Girindra Raval, MD, is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine: Hematology and Oncology at the Medical College of Georgia of Augusta University.

Anand Jillella, MD, is the J. Harold Harrison, MD Distinguished University Chair in Medicine, a professor of medicine & pediatrics, and chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Augusta University Medical College of Georgia. He is also associte director of Clinical Affairs and director of the Georgia Cancer Center Clinic, Ambulatory Services, and Network and Outreach

Cancer, Character, and Calling: The Oncologist's Journey, hosted by Girindra Raval, MD, is a podcast highlighting how top oncologists have navigated the field over the course of their careers, the passion that drove them to enter the oncology space, and the ongoing work that will continue to transform cancer care. Each episode, Raval will sit down with a top oncologist to dive into their background, highlight their career achievements, discuss key issues still being addressed in their field, and explore their interests outside of the clinic and lab.

In this episode, Raval welcomed Anand Jillella, MD, who is the J. Harold Harrison, MD Distinguished University Chair in Medicine, a
professor of medicine & pediatrics, and chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Augusta University Medical College of Georgia. He is also associte director of Clinical Affairs and director of the Georgia Cancer Center Clinic, Ambulatory Services, and Network and Outreach.

Their conversation focused on discussed Jillella's career journey, starting from his oncology internship in 1989 to establishing a bone marrow transplant program. Jillella noted the initial successes of the program that led to its exponential growth over the years. He also emphasized the importance of community outreach and collaboration with referring practices, explaining the early work that he and colleagues did to maintain working relationships with other practices and get the program on the map. Furthermore, Jillella highlighted the historical development of the treatment algorithm for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia, emphasizing that proper physician training and research significantly reduced mortality rates in this disease over the years. Raval and Jillella concluded by addressed the evolving landscape of oncology, the growing effects of AI tools on medical practice patterns, and the need for academic institutions to stay on the cutting edge of new treatments and technologies to advance the field and ultimately improve patient care.

Podcasts

Raval and Jillella discussed Jillella's career journey, starting from his oncology internship in 1989 to establishing a bone marrow transplant program. 

Passion and Innovation Formed the Foundation for a Leading Cancer Program: With Girindra Raval, MD; and Anand Jillella, MD

David A. Frank, MD, PhD, FACP, is the director of the Division of Hematology and a professor in Emory University School of Medicine's Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology. He also serves as director of the Winship Innovation Initiative and as an advisor to the Morningside Center for Innovative and Affordable Medicine within the Woodruff Health Sciences Center.

: The Oncologist's Journey, hosted by Girindra Raval, MD, is a podcast highlighting how top oncologists have navigated the field over the course of their careers, the passion that drove them to enter the oncology space, and the ongoing work that will continue to transform cancer care. Each episode, Raval will sit down with a top oncologist to dive into their background, highlight their career achievements, discuss key issues still being addressed in their field, and explore their interests outside of the clinic and lab.

In this episode, Raval welcomed David A. Frank, MD, PhD, FACP, who is director of the Division of Hematology and a professor in the Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine. He also serves as director of the Winship Innovation Initiative and as an advisor to the Morningside Center for Innovative and Affordable Medicine within the Woodruff Health Sciences Center.

Their conversation traced Frank’s journey from his early life in Brooklyn, New York, through his education at Stuyvesant High School, undergraduate studies at MIT, and completion of an MD/PhD program at Yale University. Frank reflected on his decision to pursue medicine following a formative family experience, his early attraction to oncology’s dual challenges of addressing unmet patient needs and developing more precise therapies, and his contributions to hematologic malignancy research during his tenure at Harvard’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and now at Emory Winship Cancer Institute. They also examined the transformation of hematology from the cytotoxic drug era to the advent of targeted therapies, and Frank shared his perspective on the next frontiers in research and patient care.

Girindra Raval, MD, and David A. Frank, MD, PhD, FACP, discuss Frank’s journey, through his undergraduate studies at MIT, and completion of an MD/PhD program at Yale University. 

Frank’s Path to Advancing Hematology Through Innovation and Discovery: With Girindra Raval, MD; and David A. Frank, MD, PhD, FACP

Jorge Cortes, MD, is director of the Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University.

Cancer, Character, and Calling: The Oncologist's Journey

, hosted by Girindra Raval, MD, is a podcast highlighting how top oncologists have navigated the field over the course of their careers, the passion that drove them to enter the oncology space, and the ongoing work that will continue to transform cancer care. Each episode, Raval will sit down with a top oncologist to dive into their background, highlight their career achievements, discuss key issues still being addressed in their field, and explore their interests outside of the clinic and lab.

In this episode, Raval welcomed Jorge Cortes, MD, who is director of the Georgia Cancer Center and a professor in the Department of Medicine at Augusta University. Raval is an associate professor in the Department of Medicine: Hematology and Oncology at the Medical College of Georgia of Augusta University.

In their conversation, Raval and Cortes dived into Cortes’ upbringing in Mexico, his family life, and his experience earning his medical degree from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico in Mexico City. They also spoke about Cortes’ work during his 27-year tenure at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where he served as a professor of medicine, deputy department chair, chair of the acute myeloid leukemia and chronic myeloid leukemia sections, and deputy division chair, among other roles. Cortes detailed how that experience facilitated long-lasting collaborations and friendships. He then touched on his goals as director of the Georgia Cancer Center since taking over the role in 2019 and explained how it felt to leave MD Anderson after nearly 3 decades.

Raval and Cortes also discussed how the hematologic oncology field has evolved during Cortes’ career and how he expects the management of these malignancies as ongoing research unfolds. Cortes also highlighted his goals as director of the Georgia Cancer Center.

Drs Raval and Cortes discuss Dr. Cortes’ journey through the hematologic oncology field and highlight ongoing work in the hematologic oncology space.

Girindra Raval, MD

Articles

Passion and Innovation Formed the Foundation for a Leading Cancer Program: With Girindra Raval, MD; and Anand Jillella, MD

Frank’s Path to Advancing Hematology Through Innovation and Discovery: With Girindra Raval, MD; and David A. Frank, MD, PhD, FACP

Cortes’ Journey Helps Reshape Hematologic Cancer Care: With Girindra Raval, MD; and Jorge Cortes, MD