Philadelphia Medicine Fall 2021 - 18

FEATURE
philamedsoc .org
Spotlight on
Graeme R. Williams,
PGY- 2 Resident, Department of
Radiation Oncology, Hospital of
the University of Pennsylvania
Editor's note: Here is a
spotlight on a Philadelphia
County Medical Society
medical resident.
Graeme R. Williams
PCMS Medical Resident Graeme Williams
provides answers to some of
the questions about his thoughts and
experiences so far in his career:
Question: As a past leader of the Medical
Student Section, now leader of the
Resident/Fellow Section, Member of the
PCMS Board of Directors, Delegate to
the House of Delegates, member of the
AMA, etc., how has organized medicine
impacted your career in medicine?
Perspective. While clinical training certainly
offers me the skills I will need to
independently care for my patients, it offers
only brief glimpses of the challenges and
opportunities physicians in other specialties
face as they try to do the same. Organized
medicine gives us an avenue to work together
to tackle shared problems and remove common
impediments to the care of our patients.
Question: Why did you choose this
medical residency and what drew you
to Philadelphia?
I knew little about radiation oncology
through much of medical school, but after
my first week of rotating in a rad onc clinic I
knew I had found my calling. The residency
training program at Penn offered a strong
combination of diverse and plentiful clinical
cases, a breadth of research opportunities,
and foremost a great team of people to
cultivate my clinical knowledge and skills.
I'm originally from Bucks County, and
after undergrad in Philly and a few years
of work, my wife and I decided to return
home. Philadelphia is an amazing place to
train for a career in medicine, but perhaps
more importantly to live and raise a family.
Question: What do you like most about
practicing medicine so far?
This one's easy...the people. Working with
a diverse team of dedicated professionals
to usher patients through the cancer care
continuum can be both incredibly rewarding
and absolutely heartbreaking. Many days it
is both. It is a privilege and responsibility I
take seriously to be welcomed into the lives of
our patients and their families to help them
through what is for many the most difficult
and uncertain situation they have ever faced.
Question: Are you involved in any community
or non-profit organizations? If
so, please list the groups:
In the past, yes, I have participated in
several non-profits around the Philadelphia
area. Currently, no (please refer to the next
question/answer).
Question: What are your hobbies and
interests when you're not working?
Several, including golfing, going to the
movies with my wife, and spending time
outdoors. However, I am now the proud
father of a 4-year-old son and 9-month-old
daughter who joyfully consume most of my
time outside of clinic. For the time being,
many other items on my personal agenda are
(happily) on hold in favor of molding my
two favorite people in the world.
Question: For what reason(s) did you
become a member of the Philadelphia
County Medical Society and
what do you value most about your
membership?
Doctors need a seat at the table when policies
change. No other stakeholders are better
equipped to ensure changes are clinically
appropriate, and it is our duty to help defend
the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship.
I've always felt organized medicine is the
vehicle by which we strengthen our individual
voices to speak as one advocating on behalf
of our patients, and PCMS is the principal
organization I work with to effect change
on the ground for my patients. *
18 Philadelphia Medicine : Fall 2021
http://philamedsoc.org
Philadelphia Medicine Fall 2021

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