Growing up watching her mother work as an MA in a family practice office and playing doctor with Barbies, it’s no wonder Methodist Hospitals Radiation Oncologist Kaitlin Qualls, M.D. dove headfirst into learning the ins and outs of the medical field during her undergraduate education. Through her studies, she developed an interest in oncology.
“I went into undergrad planning to do a biology degree with pre-med and really enjoyed it. That's when I got more interested in the oncology realm. From the science perspective, I took some cancer biology-related courses and was fascinated,” Qualls said.
When cancer hit close to home after graduation and Qualls witnessed treatment from a new, more personal perspective, her passion for learning about oncology was further ignited.
“Shortly after I graduated from college, my aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she's now over 10 years out as a survivor,” she said. “I saw her and some other people I know go through their cancer treatments. I saw how important it was to have physicians who were both very knowledgeable about the latest treatments and compassionate in forming relationships to help get people through what's often one of the most difficult times in their lives. I wanted to be a part of that.”
To grow her knowledge and skills in oncology after finishing her four years of undergrad, Qualls went on to complete four years of medical school and five years of residency at Mayo Clinic. At Methodist Hospitals, she is able to employ her expertise in advanced radiation treatment techniques such as stereotactic body radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery to deliver top-notch results and compassionate care for cancer patients.
Through the application of her advanced radiation treatment techniques and modern medical technology, Qualls is able to take what historically would have been a five to six week treatment plan and shorten it to one to two weeks. Despite the decrease in treatment time, this shorter plan yields similar mortality rates, relapse statistics, and even cosmetic outcomes.
“My favorite thing is letting people get back to their lives sooner, putting their cancer diagnosis behind them,” Qualls said. “Often, they've been through a lot with surgeries and other types of treatments. When I say, ‘I can do this in five treatments,’ their faces light up. I love being able to lessen the disruptions in their lives. Cancer is just one part of their lives; it's not the whole.”
When she’s not getting to know patients and delivering outstanding care at the hospital, Qualls loves exploring the food scene in Chicago where she lives with her boyfriend and two cats. She also enjoys traveling, reading, learning French, and dabbling in photography.
To learn more about the advanced radiation treatment techniques available at Methodist Hospitals, visit methodisthospitals.org.
