Chancellor Donald, M.D. ’03, is the chief medical officer of the Taking Aim at Cancer in Louisiana initiative and an assistant professor of clinical medicine at Tulane University. “One of many challenges has been to deliver treatment and follow-up care for patients during a pandemic without preventive or pathogen-directed therapies,” said Dr. Donald. “This challenge is compounded when patients have to navigate a health care system that is altered in such an unprecedented way.” As an oncologist, Dr. Donald also experiences the challenges of having difficult conversations with patients while wearing personal protective equipment. “This interferes with the nuances and subtleties of assessing patients’ emotional reactions, while providing an empathetic connection,” notes Dr. Donald.
How does Dr. Donald cope with COVID-19? “My family has integrated a greater role of meditation and mindfulness in our lives.” And his one word to describe moving forward in a pandemic: “Resilience.”
Chancellor Donald, M.D. ’03
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL 33124
305-284-2211