Justin Maykel is a colorectal surgeon at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.
Q: How did you decide to specialize in colon and rectal surgery?
A: It’s a great field. We are essentially fully trained general surgeons who have gone on to specialize in the comprehensive treatment of disease of the lower gastrointestinal tract. This allows us to take care of patients of all ages with a vast array of common, yet curable, conditions.
Q: What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
A: Taking care of patients. As an academic surgeon, I spend a fair amount of time working in hospital administration, conducting research, teaching medical students and residents and engaging in community service activities. Each of these areas provides great challenges and satisfaction but, in the end, my vocation is surgery.
Q: Tell me about one of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a specialist.
A: Colorectal cancer is the second most common form of cancer in the United States. The ability to educate our community and break down barriers to screening is one of the biggest challenges I face, but I am encouraged by our successes and will continue to advance the cause.
Q: What do you see happening in the future of your field?
A: I hope that we continue to find better treatment options for our patients, particularly our cancer patients. We have seen real advances in both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, two treatments that can be offered alongside surgery. In the future we hope to better “individualize” this care – a way to optimize treatment success while minimizing the potential side effects of therapies.
This interview was conducted and edited by Alanna Moriarty.
