Stanford Fosters Hematologist's Career

Bruno Medeiros, MD, joined the Department of Medicine in 2006. At the time, becoming a faculty member meant having the right training, for the right job, at the right time. As Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology, his clinical activities concentrate on the development of novel therapeutic modalities, translational research and epidemiological studies of acute leukemia with a particular focus on developing better, patient tailored therapies for young and elderly patients.

Medeiros spoke with Department of Medicine Public Relations Officer, Rita Kennen, about his life, the people who have influenced his career and what he enjoys about living in the Bay Area and working at Stanford.

Q: Where did you grow up and do your training?

Bruno Medeiros: I grew up in Brazil and went to medical school from1992-1998.  I decided to become a doctor when I was 17, after finishing high school and before going to University. During the summer months in medical school I took preceptorships in various labs across the United States and really enjoyed how medicine was practiced in this country.  I did my internship at the University of Connecticut, residency and hematology-oncology fellowship at the University of Colorado, and acute leukemia fellowship in Toronto, Canada.

Q: Why did you become a hematologist?

BM: Hematology is a field that combines wide-ranging patient care in individuals with complex health problems with the integration of a great deal of biology. These are very sick patients that require general comprehensive medical care. The understanding of the diseases and disorders that we treat also translates readily from the lab into the clinic very quickly. That combination of clinical care of sick patients with a reasonable understanding of the biology that drives those disorders is why I choose hematology.  It is also inspiring to be involved with people who have to make decisions that impact their ability to live. There are particularly challenging cases that you never forget.

Q: Who are some of the mentors who have made a significant impact on your career?

BM: My father is a hematologist and a source of inspiration. During my fellowship in Toronto, Mark Minden, MD, PhD, offered truly inspirational advice and Gail Eckhardt, MD, provided unbiased guidance on how to pursue further training in the future.  More recently are the senior investigators at the Cancer Center, who have accomplished remarkable things in their careers, along with my special appreciation to Linda Boxer, MD, PhD, and Steve Coutre, MD, for their initial support and mentorship during my early years as a clinical investigator. I’ve also been influenced by the relationships I have fostered since coming to Stanford, with Eli Estey, MD, from the University of Washington, and Fred Appelbaum, MD, at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. All of these people  have played a very significant role in helping to determine how I would practice medicine.

Q: If you could do anything in the field of medicine what would that be?

BM: Exactly what I am doing today. In the future, ideally, I would love to find ways for a patient to come in and do a comprehensive analysis of their disease, in this case, acute leukemia and be able to derive enough evidence from that patient’s disease to come back with a rational recommendation for a helpful treatment that is not extremely toxic to offer him or her therapy that will both extend and provide them a good quality of life would be the utmost goal for someone in my situation.

Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?

BM: I like to travel and take every opportunity to visit different places and experience various cultures. We have a special opportunity to do that in the Bay Area by trying different restaurants to get a flavor of numerous cultures, which inspires me to get to know those cultures individually. I find that unique mixtures of people are drawn to the Bay Area; individuals who enjoy a variety of things, which bring people with different interests together. Everyone tends to be accepting of different cultures and backgrounds. I also think that Stanford and its geographic location and collaborative atmosphere brings out the best in everyone that comes here.