Cancer Fighters Thrive is a quarterly print and online magazine bringing readers practical, innovative and inspirational information about cancer treatment and survivorship.
Issue link: http://cancerfightersthrive.epubxp.com/i/103434
MEET THE DOCTOR Q A MEET THE DOCTOR & Samuel Bieligk, MD, FACS Surgical Oncologist Cancer Treatment Centers of America® Tulsa, Oklahoma Samuel Bieligk, MD, FACS, is certified by the WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO SPECIALIZE IN American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the SURGICAL ONCOLOGY? American College of Surgeons. After receiving a When I was a general surgery resident at Tulane University Medical bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the School, I met a doctor who was pursuing a fellowship in surgical University of Oklahoma, Dr. Bieligk earned a medical oncology; I was very impressed with his knowledge of anatomy and degree from the university's medical school. He went his technical abilities as a surgeon, and I was fascinated by the field of on to complete a general surgery residency and a surgical oncology. From that moment on, I felt like surgical oncology research fellowship at Tulane University School of would be my area of expertise. Medicine in New Orleans and a surgical oncology fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE AT CTCA? Center in New York City. Prior to joining CTCA®, Dr. My decision was based on a combination of events. I received a Bieligk served as medical director of surgical oncology notification in the mail from a recruiter about coming by a booth to learn at St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin, about CTCA at one of our medical meetings. I didn't end up visiting the Missouri. He has also served as an attending surgeon booth, but once I got home I felt like I should give them a call, which I at hospitals in Maryland and as an assistant professor did, and then I traveled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to visit the hospital. in the departments of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore and the After I lost my home and office in the tornado that hit Joplin, we worked University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center out of a trailer and a tent for a while before making the decision to at Dallas. Dr. Bieligk has been published in many move to Tulsa. The people at CTCA were very interested in my specialty clinical periodicals, has contributed to multiple because I could perform hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy research projects and clinical research protocols, and (HIPEC), and I felt comfortable there. It was a tough decision to leave, has presented at numerous clinical conferences across but it was the best decision for me personally and professionally. the country. Dr. Bieligk is a member of the American College of Surgeons, Society of Surgical Oncology, and WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT CTCA? American Medical Association. I like that I can walk 20 feet to meet with a medical oncologist about a particular patient, I can meet with a gastroenterologist within 25 feet, I 20 cancer fighters thrive | spring 2013 cfthrive.com