Jose Hernandez, MD

A cancer diagnosis is often very intimidating and certainly, life changing. Being there to help guide patients through their treatments is the most rewarding part of my profession. I believe every patient and each diagnosis is unique. Therefore, I strive to provide individualized, comprehensive and compassionate care to every single patient battling cancer. I also believe in using all the available tools to aid in personalizing that care. Growing up, I lost loved ones to cancer. During their cancer journeys, I witnessed firsthand the role played by their oncologists. Often oncologists are more than just cancer specialists; they must sometimes play the role of a primary care physician, behavioral therapist, be a support system and even, be a friend. The privilege to provide care at this level is what drew me to this field. I am very interested in clinical research. It is through active clinical research that we continue to discover new and better treatments for cancer every day. I am also an assistant professor of medicine with the Medical College of Wisconsin, Green Bay campus. I enjoy teaching and believe it is every physician’s responsibility to train and educate the next generation of physicians.

I was originally drawn to medicine while performing mission work in third-world countries. It was really a turning point in my life and I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of helping patients with their care. During my training, I grew to realize that wherever there is illness, there is a need for care, even in my own backyard. After completing my training, it became my new mission to be right here in my home town, holding the hands of those going through a tough time. I like to focus on all the needs that patients have throughout diagnosis and treatment, including the need for emotional support.

Providing compassionate, individualized care while still putting a smile on the patient’s face is what I strive to do daily. The diversity of patients I see and their variety of conditions make for interesting days. It’s a welcome challenge to figure out what’s wrong with each patient, focus both on the disease and also the patient’s needs, then provide the necessary care to help him or her return to a healthy baseline. Staying active outside of work is important to me, whether that’s biking, running, or walking. I’m from northern Wisconsin and love everything about the outdoors, as well as spending time with my family, friends, and my Goldendoodle.