In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month we shine this month’s spotlight on Dr. Denise Yardley. As Senior Investigator at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Dr. Yardley specializes in breast cancer and hematology. She received her undergraduate degree from Columbus State University and her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her residency and fellowship training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. A diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology and Hematology, she is also a recipient of the American Cancer Society Clinical Oncology Career Development Award.
We’re proud to count Dr. Yardley as a supporter of our mission. We hope you enjoy getting to know her in this month’s PearlPoint Spotlight!
PearlPoint: Why did you become an oncologist? What do you find most gratifying about your work?
Dr. Yardley: During residency, I became interested in oncology not only due to the sheer advances in science that were allowing us to understand the biology underlying various diseases, but alsoby the intensivebench work focused on designing and establishing new innovative and novel treatments. It seemed like we were finallyunraveling the mystery behind various diseases and making headway with outcomes.I wanted to deal with the whole body and interact with not only the patient but also their family.I was humbled early onby the resiliency of oncology patients and how they embraced their diagnoses with strength, determination, and apassion to fight and live.Their utter confidence in the evolving field of medicine was humbling.Oncology patients have such courage and perseverancethat touch our lives in so many wonderful ways.While treating cancer patients can be extraordinarily difficult as one guides them through fear, pain, and sometimes exhilaration, interacting with survivors has offered such rewarding experiences and taught me so much about life.
