7 quick questions with surgical oncologist Simon Telian

Simon Telian, MD, is a surgical oncologist – or cancer surgeon – at UVA Health. He cares for people with a variety of cancers, including breast, melanoma, endocrine, and gastrointestinal cancer.

Meet a surgical oncologist

We asked Telian our seven quick questions to get to know him better.

1. What has most inspired and shaped your approach to patient care?

My approach has been shaped by my mentors and their focus on keeping patients well informed and truly listened to. Appointments are getting shorter and there is often not enough time to hear everything a patient wants to share.

When you take the time to listen and ask open-ended questions, patients often provide clues that help you understand what is really going on. Listening also helps us demonstrate empathy and guide the multidisciplinary care that best serves each patient.

2. What is your favorite part of your job?

See patients after they have completed treatment and are doing well. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them move into the monitoring phase of care after a successful cancer journey.

3. What is your biggest fear as a patient?

Whether I would have sufficient insurance coverage. I have always appreciated a multidisciplinary approach: many doctors work together to cover all aspects of care. If I ever face a medical issue, I hope I can count on this same collaborative team to support me.

4. What do you do to relieve stress?

Basketball, scuba diving – and the occasional skydiving.

5. Dogs or cats?

Definitely dogs.

6. Last show you watched? Thumbs up or down?

The last series I watched was Severance. It was very stimulating, exploring what consciousness really means. Well done.

7. Best advice you’ve ever heard?

Never take your foot off the accelerator pedal, and not just when driving.