Meet Dr. McCall
This October, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Brittany McCall to our practice. In the interview below, she discusses her background, why she chose hematology/oncology, and how ECHO is well aligned with her approach to care.
Tell us about your background.
I grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and spent time there and in Atlanta as a child. I attended University of Tennessee in Knoxville as part of their honors program. I majored in mathematics and biology and minored in their theatre program.
I went on to attend Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina. I really enjoyed medical school, and it was a very immersive experience that gave me so much experience in the hospital setting.
After medical school I did my Internal Medicine Residency at Dartmouth University in New Hampshire. I then did my Hematology/ Oncology Fellowship at Brown University in Rhode Island.
What role has theater played in your life?
I have been involved in performance acting since I was a child. I love every aspect of theater. I was in local commercials as a child. As a theatre minor, I was inspired by every aspect – lighting, set design, costume, production. I also participated in impromptu comedy in college.
Did you always know you wanted to be a doctor?
Yes. I knew from a young age. I did a lot of volunteering while growing up and I always knew I wanted to make a difference in peoples’ lives. My father is a nephrologist, so I got to see what a medical career entailed.
I have so many areas of interest and medicine called out to me as a way to use my intellect and passion to help people. I felt a sense of peace and belonging while in a clinic or hospital setting. It felt so natural to me.
What made you choose the field of hematology/oncology?
Unfortunately, there was a lot of cancer in my family as a child and I experienced hospice in the home at a young age. I originally decided this was not the field for me. However, once I took hematology classes with a dynamic and engaging professor, I fell in love with this field. I knew right away that this was my chosen path.
Why did you choose to join ECHO?
I knew I wanted to join a private practice, as opposed to a large hospital-based group. Being in a private, community-based practice allows you to control the way you practice medicine. There is much more autonomy to make improvements in patient care without layers of bureaucracy.
When I met Dr. Kapur and members of the ECHO team, they were so warm and welcoming. It was like meeting old friends and everyone felt like family. I knew instantly that this was home.
I love how ECHO has the resources and manpower to treat complicated diseases in a community setting. There is a superior level of care and patients do not have to travel to large cities when the highest quality care is right in the community.
What is your philosophy about patient care?
I have two main priorities. First is compassion. Cancer is such an incredibly difficult time in peoples’ lives and compassion is essential. Second is personalized care. Cancer is complex and there are so many ways to approach treatment. I partner with patients to create a treatment plan that is aligned with their lifestyle, goals, and priorities.
Do you specialize in any area?
My primary area of focus is hematological disorders. This includes leukemias, lymphomas, and blood-related cancers. I also treat benign hematological conditions such as clotting and bleeding disorders. In addition, I provide generalized oncology care for solid tumors and other type of cancers.
Research has been an important part of my career. Some of my research and publications have focused on blood-related cancers including chronic leukemia, myeloma, and breast cancer related AML.
What are your areas of interest?
My husband and I live in a beach town with our dog and our cat. We love spending time outdoors. My husband is also a physician and a hospitalist in Rhode Island.
When we are not working, we love to travel. In our 4th year of medical school, we spent time practicing medicine in New Zealand, working with the indigenous population. This summer we spent 2 weeks in Japan and hiked Mt Fuji. We have traveled all over the world and love to learn about new cultures.