Sergey Badalyan, Medical Oncology Resident at Yeolyan Hematology and Oncology Center, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“One of the most meaningful moments of the ESMO Preceptorship on Prostate Cancer in Lugano happened outside the lecture rooms. During the ESMO gala dinner, I had the chance to sit down and talk with Prof. Jochen Walz, and what started as a casual conversation quickly turned into something truly inspiring.
Prof. Walz is a Professor of Urology and Oncourology at the Institut Paoli-Calmettes Cancer Centre in Marseille 🇫🇷, one of Europe’s leading comprehensive cancer centers. His career has been shaped by extensive international training and work across several European countries, with a strong focus on prostate cancer surgery, multidisciplinary care, and clinical research.
Working at a high-volume cancer center, he combines academic leadership with day-to-day clinical practice, which clearly reflects in his perspective on patient care and career development.
In a very informal setting, we spoke about his journey into oncourology, what motivated him to change countries for training and work, and how those decisions shaped both his professional and personal life. As a young oncologist, I was especially grateful for his openness when we discussed a question many of us carry quietly: how to balance ambition, family, and life outside medicine.
His answer was honest and grounding: you can’t have everything at the same time. You will have to sacrifice something, and the real skill is being wise about what you choose to prioritize and when.
That advice will truly stay with me. I’m deeply thankful for the generosity, warmth, and encouragement he shared, as a senior colleague speaking openly to someone at the beginning of the journey.
Moments like these are what make experiences like this truly meaningful.”
More posts featuring Sergey Badalyan on OncoDaily.