Chapter 04:On the Importance of Relationships in Medicine and Medical Care
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Description
Dr. Burke explains why he specialized in Gynecologic Surgery, which he saw as bringing together his love of surgery with birth, a happy time where a physician develops and sustains a relationship with a patient over time. He goes on to explain how an oncologist and a patient are partners in risk, care and outcome, and how this is for him a very rewarding personal experience. He talks about his ability to deal with life and death situations without being weighed down by them. Since MD Anderson people can do this, they do not abandon people who will not survive their treatment
Dr. Burke next talks about the challenge of attracting cancer nurses to oncology specialties and recalls a program he established (early in his administrative career) to bring nursing students to MD Anderson. He notes that this program was successful in introducing students to careers in oncology nursing
Identifier
BurkeTW_01_20140311_C04
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 - Professional Path; The Clinician; Inspirations to Practice Science/Medicine; Character, Values, Beliefs, Talents; Professional Values, Ethics, Purpose; Institutional Mission and Values; MD Anderson Culture; Evolution of Career; Professional Practice; The Professional at Work; Leadership; On Leadership
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 04:On the Importance of Relationships in Medicine and Medical Care" (2014). Interview Chapters. 920.
https://openworks.mdanderson.org/mchv_interviewchapters/920
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.
