Dr. Marc Straus

Opportunity:

Dr. Marc Straus is an oncologist, healer and humanist who has channeled his experiences in life and on the cancer ward into profound works of poetry. His poems, written from the points of view of both doctors and patients, peer into the soul - grasping the hearts of readers, patients and physicians alike. Dr. Straus brings vision to his profession through powerfully reflective themes, revealing the hopes, fears, victories, and defeats in the face of devastating chronic disease. An extraordinarily sensitive physician, Dr. Straus has rightfully been described as a literary descendant of the physician/poet William Carlos Williams.

Symmetry, his recent poetic works
Dr. Straus addresses the apprehension and anguish of those who suffer from cancer and those who treat them in his latest book, Symmetry. This slim volume of poetry sings to the heart, particularly to those who celebrate life even as they struggle with one of life's grimmer realities: serious illness. Symmetry presents a world precariously balanced-an uneasy equilibrium of hope and honesty. Written to reach a fuller understanding of the spectrum of emotions that often overwhelm cancer patients, the book consoles as well as uplifts, soothes as well as enlightens, comforts and encourages, but, at the same time, speaks truth.

At the heart of his work, Dr. Straus supplies a point of view that explores both concrete and philosophical aspects of the medical arena. Recognizing that ethics in medicine is at the core of patient healing, he attempts to blur the boundaries of the doctor/patient relationship. He fuels discussion on the need for doctor/patient dialogue, demonstrating how to be mindful of the patient's wishes. Through his poetry, he attempts to push the limits of how we perceive and react to the language of illness.

Topics:

Dr. Straus speaks to clinical audiences, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, universities and social and religious organizations on a variety of topics/issues:

• Medicine and ethics
• Patient/doctor communication
• Patient care in this generation
• Cancer research/fundraising
• Journal writing as a form of treatment
• Alternative treatments in medicine
• Law, history and contemporary medical issues

Dr. Straus in an inspiration to all in the medical field and in life, as his conventional, compassionate approach to medicine forces us to reflect on the tragedy and capacity of humankind.

Bio:

Marc Straus's professional career includes head of oncology at Boston University Medical Center, head of neoplastic diseases at New York Medical College, and research and clinical fellowships at the National Cancer Institute. He has published articles in more than 100 scientific publications. He is presently head of a medical specialty practice with more than 100 physicians.

In 1990, Dr. Straus discovered his gift for poetry and began writing. Three years later, he was awarded a Yaddo Fellowship. In the years since, his poems have been published in many prestigious literary and medical publications, including The Kenyon Review, Ploughshares, Tikkun, and the Journal of the American Medical Association. He has written two volumes of poetry, One Word (1994) and Symmetry (2000), both published by Northwestern University Press.