As a medical student, J. Stuart Ferriss was drawn to women’s health because of the opportunity the specialty presented to mix his passions for surgery and medicine. He found the combination of the immediacy of surgery and the complexity of gynecological medical oncology to be incredibly challenging yet rewarding. He also admired the long-lasting relationships and deep trust his professors built with their patients. Many of those professors provided care to the same women for 20 years or more.

Dr. Ferriss completed his medical training at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, then rounded out his education with a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and a fellowship in gynecologic oncology at The University of Virginia.

“There were a couple of patient interactions I had when I was a resident that really pushed me into oncology,” Ferriss says. One patient whom he diagnosed with cervical cancer left a lasting impression on him. “While we did many things to try to help her, in the end there was not a lot we could do meaningfully to stop the cancer. It really became a discussion of quality of life over quantity. The concept of helping someone have a good death was new to me at the time and really profoundly affected me.

“That one [patient] really stood out for me,” Ferriss says. “It was the moment I realized this is what I was meant to do. I remember that patient. I remember her face, I remember her family, I remember the conversations we had … it was really foundational for me in terms of a career, that this was what I was going to do.”

Now, as an assistant professor in the Women’s Health department at Dell Medical School, Dr. Ferriss’ research interests focus on increasing inclusivity and diversity in clinical trials and developing innovative methods of teaching surgical skills. In his practice, he focuses on treating women diagnosed with gynecologic cancer.

“A lot of people think of OB/GYN as a really happy field, and it is. You really have the privilege of helping bring life into the world. But on the oncology side, we also see a different kind of beauty in being able to fulfill someone’s wishes at the end of life, if we do our job right,” Ferriss says.

Ferriss’ professors and role models not only instilled in him the importance of placing the patient’s wishes at the center of care but also the impact of becoming personally involved in philanthropy.

One of those key influencers in Ferriss’ life was a former chairman who was heavily involved in giving back to his institution. “He was always participating himself, more than just asking somebody else to participate. I asked him about it once and he said he looked at it as being a good citizen. Being a good citizen of the university meant that we were called upon to not only give of our talents but to give a little bit more as well,” Ferriss says. “That was really profound, and I thought, I can do that.”

Upon arriving at the Dell Medical School, Ferriss began thinking about ways he could become involved and give back to the school. When several opportunities came up within a few months of each other, he jumped at the chance to give to all three. Ferriss donated to the Dr. Charles E. L. Brown Humanism in Medicine Award, the 40 Hours for the Forty Acres campaign, and the Dell Medical School Student Scholarship Fund.

“[The Dr. Charles E. L. Brown Humanism in Medicine Award] was very special because it’s named for the gentleman who founded the OB/GYN program in Austin. [He] crafted it from basically nothing into a very successful program, which is now moving to the next phase of its life,” Ferriss says. “I think it was really important to recognize Dr. Brown and his commitments. This [award] means he will be a permanent member of the department. He will always be remembered for that.”

With his gift to the Dell Medical School Student Scholarship Fund, Dr. Ferriss hopes he can help decrease financial barriers for future students considering Dell Med. For Dr. Ferriss, student scholarships are particularly important. The fellowship program he participated in was the beneficiary of several generous gifts by grateful patients. Without their support, the program and Dr. Ferriss’ life-changing experiences during his training would not have been possible. With help from his gift, Dr. Ferriss hopes to see his students become 21st-century physician leaders who will foster a deep sense of trust with their patients through communication and empathy.

“Having empathy and the ability to put yourself in [the patient’s] shoes, to attempt to see the world through their perspective, is a very powerful way of getting a deeper understanding of who your patient is, what their motivating factors are, what limits them, and the ways you can help them decide what’s best for them,” Ferriss says. “What are the values of our patients? What are their goals? We have to stop and listen to patients.”

In June, Dell Medical School welcomed its inaugural class of 50 students. Thanks to the support of generous donors such as Dr. Ferriss, Dell Med was able to offer every member of its first class partial or full scholarship support.

Published May 2018