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Matthew Kurian: My passion is delivering high-quality care to my community – not chasing grants

Matthew Kurian/stelizabeth.com

May 1, 2025, 01:08

Matthew Kurian: My passion is delivering high-quality care to my community – not chasing grants

Matthew Kurian, Assistant professor of medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, posted on LinkedIn:

“The wave of oncologist departures from academic centers – highlighted in this Oncology News Central article – isn’t surprising. It’s a sign that the field is changing. During fellowship, I was often told: ‘Once you go to the community, you can’t come back.’ But the real takeaway? Success in oncology doesn’t follow just one path anymore.I considered academics seriously. But I found something even better: At St. Elizabeth Healthcare St. Elizabeth Physicians, I’ve had the chance to build research initiatives, launch clinical trials, and grow multidisciplinary programs – at a pace that traditional academic models often can’t match. And more importantly, I found my passion: delivering high-quality, academic-level care to my community – not chasing grants or titles.Today’s early-career oncologists are redefining what success looks like. We are choosing paths that offer:

Real leadership opportunities

Time for patients – and for life outside of work

Innovation without endless institutional hurdles

Compensation that matches our contributions

Community oncology isn’t a backup plan. It’s a launchpad. It’s where innovation, impact, and career satisfaction meet. Academic centers will need to adapt if they want to keep talent – because the future belongs to those willing to think differently. There’s no “right” way to build an oncology career anymore. And that’s exactly why the field is getting stronger.”

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