Stepping Away

Every new beginning is another beginning's end

Camp Boggy Creek at dawn.

As I get ready to step away from my clinical work in June, I’ve been thinking a lot about what comes next, and just as importantly, what continues.

Cancer doesn’t sleep. The work will go on. And it goes on in very good hands.

I feel incredibly grateful knowing that the patients and families I’ve had the privilege to care for will be looked after by outstanding physicians and an extraordinary team.

At the division level, we are led by Dr. Joanne Lagmay, a brilliant, creative, and mission-driven leader. Her work in sarcoma focuses on some of the most challenging cases we see, and she has built a team defined by both excellence and heart.

And there is a wonderful person taking over my panel of leukemia and lymphoma patients. Dr. Monica Demecillo is a thoughtful, deeply compassionate, and exceptionally skilled clinician. She combines wisdom with humility. When faced with the toughest cases, she has the relationships and judgment to reach out to the very best minds in the field. That matters more than anything.

She won’t be doing this alone. A second physician will be joining her, building a team that will not only care for patients, but also train and mentor the next generation.

Our research program, led by Dr. Elias Sayour, continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible—particularly in the world of immunotherapy. It is truly world-class, making discoveries that help both children and adults alike.

Across the division, there is a shared commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement, supported by a community of donors and partners who believe deeply in this work. Clinical excellence is our North star.

So while I may be stepping away from the day-to-day, I do so with a deep sense of peace.

As for what’s next:

I’m looking forward to spending more time writing, making music, and continuing philanthropic work that supports children and the arts.

I’ve begun sharing my memoir series on Substack, with the first book Stunt Mole, soon to be available more broadly. I’m also working on the next volume, which explores those formative years of searching for direction: living in Alaska, working in the wilderness, and slowly finding a calling.

Through my Substack, Heroes, Heartwork & Healing, I’ve been reconnecting with remarkable people from my life, telling their stories and celebrating the unassuming ways people make a difference.

And I hope to spend more time at Camp Boggy Creek, a place that reminds me why this work matters in the first place. My amazing wife, Marci, is the medical director there, and our lifelong partnership is something I cherish deeply. In the words of Jack Johnson, one of my favorite song writers…

Mmmm…We’re better together. We look at the stars when we’re together.

There’s also a small dream of getting deeper into music—barbershop, a cappella, maybe even dusting off the viola.

We’ll see.

For now, I just want to say thank you…to the patients, families, colleagues, and community who have made this journey so meaningful.

The work goes on. And I couldn’t feel better about that.

If you know someone who would like to follow along with my writing and stories, feel free to tell them about my Substack.