S2 Ep5: How a Devotion to Heath Care Conquered Societal Barriers: With D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD; and Khari Reed, MHSA, FACHE

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences. In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Khari Reed, MHSA, FACHE. Dr Reed is the vice president of Oncology Services at HonorHealth in Scottsdale, Arizona.Drs Reed and Camidge dug into what sparked Dr Reed’s illustrious health care career. Dr Reed’s journey began on the south side of Chicago, where he was raised in the neighborhood of Chatham. Influenced by his parents’ investment in community building, he grew up with a commitment to education and giving back to those around him. Dr Reed pointed out how his affinity for health care came from his early time spent in the hospital due to childhood asthma, which caused him to develop an appreciation for the physicians and health care workers that helped him feel better.Dr Reed’s career journey is exemplary of a commitment to clinical excellence, operational resilience, and diverse experiences. From his beginnings at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to a years-long career wearing many hats for The John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, to now leading cancer care at Honor Health, Dr Reed has earned his stripes as a decorated and versatile health care professional.Overcoming unfavorably stacked odds has been a common theme woven throughout every stop of Dr Reed’s career. At the Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, Dr Reed led the oncology service line through the COVID-19 pandemic, establishing an incident command center that kept ambulatory cancer care operational when other departments closed. Moreover, Dr Reed navigated institutional barriers by completing a rigorous self-designed career plan, mastering complex financial systems, volunteering to gain practical experience, and breaking racial stigmas in health care. Now at HonorHealth, Dr Reed continues to treat patients like family and eyes future career advancements at the hospital, focused on creating self-sustaining organizations that prioritize high-quality oncology care.