Pulling Back the Curtain
targeted therapies , minimizing side effects , and outsmarting the cancer by exploiting its vulnerabilities .
Were there any specific individuals there , or at other institutions , who helped shape your career ? After that initial exposure to oncology during residency , I explored the field even more in extra rotations and electives before applying for a hematology / oncology fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham ( UAB ). I have had wonderful teachers and faculty mentors who fostered my love for this profession , especially on the leukemia service where I saw patients with aggressive myeloid malignancies .
During my fellowship , I worked with James Foran , MD , who was a wonderful clinician and my fellowship director when I joined UAB . I spent a lot of time with him in clinic , where I saw his efforts to keep patients front and center in every recommendation he made . Thinking about managing a patient ’ s disease , he would famously say , “ Do the right thing .” Lisle Nabell , MD , our interim division director , was a wonderful role model of a female oncologist in academia who embodied what it takes to pursue your passion while staying true to yourself . After joining the UAB faculty , I was fortunate to work with Harry Erba , MD , PhD , another outstanding leukemia physician with a patientcentered philosophy and an exceptional teacher for fellows and junior faculty .
Next , I joined Oregon Health & Science University and had the opportunity to work with Brian Druker , MD , whose discovery of imatinib for chronic myeloid leukemia ( CML ) led the way for precision oncology in myeloid malignancies . Working with Dr . Druker was inspirational – seeing his passion and leadership for translational research as the director of a comprehensive cancer center and the incredible impact his work has had on the lives of our CML patients .
I learned a lot from these mentors but , most of all , I continue to learn and be inspired by my colleagues and trainees . Most of my colleagues are women , so we all share the experiences of coming into our careers while we are also coming into ourselves in our personal lives . We support and promote each other , while sharing and connecting over many of the same highs and lows , challenges and triumphs of our personal and professional lives .
Do you have any advice for early-career hematologists ? Build your network and support system early on and maintain those relationships through networking at meetings . As an early-career academic , it is easy to develop imposter syndrome , but know that everyone is finding their way and your voice is important . Speak up and amplify others who may be in the same boat . Don ’ t be afraid to say “ yes ” to opportunities ; it gives you a seat at the table and a chance to influence the conversation . Conversely , don ’ t be afraid to say “ no ” if you are overextended to protect your sanity and maintain the elusive work-life balance . I am notoriously bad at this – I have a hard time saying no to anyone ( except for my children , as they constantly remind me ).
Did you also talk with your mother about her own experiences as an early-career physician ? Was that helpful for you ? Absolutely , she made it a point to share many of the challenges she went through , starting when I was young and considering medicine as a career . She knew that I might choose the same path and she wanted me to be aware of what kind of challenges might present – like , deciding when to have your children or balancing your career with your family . These are all age-old questions that we continue to grapple with – even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic – but it is helpful to hear everyone ’ s experiences and know you are not alone in these struggles .
What do you see as your greatest accomplishment in your career so far ? I am proud to have the opportunity to work with scientists in the lab , as well as various industry or pharmaceutical partners to bring novel clinical trials from the bench to the bedside . As a clinician , I can take what has been learned in the lab and go to a variety of partners and collaborators to advocate for my patients and how they would be best served by the investigational therapies or novel combinations . The clinical expertise that our team has built up makes running these complex trials every day a joy and a privilege . I am always amazed at how many of our patients want to be part of these clinical trials , fully knowing that they may be helping others that come after them more than themselves . I see the best of humanity and teamwork at my job , and that is by far the biggest accomplishment of my career .
Can you tell us about your family and your life outside of medicine ? My husband and I have two little girls , eight and five – they ’ re not so little anymore – and a geriatric Doberman . I met my husband 10 years ago . He is an IT professional and we met in a modern way : an online dating site . I tried online dating because I was a busy trainee at the time , and it felt like the least time-consuming way to meet people !
Our first date in person lasted 10 hours . Within a few months , we were engaged and within a year , we were married . Now we have two beautiful girls . He is my biggest champion and advocate , supporting me through multiple moves and shouldering a large portion of the household responsibilities so I can dedicate time to my career . My children are also my cheerleaders – they constantly tell me how proud they are of me . That is priceless .
What do you enjoy doing as a family ? We are all outdoorsy . We bike , hike , and , of course , spend time at our children ’ s activities . Our daughters play multiple sports – soccer , swimming , gymnastics , Bollywood dance classes , and more . So , my No . 1 extracurricular activity right now is spending time at their activities and being a very proud mother . Being around them gives me so such joy and keeps me grounded , which is crucial to avoid burnout in my line of work .
Dr . Borate with her family at the beach ( at top ) and on a trip to Alaska ( above ).
The past year has limited travel , but do you take trips back to India ? Yes , we have been fairly consistent in traveling to India at least once every couple of years to see family , and so that my daughters can reconnect with their grandparents and other extended family . I am lucky to have much of the family I grew up with in India now living relatively close to us in the U . S . My cousins have their own kids now , so we meet up every week . To the best of my ability , I ’ ve tried to re-create my childhood experiences of growing up in a big , extended family for my children .
What is one thing that most people would be surprised to learn about you ? I am fascinated with languages . I can speak three languages fluently , but always wished I could learn more . I watch international shows on Netflix and other streaming services in their original languages – Turkish , Korean , Spanish , Russian , pretty much every language I can possibly listen to . I love gaining insights into different cultures , how people live , how they talk . ●
20 ASH Clinical News August 2021