Eric Cheung: Competence and Compassion are Key to Earning Patients' Trust

Eric Cheung, DO

Eric Cheung, DO, has dedicated his life to not only advancing cancer care, but providing compassionate, patient-centered treatment. Inspired by strong mentors in the field and his own family, he pursued oncology to help those facing hematologic and oncologic diseases.

“I admired what they did, how they treated their patients, and I wanted to do something similar in bringing benefit to those unfortunate with either hematologic or oncologic problems,” Cheung, hematologist/oncologist at Cancer and Blood Specialty Clinics, shared in an interview with Targeted Oncology^TM, highlighting how his early experiences shaped his approach to medicine.

During his fellowship at University of Southern California (USC) - Los Angeles General Medical Center, Cheung served as chief fellow where he helped develop the curriculum and mentor junior fellows. Not only did this role allow Cheung to hone in on his leadership skills, but it also deepened his commitment to fostering the next generation of oncologists.

Cheung is passionate about staying at the forefront of oncology advancements, particularly in immunotherapies and biological treatments. His group at Cancer and Blood Specialty Clinics participates in over 40 clinical trials which offer patients a variety of innovative treatments across cancer types, including breast, colorectal, and genitourinary (GU) cancers. Cheung has also contributed to a number of publications and research, particularly in GU cancers and platelet disorders like thrombocytopenia.

But at his core, Cheung is dedicated to building trust with his patients using 2 things: competence and compassion. He makes sure his patients fully understand their diagnosis and treatment options, while also supporting their mental and emotional well-being.

Being recognized as an Oncology Icon is a humbling experience for Cheung. "I do not think I deserve it," he said modestly. "I do appreciate it, it is an honor, I am humbled, and I hope that others can be inspired to try their best to take good care of your patients.”

In the interview, Cheung, Targeted Oncology’s second 2024 Oncology Icon, discussed his journey in oncology, advances in treatment, and his patient-centered approach to care.

Targeted Oncology: What inspired you to pursue a career in oncology/hematology? How did your early experiences shape your approach to medicine?

Cheung: From the beginning, I was very interested in oncology due to good examples and excellent mentors. I have had relatives, other professors, and attendings, especially in the hematology/oncology field, who I looked up to. I admired what they did and how they treated their patients, and I wanted to do something similar in bringing benefit to those with either hematologic or oncologic problems.

Can you discuss your experience serving as chief fellow at USC?

As the chief fellow, I was key in helping to develop the program and mentorship of the younger junior fellows. For the incoming fellows, I helped develop the curriculum, I would make sure that they felt comfortable with the learning process, and [I would] make sure that they were prepared to go out into the real world afterwards.

What advances in hematology/oncology have caught your attention? How does this apply to your practice?

The new treatments are very exciting. I have watched the development of all the immunotherapies and new biological treatments that we have had. What excites me is our group's active participation in clinical trials and the opportunity to contribute to the development of new treatments. We have got multiple breast cancer, colon cancer, [and] GU cancer trials, and we are looking to be comprehensive across the board, not just focusing on one thing. We are trying to provide alternative treatment options for our patients in a variety of different fields.

How do you stay up to date with some of the latest advancements in oncology and integrate them into your practice?

I make sure I read journal articles, make sure I speak with other physicians at tumor boards, and then also go to various conferences. I try to maintain participation in all the different levels of academic improvement.

You have been involved in numerous publications. Can you share any specific research findings that you are most proud of?

I have particularly participated in research in the GU field, including prostate and renal cancer, and then also wrote a few articles on hematologic topics, specifically things regarding platelet problems and thrombocytopenia. Recent advancements in GU cancers, particularly prostate cancer, have moved beyond hormone therapies like Lupron. We now have a host of modalities which offer more targeted and effective treatment options for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. In thrombocytopenia, thrombopoietin receptor agonists have revolutionized treatment by stimulating platelet production, greatly improving management strategies for patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia.

When working with patients, what strategies do you use to ensure that your patients fully understand their diagnosis and treatment options?

The main thing that I have as a goal for my interactions with patients is to earn their trust. The way that I earn their trust is by trying to show 2 things. One is competence, and the other is compassion. Competence for me means being fully prepared beforehand, knowing what they have gone through, their medical history, test results, everything before they walk into the door, and making sure that they understand why they are in my office, understand every test that I am ordering for them, every procedure, every treatment. I want to make sure they understand why they have the option of going through those different treatments. Then compassion is more than just caring for them. It is about the connection. It is making sure they feel that they are being seen, heard, and valued at every step of their journey.

One of the things that we look for is trying to find other positions. With our group vision, we are intentional with how we are building our team. We are not just seeking out talent. We are not seeking out the geniuses, the smart individuals. We are looking for people, physicians, and staff, who align with our values and our group spirit. We are searching for like-minded people who have the same commitment to excellence, who embody conscientiousness, who possess the gift of warmth and a compassionate bedside manner. We are looking for those individuals to join us in our group.

How can you support the mental and emotional well-being of your patients beyond just their physical health?

[A multidisciplinary team is important]. I try to know all the other specialists personally. We all have each other's cell phones so if something comes up where I need to reach out and communicate to a radiation oncologist, to a specialized surgeon, to a tertiary care academic center, anyone, we just pick up the phone and talk to each other immediately and have that full group collaboration.

I [also] make sure that [the patients] have a good support system. That is one of the questions that I will address at the visits, either if they do not have family, that they have friends, that they have caregivers, etc. If they need support groups, we refer to some of the community support groups so they feel like they are a part of a community beyond the clinic [and] like they are taken care of. I want a huge group [to take] care of the patients when they come to our office.

Looking back on your career so far, what has been your most rewarding experience as a physician, and how has that shaped your outlook on patient care?

There are a few different accomplishments that I have been grateful for. Firstly, I just feel I have been able to provide a high level of care for my patients. Then on the business side, the ability to help develop a practice nowadays that has been growing, not just in the number of physicians and staff and not just the number of cities that we cover, but also in the types of services that we are able to offer. For example, the clinical trials we are able to offer and the ancillary support teams we are able to offer. I am happy that we are able to give our patients well-rounded care.

What advice would you give to young oncologists who aspire to specialize in oncology?

The main thing is to have good mentors. I would encourage younger physicians to pay attention to the mentors who look as if they are doing a good job for their patients, connecting on a personal level, staying up to date with all the research and developments, and pay attention to those who have good bedside manner and those who they can learn something from. I do help in the development of our company with all the younger staff and try to teach them the things that I have learned so far to give them some advice so that they can succeed in their practice.

What does being an Oncology Icon mean to you?

It is a fantastic honor to be recognized as an Oncology Icon. I do not think I deserve it, because I know that there are a lot of other physicians, my peers, for example, who are absolutely fantastic. I do appreciate it. It is an honor, I am humbled, and I hope that others can be inspired to try their best to take good care of your patients.