Charles Thomas Jr., MD

Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine

Charles Thomas Jr., MD, is a Professor and Chair for the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine and has been a physician for 39 years. In this expansive career, Dr. Thomas is most proud of being able to make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients with cancer and the pipeline of investigators with whom he has worked.

Dr. Thomas said that he never had a consistent mentor, although he has a steady stream of sponsors throughout his career. Some of those sponsors he knew were advocating for him to receive career development opportunities and he acknowledges that there are others who have quietly sponsored him for whom he may never be able to identify and thank directly. As such, Dr. Thomas recognizes the need to pay it forward.

Dr. Thomas said that the best way to accomplish things in academic medicine is to take a team approach. He holds his team of mentees in high regard and said that having a team where you can help others develop and expand their skills should be the norm. Dr. Thomas said that a mentor-mentee relationship should be reciprocal; it should never be one way. His bilateral relationships with his mentees have helped him better understand certain technologies and work life balance.

One of Dr. Thomas’ mentees said: “He has encouraged me to keep an open mind, dream bigger and always pursue my interests. He supports me in the direction I want to take my career, and I feel confident he would have continued to do so even if I had not chosen medicine, radiation oncology and academics at each decision point.” It is clear that while Dr. Thomas experienced minimal mentorship of his own, he has made successful mentorship an integral part of his work. It is without a doubt that Dr. Thomas is helping the tree of mentorship in radiation oncology grow.