Dr. Johnetta Blakely: in search of a cure
Chris Pepple |
When Dr. Johnetta Blakely (’94) goes to work, she has an opportunity to walk past a labyrinth garden on the grounds of her office knowing that some of the people she will meet with are there praying about the words they will hear from her. Blakely is a medical oncologist and one of the leading clinical researchers at The West Clinic, a world-class center of excellence for oncology, hematology, radiology and other advanced medical care based in Memphis, Tenn., with locations in West Tennessee and North Mississippi.
“There are a lot of prayers in my line of work. I see a lot of hope in the field of oncology. I really have a positive outlook. I think there is a lot of good stuff coming down the road. If you look back just five years, we have come a long way in cancer research and treatment. But there are still many days I cry with my patients. I have to watch some die. There is much more good news that I get to share, however. This is not a job for everybody, but the Lord leads us each to what we are supposed to be doing. I experience hope with the people I work with. I get to celebrate with many of my patients,” said Blakely.
Blakely first came to Lipscomb because of an organic chemistry class she hoped to take during summer school. She spent her first two years of college at Florida State University, preparing for medical school but also enjoying sorority life and the campus social activities. Her parents lived in Nashville, so she sought a school in the area with a strong science department so Florida State would transfer her summer school credits.
“I went to Lipscomb just to transfer some credits. When I got here, I was taking organic chemistry which is a class most people hate. Dr. Langford was an incredible teacher, though, and I actually liked the class. The work really interested me. I went home one day and asked my parents if I could transfer to Lipscomb permanently. It was the first truly adult decision of my life. I knew that if I studied at Lipscomb, I had a great shot at getting into a top medical school, and that was my goal,” said Blakely.
After graduating from Lipscomb, Blakely chose to attend medical school at the University of Tennessee at Memphis. She originally planned to specialize in surgery or geriatric care. Her plans changed, however, when she had an opportunity to volunteer to work with cancer patients at Vanderbilt one summer. Her job was to weigh the patients and move them into the examining room. Throughout her time there, she saw the same people over and over again. As she saw the hope in the patients, she realized that she was enjoying the work that she had initially thought would be horribly depressing.
As a fourth-year medical student, Blakely worked with Dr. Lee Schwartzberg, who is board certified in hematology and oncology. Schwartzberg joined The West Clinic in 1987 because the atmosphere there enables him to combine care and compassion for his patients with cutting-edge research. He helped strengthen Blakely’s passion for both research and patient care. When she finished her residency at the University of Texas at Houston and fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she knew that she missed the work at The West Clinic. She contacted Dr. Schwartzberg and was excited to hear there was an opening at the clinic that she could fill.
“The move to Memphis to work at The West Clinic was a good move for me professionally and for my family. Professionally I get to follow my passions. I had been fortunate enough to study under Dr. Robert Benjamin, a world-renowned sarcoma specialist at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Texas. I am able to continue that work here. Sarcomas are very rare tumors of the bone and muscles. They develop more often in children than in adults, but I have developed a practice here that works with adult sarcoma patients. I am part of MASS (Memphis Area Sarcoma Society). It is gratifying to build a program with other professionals in the field,” said Blakely.
She is also part of Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network (ACORN), which works to improve cancer research throughout the United States. Blakely assists in developing and executing clinical trials with other researchers across the nation. They currently have over fifty trials running which relate to new treatments or new drugs being developed in the fight against cancer.
“This part of oncology excites me. It is always changing and moving forward. I am using my knowledge that I gained at Lipscomb from classes such as immunology and cell biology. I apply that knowledge in my everyday practice. I have carried this knowledge throughout my entire career and built upon it each step of the way. In oncology, we can’t give the latest and greatest care without research being a part of our practice. We can’t improve treatments and work toward a cure without clinical trials. Cancer used to be a one hundred percent death sentence. Now that stat has changed dramatically,” said Blakely.
Giving back to her community is also important to Blakely. She is actively involved with cancer education programs in the community, often speaking to young women at local schools and colleges about the need for cancer screenings throughout their lifetimes. Blakely lives in Memphis with her husband, Dr. Martin Blakely, a pediatric surgeon at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital. They have two daughters, ages five and seven.