on occasion, play Snoop Dogg in the operating room,” he said.
Dr. Chen, his wife, and their two sons like the Kansas City area as well for the NFL’s Chiefs, University of Kansas basketball, and the omnipresent delicious barbeque. They also enjoy taking trips to Europe, Asia, Canada, and Mexico.
Planning those family adventures includes one caveat.
“We try not to go on vacation in the same place more than once,” Dr. Chen said. “The world’s so big that we don’t have enough time to visit places more than once.”
Even with a busy job, home life, and travel schedule, he finds time to volunteer for his medical specialty board. He has written questions and served as an oral examiner for the ABR.
An internationally recognized expert in prostate and bladder cancers, Dr. Chen has found that being a volunteer allows him to serve the radiation oncology profession and the public.
“We want to make sure that radiation oncologists who are board certified are competent to treat patients safely and with the highest quality,” he said. “Being involved with the ABR is one way to ensure that for our patients.”
Dr. Shen believes his colleague is an excellent representative of their profession,
“He is the type of leader who inspires you to achieve more,” he said. “Despite his numerous and substantial accomplishments, he presents himself with incredible humility. Ron deeply believes in and cares for the people who work with him. He is the ultimate advocate for the people around him through teaching, mentoring, and creating opportunities.”
