Jeff York Sets His Mind
to Helping Others
DONOR PROFILE
Positive Purpose
eff York is a proponent of positive where he lived for months separated from with the way I got through the whole
thinking. In his work and in life, his family while enduring chemotherapy, thing originally: finding purpose in it. Then
Jeff talks about the importance of radiation and, eventually, successful surgery. I thought, if I’m going to be neck-deep in
having a positive mental attitude Learning only one small tumor remained, cancer care with fellow patients the rest of
and being in a peak emotional state. Out Jeff prepared for a second round of my life, I’m going to do something with it. I
of a devastating cancer diagnosis, Jeff treatments. He stayed positive until 21 new firmly believe that God values relationships
not only found new strength and purpose, tumors were found two months later. more than anything. I think it’s why we were
but also the connections he needed to
Jeff called his primary care physician
created — to have relationships with Him
bring his message of positivity to a group in Dallas again to find the best oncologist of people who need it most. for recurrences of his cancer. After Jeff’s next step was to become
two days, his doctor’s research and a credentialed Baylor Scott & White
cancer,” Jeff said, “but I think what He recommendation brought him home volunteer. His caregivers talk about the
does is lead people to Him and to a to Dallas and to Baylor Scott & White positive light that Jeff brings to infusion
bigger purpose.” Health. Several months later, through an rooms when he is there for treatments.
aggressive treatment plan that included From uplifting even the most downtrodden
sales officer and co-founder of Paycom, a mix of chemotherapy and a drug called patients to honoring the passion and
a publicly traded company that brings Herceptin (trastuzumab), Jeff received purpose of the dedicated oncology
digital transformation to 200 million excellent news from his BSWH oncologist: physicians and nurses, Jeff shares his
American workers through technology His cancer was virtually undetectable. mental management techniques and
“I don’t think God gives anyone
Jeff understands challenge. As chief
for HR and payroll, Jeff has seen the
Jeff asked how long he
peaks and valleys that accompany would need infusions of this
building a startup company. Through drug, which he had been
these challenges, he found mental receiving every two weeks.
management to be key to his success. The answer was that he
A few years ago, Jeff experienced
unusual trouble swallowing. He visited
his doctor and received test results that
and one another,” he said.
would need to be on this
medication the rest of his life.
“That’s a long, long time,”
indicated he was a fit, healthy 48-year-old. Jeff remembered remarking. But an endoscopy his doctor ordered He wanted so badly to be the next week showed differently: Jeff done with cancer, going to learned he had gastroesophageal junction the hospital, and receiving treatments. support with others in hopes of inspiring
adenocarcinoma, a rare type of cancer But through his own internal struggle, he and enabling them as they make their
of the esophagus. Physicians explained it realized the opportunity he had before way through the cancer journey. It’s Jeff’s
was already at stage IV, indicating it had him: to help change the lives of others personal form of ministry.
spread from its original location. with a dose of positivity.
Jeff received treatment in Houston,
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THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE FOUNDATION NEWS / SUMMER 2019
“I started to reconcile these thoughts
So when Jeff heard about BSWH’s
partnership with the American Cancer