PHYSICIAN PROFILE
For as long as Scott Celinski,
SCOTT CELINSKI, M.D.
“My mom’s family has been in Dallas
M.D., can remember, he wanted to
forever. In fact, Dunston’s Steakhouse
“I was always fascinated by anatomy
grew up coming to Dallas to see her
expand what we’re learning and make
these therapies available to more
be a physician.
is my great uncle Gene’s restaurant. I
and what made bodies work,” recalled
family and visited the restaurant all
Who is your hero?
wait to finally be in the 7th grade when
remembered Dr. Celinski. “The original
entire life to support our family, and
A native Texan, he received his
anniversary party – my uncle Gene still
to him. There were times he was
Dr. Celinski. “I was the kid that couldn’t
throughout
my
c h i l d h o o d ,”
you got to dissect the frog.”
location on Harry Hines just had a 60th
medical degree from Baylor College
works there five nights a week – and
patients through multicenter trials.
My dad. He worked very hard his
we always knew we were important
unemployed, and he’d work an
of Medicine in Houston before leaving
we were there to celebrate.”
in general surgery at George
kids never knew we were struggling.
Washington University in Washington,
D.C. Dr. Celinski then completed
What differentiates Baylor from
other health care organizations in
the treatment of pancreatic cancer?
fellowships in critical care at George
Our commitment to research and
Washington University, and both
clinical trials. When the survival rate for
great example for me, and I try to
surgery at the University of Pittsburgh
years, doing standard therapy is not
“I knew I wanted to come back to
Cancer Research and Treatment
for its great reputation as a tertiary
developing new therapies and making
came to interview and saw not only
trials are the way to really move things
heard about, but a great culture,
available for almost every pancreatic
across the hospital,” said Dr. Celinksi.
door. That’s not something you find
the Lone Star State for his residency
surgical oncology and hepatobiliary
pancreatic cancer is 8 percent for five
in Pittsburgh, Penn.
good enough. Our goal at the Pancreas
Texas and was interested in Baylor
Center is to improve outcomes through
and quaternary referral center. I
inoperable cancers, operable. Clinical
did it have the great reputation I’d
forward, and we have a clinical trial
people and abilities in service lines
cancer patient that walks through the
That was nearly six years ago, and
he now serves as medical director of
most places.
Treatment Center at Baylor Charles
Where would you like to see this
research in five or 10 years?
However, this move to Dallas was
we’re working on show the results we
the Pancreas Cancer Research and
A. Sammons Cancer Center.
not his first experience with the city.
My hope is that the pilot studies
assortment of jobs to make ends
meet, and throughout all of that, the
He worked incredibly hard and always
managed to put family first. It was a
replicate that with my own family. My
wife, Laura, is amazing, and we try to
make sure I’m able to see my 3-year-
old daughter, Violet, every night
before she goes to bed. In addition,
our family is growing and we’ll be
welcoming a new little one here in
October. We aren’t finding out the
gender, but Violet is really excited for
a new brother or sister.
What would people be surprised
to learn about you?
I’m a recreational beekeeper. I have
two beehives in my backyard that I
take care of and get a couple hundred
pounds of honey from each year.
think they will. If so, we’d be able to
13