Christopher C. Ross, M.D.
Radiation Oncologist at the CARTI Cancer Center
Ever wondered what it would be like to be a cancer doctor for a day? Dr. Christopher Ross of the CARTI center shares a glimpse into his busy schedule.
5:30 a.m.
My alarm goes off, and I roll out of bed, into the shower and then dress for work. Unlike my wife, Sarah, I am not a morning person, and I’m usually struggling this early in the day without any coffee in my system not to fall asleep while I’m tying my tie.
6 a.m.
Sarah, angel that she is, has a cup of coffee waiting for me as I sit down to work on my lesson for Bible Study Fellowship. We’re studying the book of John this year – amazing study.
6:30 a.m.
I grab a quick bowl of yogurt with some granola and fruit. My bleary-eyed kids come downstairs, and I kiss them goodbye as I head out to work. Benjamin, 5, started kindergarten this year, and Kate, 7, is in the second grade.
7 a.m.
Arrive at the CARTI Cancer Center for our weekly Tumor Board. Specialists from medical oncology, radiation oncology, pathology, radiology and surgical specialists gather to review and discuss patients with challenging cases. One of the many things I love about working at CARTI is the collaboration between all of the different specialties to provide the very best cancer care possible for each patient.
8 a.m.
Begin seeing patients for the day. I am constantly amazed and inspired by the strength, grace and determination shown by my incredible patients as they face their diagnosis and treatment. I have the privilege of meeting people from all over Arkansas, from all backgrounds, and walking with them through a difficult time in their lives.
12 p.m.
Chart rounds and staff meeting. I discuss all of our new patients and their treatment plans with members of our clinic including other physicians, nurses, therapists, dosimetrists, front desk staff and physicists. I work with an extremely talented staff that does an outstanding job helping me to care for our patients. What I do wouldn’t be possible without them.
1 p.m.
Continue to see new patients, patients currently under treatment and follow-up with patients who have completed treatment. In between seeing patients, I work on designing treatment plans to deliver radiation therapy in the most precise way possible.
4:40 p.m.
Wrap up the day. I finish working on dictations and treatment planning, call patients with test results, signoff on images and return phone calls from other physicians before heading home.
5 p.m.
I take Benjamin to soccer practice and Sarah takes Kate to ballet. Five-year-olds may not always know what they are supposed to be doing when they play soccer, but they sure have fun trying to figure it out.
5:45 p.m.
Head home for dinner together as a family. We all go around the table and tell our highs and lows from the day. I get to hear from my kids about their days at school, their friends and talk about life. I’m incredibly blessed to have such a terrific wife and kids.
7 p.m.
Kids wind down for bed. Showers, pajamas, reading, prayers and a kiss goodnight for bedtime.
7:45 p.m.
After the kids are down, I go for a run before Sarah and I wind down for the evening and get to catch up about the day. We then settle in to watch Designated Survivor on our DVR.
10:30 p.m.
Exhausted, I head to bed so I can wake up and do it all over again tomorrow.
Plan B:
I wanted to be a doctor from a very young age, but if I had to pick something besides medicine, I would have liked to have been a ski instructor. I have always loved skiing, and I actually worked at a ski resort one winter season between college and medical school. There were a lot of people I met who worked for the resort that had only planned to spend one season there but ended up making a career out of it because they never wanted to leave.