Doctor, stomach cancer survivor: 3 things that impressed me about UT MD Anderson

When I was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in July 2024, I started treatment locally but sought second opinions from several other institutions. Ultimately, I decided to enroll in a clinical trial at UT MD Anderson, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision.

As an emergency physician and Pain Medicine Fellow in upstate New York, I know how important patient care is. And the level of care I received at UT MD Anderson – from the moment me and my wife, Norma, walked through the door – was exceptional.

Here are three things that truly impressed me about UT MD Anderson. 

Hospitality shown to patients and caregivers

Every health care provider works hard to make patients comfortable, but I’ve never seen anyone as successful at doing that as what I experienced as a patient at UT MD Anderson. It was just mind-bogglingly easy to be a patient here. They really alleviate a lot of stress.

One day I arrived on campus for an appointment, stressed out and trying to check in. This is what a UT MD Anderson staff member told me:

“Actually, you’re in the wrong place. But that’s no problem. Go down this hall – wait, you don’t know where you’re going? Hang on a second; this person will take you to where you need to go, so next time you’ll be all set. By the way, I see you have a little break in between your appointments this morning. Make sure to go downstairs to Cancer Connection. We have some very nice people to take care of you, and we have refreshments. And there’s a separate room with a couch if you’d just like to lie down and rest. Of course, your wife is welcome, too. It’s not just for patients!”

That level of hospitality is not easy to replicate. It takes away so much of the anxiety and distraction and all the stuff that comes with being a patient and puts it aside, so you can just focus on getting well.

Efficient operations

The entire UT MD Anderson system is a machine, and it runs well – even when unexpected circumstances arise.

Since I’d caught pneumonia before starting the clinical trial at UT MD Anderson, my surgeon Dr. Brian Badgwell had me see pulmonologist Dr. Carlos Jimenez prior to starting treatment.

I completely understand why he did it because they wanted to make sure my lungs were healthy enough, so I wouldn’t be at an increased risk for complications getting intraperitoneal chemotherapy and while undergoing surgery. But I thought this would derail my treatment, and I really wanted to have the surgery.

Not at UT MD Anderson. Dr. Badgwell told me I’d be able to see the pulmonologist the same day – in an hour, in fact. Talk about efficiency. Once Dr. Jimenez finished my exam, he cleared me for treatment. I was ecstatic.

I also remember when Winter Storm Enzo hit Texas in January 2025. This was right around the time I was supposed to have my surgery. Since I’d be flying in from New York, this was a no-go. I was pretty bummed out because I had been anticipating the surgery, and now there was another delay.

Dr. Badgwell told me, “Listen. Your safety is critical. When you’re able to safely get to UT MD Anderson, we’ll do the surgery.”

Norma and I arrived a few days later. Every person working at UT MD Anderson during this time had just gone through a natural disaster, and they didn’t miss a beat. I was told, “Don’t worry. Everything is going to be fine. We’re here to take care of you.” 

Expertise and care exhibited by the clinical trials team

Another thing that impressed me about UT MD Anderson was my clinical trials team. Dr. Badgwell’s surgical research team didn’t just come in and have me sign forms and organize all the paperwork. They were comforting. The experience didn’t feel sterile and disenfranchised.

Their demeanor and how they treat patients are extremely important. And it was clear that they were part of my care team, and they shared the same mission. You don't often feel that. It was awesome. They did everything by the book, but at the same time, they were caring and treated me like an individual. They answered all kinds of questions and the questions that they couldn’t answer, they got answers for me.

It's really hard to accomplish what my clinical trials team accomplished: good communication and an excellent level of attention to concerns and queries from a patient in their time of need. It's just one more thing that made my experience at UT MD Anderson so amazing.

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