Chapter 01: Taking Opportunities and Integrating Talents Drawn From Many People
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Description
Dr. Burke sketches his family background and early influences that left him open to taking new opportunities. He explains that he knew he wanted to be a physician when he was five years old. He notes that he still has a photo that appeared in the newspaper in which a little neighbor girl has brought him a “sick” doll and he is listening to the doll’s heart.
Dr. Burke explains his interest in the sciences, particularly the “interactive” parts of science: anatomy, dissection and comparative biology. He mentions his mother’s love of animals as an influence and notes that his mentors in surgery were enormously important.
Identifier
BurkeTW_01_20140311_C01
Publication Date
3-11-2014
Publisher
The Making Cancer History® Voices Oral History Collection, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
City
Houston, Texas
Interview Session
Topic Covered
The Interview Subject's Story - Educational Path; Personal Background; Character, Values, Beliefs, Talents; Inspirations to Practice Science/Medicine; Influences from People and Life Experiences; Human Stories; Offering Care, Compassion, Help; Funny Stories
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Disciplines
History of Science, Technology, and Medicine | Oncology | Oral History
Recommended Citation
Burke, Thomas W. MD and Rosolowski, Tacey A. PhD, "Chapter 01: Taking Opportunities and Integrating Talents Drawn From Many People" (2014). Interview Chapters. 917.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/917
Conditions Governing Access
Open
Accessibility Statement
This item was created prior to May 2026. It is preserved for research, reference, or historical recordkeeping. Following WCAG 2.1, the library may provide accessible versions of archival materials upon request. For accommodation requests please submit an accessibility request form.

