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Douglas Flora

Jul 10, 2025, 22:26

Douglas Flora: Celebrating 20 years at St. Elizabeth Healthcare this week

Douglas Flora, Executive Medical Director of Oncology Services at St. Elizabeth Healthcare and President-Elect of the Association of Cancer Care Centers, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Celebrating 20 years at St. Elizabeth Healthcare this week.

July, 2005. I entered this hospital for the first time as a new “attending” in my fresh white coat. My mentor, Dr. Brennan dropped me off to make rounds, and what followed was nothing short of a nightmare. I didn’t finish my first day until 11:30 PM. Driving home that night, my wife and I were convinced we’d made a terrible mistake.

I wasn’t even supposed to be at St. Elizabeth. I had originally signed with my private practice to work at another cincinnati hospital, only for the leaders of the practice to “reassign” me to St. E at the last minute. At the time, I was disappointed. Looking back, it was the best thing that could have ever happened.

Twenty years later, I’m reflecting on what this place has given me. Some of my closest friendships. The mentors who’ve shaped not just my practice, but who I’ve become as a physician and person. Two decades of witnessing inspiring progress on our mission to serve patients and community.

These relationships, this growth, this shared purpose—it’s what transforms a job into something more meaningful. The late nights, the difficult cases, the weight of responsibility—all of it becomes bearable when you’re surrounded by people who genuinely care about the work and each other.

Healthcare is demanding work. But when you’re part of something bigger than yourself, when you see the impact ripple through families and communities, when you’re surrounded by colleagues who share your commitment to making a difference—that’s when you know you’re doing work that matters. Sometimes life’s “disappointments” are actually course corrections toward our purpose.

To my colleagues at St. Elizabeth: thank you for 20 years of friendship, mentorship, and shared progress. Thank you for the privilege of serving together and for making this work meaningful.

Here’s to the difference we continue to make—right here, together.”

Douglas Flora