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For three decades, radiation oncologist has played leading role in field's evolution

When Sarah Donaldson graduated from medical school in 1968, there were few women physicians, the field of radiation oncology had just begun to emerge, and most children who got cancer died from it.

All that has changed now, and Donaldson has played a significant role in bringing the changes about.

A Stanford faculty member since 1973 and professor of radiation oncology since 1988, Donaldson has not only made numerous contributions to the medical center, but she has helped advance the entire field of radiation oncology, particularly pediatric oncology, through her participation on myriad committees, societies and research efforts.

She has meanwhile mentored and inspired many women physicians, trained scores of residents and played a leading role in conceptualizing and planning Stanford's new Center for Cancer Treatment and Prevention.

Through it all, Donaldson describes patient care as the most important and satisfying aspect of her work. "It's rewarding to treat children who have a potentially fatal disease - to see them survive and get on with their lives," she says, noting that it has been particularly rewarding to follow her pediatric patients as they grow into adulthood.

Born and raised in Portland, Ore., Donaldson began her career as a nurse, graduating from nursing school at the University of Oregon in 1961. Her career then took a fateful turn when she became a research assistant to William S. Fletcher, a surgical oncologist at the university. Fletcher became Donaldson's mentor and advisor, ultimately inspiring her to apply to medical school. She received her MD from Harvard in 1968.

When it came time to choose a specialty, Donaldson felt torn. She was drawn to surgery and considered pursuing surgical oncology like her mentor. Finally, based on Fletcher's advice, she chose a residency in radiation therapy at Stanford, one of the first institutions offering a training program in the nascent specialty that would later be called radiation oncology.

Donaldson confesses that at the time, "I didn't know anything about radiation therapy." But she was convinced by Fletcher, who explained that the promising new field needed talented physicians with a surgical orientation.

During her residency, Donaldson became interested in pediatric oncology, which she pursued through a rotation at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Seeking further knowledge - and an escape to Europe during the turbulent early 1970s - she spent a year at the Institut Gustave-Roussy in Villejuif, France, a leading oncology center in western Europe. "It was a character-building experience," Donaldson said of her year in France, noting that she spoke barely enough French to survive.

Donaldson returned to Stanford in 1973 as assistant professor of radiology and, with her colleagues, helped establish one of the nation's first pediatric oncology programs. In the decades since, she has contributed to the program's national prominence and has conducted cutting-edge clinical research to advance adult and pediatric radiation oncology. She has served on committees for countless national organizations including the American College of Radiology, the American Board of Radiology and the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, known as ASTRO. She has also served on numerous committees at Stanford. Her recent accolades include a gold medal from ASTRO in 2000 and induction into the Institute of Medicine in 1999.

How does she do it all? "I'm efficient," she shrugs. A fitness buff, Donaldson works out regularly, walks the Stanford Dish twice a week with a group of non-physician enthusiasts, and takes trips around the world to hike, bike and kayak.

These days, Donaldson is most enthusiastic about her role as residency program director for radiation oncology. She has led efforts to grow the program and make it more structured, while taking time to "bond with" the residents - even attending aerobics classes with some of the fitness-minded residents. "I see resident education as an investment into the future of radiation oncology," she says.

This year, Donaldson is eagerly awaiting the completion of Stanford's new comprehensive cancer center, a project she and oncology professor Charlotte Jacobs have been planning and designing since 1982. "I can't wait until it's open," Donaldson says. "It's been a labor of love."