at New York
U n i v e r s i t y
Medical Center.
After I completed
my residency,
I moved back
to Virginia and
spent four years
at Portsmouth
Naval Medical
Center, receiving the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
In 1987, while living in Virginia, I met Steve at a local
synagogue. It was, as the old cliché goes, "love at
first sight." We were married a year later. Steve was a
religious educator at the time, and when we began
discussing having children, Steve agreed that he would
stay at home. As a trained educator and a child at
heart Steve was the natural partner to be at home to
raise the kids. He had also recently been asked to write a
textbook, so staying at home gave him the opportunity to
pursue his writing career. After writing three textbooks
and a number of guides, Steve continues to volunteer
in religious education, but now writes primarily in the
field of detective fiction, lecturing and writing reviews
and columns for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
and several other publications.
After leaving the Navy, when I was looking for a position
as a radiation oncologist, my one stipulation was that
the location had to be close to family either Steve's
or mine. When I was offered a position in Lewiston,
Maine, two hours from Boston, it was the right fit.
Maine is a wholesome environment, not unlike the
Pacific Northwest, and an ideal place to raise a family.
But now, with one child living in Washington State and
another considering the same, Steve and I decided that
it was time to try and find a new position for me. Things
happen as they are meant to happen. It turned out that
the woman who initially contacted me for the position
at the Tri-Cities Cancer Center came from Maine,
knew many of the people with whom I worked, and
had moved to Washington State 20 years earlier, around
the time I moved to Maine!
When I am not working, I enjoy swimming, walking,
music, and reading mysteries. Steve's job as a book
critic allows me to have many to choose from. I also
love attending anything that our boys are involved in
whether it is sports, robotic competitions or musical
concerts.
Over the years, I'm often asked why I chose to take
care of patients with cancer. I find it rewarding to
work with people who show such bravery. I learn from
their strength, their resilience, and their optimism. I
am honored to know, and to have known, the kindest,
bravest, funniest, and strongest people during these
last twenty-five years that I've worked in the field of
oncology. It is with pleasure and excitement that I
continue to learn to be a better physician and a better
human being from those I meet here in the Tri-Cities.
Tobacco Cessation
Wednesday, September 11th from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. or Friday, September 20th from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Presenter: Rebecca Bowie, RN
This program will help you identify triggers, come up with ways to beat them, and discuss the use of stress reduction
and nicotine replacement therapy. First time participants will be offered the choice of nicotine replacement
patches or nicotine gum. Thanks to Washington River Protection Solutions for supporting tobacco cessation!
Please RSVP: (509) 737-3432 or online at www.tccancer.org