I’ll never forget the day when I stepped on stage in New Orleans to give a keynote speech about why I do what I do as a physician and inventor of products for women with cancer. I’ve given many talks in my career, but this one was different because I shared several personal stories that brought me to tears. I was not familiar with showing my emotions in front of a crowd and it made me feel very uncomfortable.
Immediately after the talk, I rushed to the bathroom, feeling embarrassed, wondering what people were going to think of me – a doctor, breaking down crying as I talked about cancer.
As I was sitting in one of the bathroom stalls, a group of women walked into the bathroom. I cringed a bit, worried I might hear them talking about me and what an embarrassing moment that was.
And guess what – they did start talking about me.
Just not in the way that I expected them to.
One of the women said to the others in her group, “If I ever get diagnosed with cancer, I want HER as my doctor.”
As it turns out, the women in the group were grateful to feel my heart and the emotional connection in my talk.
When I am caring for those who are healing, I feel that emotional connection is just as much a part of the healing process as the physical protocols we use to treat cancer.
So, today, as we continue to get to know each other and our connection deepens, I thought it would be fun to share a few facts about me so you can get to know the real person on the other side of the screen who’s here to support you along your journey.
So, here they are!
- I didn’t know I wanted to be a doctor until I was 20 years old when I volunteered for hospice. I signed up to volunteer at hospice as a way to cross medicine off my career list, but the experience of being around people facing the end of their lives was life-changing. Through that experience, I realized that I wanted to go to medical school specifically to become an oncologist. My journey took many twists and turns, but I graduated from Duke Medical School in 2001 and completed my residency in Radiation Oncology from Duke at the age of 32.I went on to work at Kaiser Permanente for 16 years, taking on leadership roles in Medical Oncology and Cancer Services.
(Oh – and did I mention I taught swing dancing lessons while I was in medical school?! 💃🏻🎉)
- I have seven children—four with fur and three without! My oldest son is at Johns Hopkins studying applied math and economics, my middle daughter is heading off to NYU in the fall to study film, and my youngest is starting high school next year. Thankfully, my four fur babies, Ember & Asher (Australian Labradoodles) and Milo & Goose (Ragdoll Cats) are staying with me in Oregon. My house is often referred to as Wild Kingdom given all the animals!
- I started a company called ‘MAKEMERRY’ for women with sensitivity caused by radiation treatments for breast cancer. I never intended to design clothing, but when so many of my patients experienced discomfort from wearing traditional bras during radiation, I knew I had to do something about it.
And MAKEMERRY was born! A line of bras that helped women who needed support after radiation that were both beautiful and comfortable on their skin. MAKEMERRY was an incredible experience, but I closed operations in 2023 to make space for the opening of my virtual Conscious Medicine practice.
Those are just a few fun facts for now, but as our connection deepens in the weeks and months to come, I’ll share more with you.
Thank you for trusting me as a confidant on your journey!
I’ll see you back here next Wednesday as we dive into the importance of emotional healing in treating cancer.
Much Love,
Dr. Katie, The Conscious Oncologist
The doors to my virtual practice are OPEN
Are you or a loved one currently going through treatment for cancer or other chronic disease? The doors to my virtual practice are officially open and I would love to support you in healing the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual root causes of disease. You can learn more on my website katiedeming.com and click the ‘BOOK ME’ tab to schedule your 1:1 consultation.
Let’s Stay Connected
Each week, I post content to Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn where I offer practical tips to become your own conscious healer. I hope to see you there!
DISCLAIMER:
This Blog in its entirety is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any medical questions or conditions.
