Getting to know Alan P. Venook, MD

HemOnc Today spoke with Venook about politics, influences and technology’s role in the future of oncology.

Alan P. Venook, MD, is professor of clinical medicine and associate chief in the division of medical oncology at The University of California at San Francisco and HemOnc Today’s section editor for gastrointestinal cancers. In 1999, Venook was mentioned as a Top Cancer Specialist under the category Colon Cancer-Medical Oncologist in Good Housekeeping. He was also named one of the Top 425 Doctors in the San Francisco Bay Area under Medical Oncology and Hematology in 1999 and has been so almost every year since then.

Alan P. Venook

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not practicing medicine?

I enjoy doing things with my wife and kids. My son plays high school baseball so my priority in the spring is to attend as many of his games as possible. My younger son is active in theater and I work in the drama boosters for his high school and I also make sure I attend his shows.

If you hadn’t gone into oncology or medicine, what would you have done?

I was a sports writer before I went to medical school. I was pre-med in college and the sports editor at the college newspaper, and I just had to make a decision about which career had a better opportunity. Those were my choices.

What would you consider one of your biggest successes in your specialty?

I was involved in very early studies and planning of the bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) trials in colon cancer. I was also one of the investigators who developed the protocol for studying chemotherapy in patients with abnormal liver and other organ function.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Career-wise it was to focus on an area of oncology that no one else was interested in, which 20 years ago was gastrointestinal cancer. Now, obviously, lots of people are interested in it, but it was my opportunity for academic success. That advice about going into an area of need sort of limited my potential at the time but was very wise advice.

What do you think will have the biggest influence on oncology in the next 10 years?

Information technology. I think computer technology will help clarify a whole lot of the issues and uncertainties that we have. For example, the whole ability to identify patients who are likely to benefit from one therapy or another — microarrays or genomic signatures — all of those require very sophisticated information technology.

Who do you consider a mentor?

Merrill Egoran. He is the individual who has made the biggest impact in my career; he’s from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a collaborator and he supported me early on with some of my original work. He gave me the confidence and was a role model.

What is the last book you read?

The last book I read was “The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008;” it is a political book by Bob Woodward. I’m currently reading “Team of Rivals.” I’m very interested in politics so I find the books to be very interesting. I have a lot of time on planes. I enjoy reading while I’m traveling.

What is the last CD you bought?

Well, my iPod has mostly The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and Billy Joel. I’ve not advanced my musical tastes with the rest of the world.

What kind of diet and exercise regimen do you have?

I work out with a Nautilus. I used to run, but I don’t run anymore. As to diet, my main vice is buying donuts for my family every Saturday. Do as I say, not as I do.

What is your favorite travel destination?

Hawaii, and my favorite island is probably Maui; we’ve been there four or five times. While I’m there I like to read on the beach.

What is your favorite restaurant?

My favorite restaurant is Pacific Café — it’s a fish restaurant here in San Francisco. My favorite item on the menu is the Crab Louie, which is basically a salad with crab meat. – by Stacey L. Adams