John Weiss - Pancreatic Cancer

Vice President of Engineering and Program Management for International Growth Markets, UPS

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Dr. Michael Richman is the absolute best. He literally saved my life. I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when doctors found a 4.1cm cancerous tumor at the head of my pancreas. I immediately sought out one of the largest world class cancer centers, Memorial Sloan Kettering, to guide my treatment. I was confident this was the right call, but from the start I was met with a disengaged, non-communicative care team. My medical oncologist missed appointments more times than not and would come unprepared with my results, failed to communicate scans/results to the appropriate physicians when needed, and dodged any questions I had related to my prognosis or surgery-related treatment options.

I hadn’t realized the strain of having to schedule my own appointments and deal with unprepared doctors until I met Dr. Michael Richman. He not only provided support to both me and my family, but did so candidly and respectfully. He puts complex medical information into layman's terms and has close relationships with incredible doctors who are as personable and caring as he is. I ended up receiving a life-saving surgery that MSK had ruled out as a treatment option because of my assigned surgeon’s lack of experience. Dr. Richman mentioned, and I learned first hand, that it’s oftentimes more important to prioritize finding the right doctor or surgeon than a large hospital.

My biggest takeaway from this whole ordeal is the importance of having a physician, someone who knows your story and their way around the healthcare industry, to serve as a patient advocate. He is highly respected by colleagues at hospitals all over the country and ultimately -- he gets things done well and quickly. If you’re dealing with this and trying to find the best option for yourself or a family member, I would highly recommend consulting Dr. Richman. Even if you’re satisfied with your current provider or treatment plan, having an unbiased and honest medical opinion can go a long way.

Being sick is no fun, but having an advocate like Dr. Richman on your team certainly helps. If for nothing else, for the respect he gets from other surgeons given his overall knowledge and years of experience performing transplant surgeries.

Call him for a consultation because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

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Thank you Michael, my family and I love you.