How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences.

In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Robert A Meguid, MD, MPH, FACS, a thoracic and cardiac surgeon, as well as a professor of cardiothoracic surgery, at the University of Colorado in Aurora.

Drs Camidge and Meguid discussed Dr Meguid’s journey into medicine, which was heavily influenced by his parents, both of whom were academic physicians. A first-generation American, Dr Meguid grew up watching his father operate and working in his father's research lab, experiences that ignited a lifelong interest in the scientific method and patient care. Dr Meguid pursued a combined 8-year medical program before matching into a residency in general surgery. During his residency, he spent 3 years in research, earning a master’s degree in public health and shifting his focus toward surgical outcomes and risk analysis. After completing a cardiothoracic fellowship, he joined the University of Colorado, where he helped expand the thoracic surgery program and pioneered robotic-assisted techniques.

A shift in Dr Meguid’s perspective occurred when he suffered a life-threatening medical event during a family vacation in Australia. He contracted fulminant septic shock resulting from human metapneumovirus and group A strep, leading to respiratory and renal failure. After being intubated for several weeks and losing significant muscle mass, he was life-flighted back to his own ICU in Denver to begin recovery. This experience as a patient, during which he had to relearn how to stand and move, deepened his empathy and reinforced his commitment to patient-centered care.

Currently, Dr Meguid is a leader in his field, focusing on thoracic oncology and complex chest wall reconstructions, such as that of the adult pectus excavatum. He remains dedicated to academic research on surgical risk assessment, ensuring that patients are empowered to make informed decisions about their care.

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences.

In this episode, Camidge sat down with Dajan O'Donnell, PhD, who is the director of Research Partnerships at Cancer Research Society in Montreal, Canada.

Camidge and O'Donnell discussed O’Donnell’s journey into science. After being steered away from a career in science during grade school but re-igniting his interest in the field as a young adult, O'Donnell earned a PhD in neurology and neurosurgery and then worked for AstraZeneca, where he helped build a Montreal-based research unit from scratch that specialized in identifying novel targets for chronic pain. O’Donnell’s transition to the nonprofit sector was sparked by the closure of AstraZeneca’s Montreal site and a personal diagnosis of a desmoid tumor that required multiple aggressive surgeries, an experience that fueled his passion for supporting research that directly affects patients. Before joining Cancer Research Society, O'Donnell worked for Exactis Innovation, where he navigated complex provincial health care barriers to create a national molecular registry for patients with cancer.

Since joining Cancer Research Society, O’Donnell has expanded the organization's reach. Despite its relatively small size, Cancer Research Society is highly efficient, focusing almost entirely on funding research across all cancer types. Under O'Donnell's leadership, the organization’s financial commitment to cancer research has increased. Currently, O’Donnell is spearheading an unprecedented initiative to support investigator-initiated clinical trials in Canada. By leveraging partnerships with other agencies and foundations, this project aims to enhance clinical trial capacity across the country. This initiative serves as a cornerstone of O'Donnell's legacy as he prepares to transition into an advisory role over the next few years.

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences.

In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Alex Alvarez, a board-certified civil trial lawyer who specializes in tobacco litigation and jury selection. Camidge and Alvarez discussed Alvarez's career path, which he attributes to a deep-seated passion for upholding justice. Alvarez’s professional life began early, when he became one of the youngest police officers in Miami. After working in patrol during a period of significant civil unrest, he moved into the detective bureau, eventually joining the homicide division. There, he worked on high-profile investigations. During a federal trial for corrupt officers, Alvarez served as the lead investigator and sat at the counsel table, an experience that inspired him to become a trial lawyer.

Although Alvarez initially planned to be a prosecutor, a prominent trial lawyer convinced him to enter private practice, focusing on high-end products liability and medical negligence. Alvarez eventually founded his own firm and became a leading figure in tobacco litigation. His cases focus on corporate malfeasance, arguing that tobacco companies engineered cigarettes to be addictive. He also sues for fraud, citing the industry’s history of denying the health risks associated with cigarettes and the marketing flaws surrounding "safer" cigrette alternatives. A master of jury selection, Alvarez has tried several tobacco cases. He emphasized the importance of finding jurisdictions where jurors are less likely to blame the smoker and more likely to hold corporations accountable.

Alvarez's law firm is a family-run business involving his children and relatives. Today, Alvarez is shifting toward consulting and mentoring the next generation of lawyers to continue the fight against tobacco.

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences.

In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Tim Clackson, PhD. Dr Clackson is a biotechnology executive, and was most recently chief executive officer of IDRx. 

