Lisa Ray Instagram – Repost from @lilisg using @RepostRegramApp – Since Lisa Ray’s book was not available in the US yet, I had to order it to ship from India, which took a while. I actually got it much earlier than expected (a few weeks ago). I’ve been so busy with grad school applications & finishing up working on my first protocol to submit at work that I haven’t had much time for much else, but I’m looking forward to reading her book once things settle down. I decided to specialize in psycho-oncology after watching interviews with Lisa speaking about her journey towards becoming a cancer graduate back in my senior year of college. I heard in her words & experience so much of what my mentor, Marvin Frankel, taught me. At that point in my life, I still had not decided what to specialize in within psychology. It was while I was writing one of my last conference papers at Sarah Lawrence on how pro-coping behaviors impact patients’ with chronic and terminal illness’ emotional/physical well-being and life quality that I also decided that I wanted to ultimately work at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. After working in Lisa Rubin’s lab at NSSR, I got to become involved in psycho-oncology research using qualitative methods, which I’ve come to love. 3 years after graduating, I landed at MSK managing and facilitating research between Behavioral Sciences and Dermatology with two mentors that genuinely care about me. Last last Monday I decided to change the plans I’d been set on since high school, and decided that pursuing an MSW part-time while maintaining my position at MSK actually makes more sense than pursuing a PhD for so many reasons, which has been a huge relief. It’s funny how seemingly small moments can have a huge impact on your life. I also found one of my favorite books ever–Gabrielle Hamilton’s Blood, Bones & Butter after Lisa Ray posted about it on her Twitter page one time, haha. @lisaraniray #closetothebone #memoir #book #lisaraniray #lisaray #thatresearchgrind #psychooncology #oncology #multiplemyeloma #mm #cancergraduate #astoria #queens #nyc