Drs Camidge and Clackson discussed Dr Clackson’s career journey through the biotechnology field, which began when his innate curiosity about biology and evolution led him to study biochemistry. He then pursued his PhD and was part of the small team that developed antibody phage display libraries, a breakthrough technology that allows scientists to mimic the immune system in a test tube to find specific antibodies. This work was foundational to the discovery of major drugs and contributed to the awarding of a Nobel Prize in 2018.

In 1991, Dr Clackson moved to the US to pursue a postdoc at Genentech, where he was inspired by the company's vibrant and optimistic research environment. He then joined Ariad Pharmaceuticals, where he stayed for more than 20 years, evolving from a bench scientist to president of R&D. A major highlight of his tenure was the development of ponatinib (Iclusig) for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. He also navigated significant challenges, including ponatinib's temporary market withdrawal due to safety concerns, which the company eventually resolved by narrowing the drug's clinical application.

In the following years, Dr Clackson transitioned into chief executive officer roles at other biotech firms, such as IDRx. He noted that although acquisitions often result in leadership changes—humorously stating, "the higher you are, the quicker you go"—he enjoyed the storytelling aspect of pitching scientific strategies to investors. In the present day, Dr Clackson remains active in the biotechnology industry through board service and entrepreneurship.

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences.

In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Robert Kantor, MD. Dr Kantor is associate medical director of Medical Oncology & Hematology at Private Health Management.

Drs Camidge and Kantor reflected on Dr Kantor's decades-long career. Inspired by his father’s devotion to patients, Dr Kantor fast-tracked his education, entering medical school at Wayne State University without completing an undergraduate degree. Following fellowship, he intentionally chose private practice over academic oncology to focus on direct patient care and making a difference in the lives of patients' families.

Dr Kantor’s career illustrates the shifting landscape of American medicine. He has navigated various oncology practice models, including a corporate merger that he felt compromised patient care. In 2008, he took the risk of launching his own solo practice, successfully bringing trusted staff and a dedicated patient base with him.

Dr Kantor eventually retired from clinical practice due to burnout, which was exacerbated by corporate management challenges and the inefficiencies of electronic medical records. His retirement evolved into an "encore career" as an associate medical director for Private Health Management. In this consultative role, he provides clinical oversight for complex oncology cases, helping patients navigate toward personalized cancer vaccines, clinical trials, and cutting-edge therapies. Dr Kantor expressed that this work has brought him renewed enthusiasm for the field of oncology, as it allows him to use his decades of experience with a basis of a better work-life balance. He remains passionate about how these high-end, personalized technologies will eventually make their way into routine clinical practice to benefit the broader patient population.

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences.
In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Sofia Diana Merajver, MD, PhD, a physician-scientist whose career bridges physics, medicine, and population health. Dr Merajver is the scientific director of the Breast Cancer Program, director of the Breast and Ovarian Cancer Risk Evaluation Program, and a professor of internal medicine and epidemiology at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center in Ann Arbor. In this discussion, she reflected on a lifelong journey shaped by immigration, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to science in service of human health.  

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences.

In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Justin Call, MD. Dr Call is a medical oncologist and hematologist at Utah Cancer Specialists in South Jordan.

Dr Call explained that he has taken a unique professional path, transitioning from practicing as a general community oncologist to becoming a full-time phase 1 principal investigator within a community practice setting. He explained that he grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah in a family of educators and accountants, though he was heavily influenced by several uncles who were physicians, including one oncologist. After completing his medical training at the University of Colorado, he chose community oncology over academia because he wanted to remain a generalist who could treat all tumor types rather than being restricted to a specific disease group. A formative rotation at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers solidified this desire, as Dr Call noted he was impressed by the deep knowledge required to treat various cancers and the positive atmosphere of outpatient care.

Dr Call emphasized that his personal life significantly influenced his career choices. His son, Trevor, was diagnosed with autism at 18 months old. This diagnosis eventually led the family to move from a rural practice in Petoskey, Michigan, back to Utah to access better support services and be closer to family. His son’s experience also inspired Call's wife to earn a master’s degree in special education.

Upon returning to Utah Cancer Specialists, Dr Call initially participated in phase 3 trials. However, he retained an interest in early-phase research from his fellowship days. In 2016, he began building a boutique phase 1 program, initially starting with just 2 hours of dedicated time per week. In 2020, his practice partnered with START (South Texas Accelerated Research Therapeutics) to launch a dedicated, full-time, community-based phase 1 program. Dr Call noted that this model is rare because phase 1 trials are highly competitive and require specialized infrastructure, such as dedicated pharmacists, coordinators, and equipment for processing pharmacokinetic samples.