Dr. Jessica Block has faced a multitude of challenges with such courage in the last year and a half and remains steadfast in her goal of becoming a female Orthopaedic Joint Surgeon.
In December of her 4th year of residency Jessi knew something was wrong, she is a physician, but her drive and determination to become a joint reconstruction surgeon outweighed her gut instinct to make an appointment with a dentist to have a lump under her tongue examined. She went on her fellowship interviews and finally at the encouragement of one of our nurses had a consultation with an Oral Surgeon who diagnosed her with an aggressive form of oral cancer just 4 months short of the end of her PGY4 year.
In April of that year, just before learning she had matched into the prestigious joints fellowship that was her top choice, Jessi underwent surgery to remove the cancer. She underwent radiation and chemotherapy and just 2 and a ½ short months later, Jessi returned to work in a remote capacity. She mentored female medical students, worked on multiple research projects, studied for the boards, and continued her duties as our administrative chief. Three months later Jessi returned to the operating room theatre to continue her training. Sadly, this return was short lived, however it gave her the cases she needed to meet her board requirements to take Part I and to graduate as an Orthopaedic Surgeon, it also gave her the chance to have a scalpel in her hands again and do what she loves so much, operate, and make the lives of her patients better.
Due to the aggressiveness of the cancer, Jessi had to postpone taking Part I of the boards and postpone entering the prestigious fellowship she dreams to one day participate in. I use the word postpone intentionally; Jessi continues to fight this terrible disease with every ounce of strength and courage she has. She cannot speak or eat like you or I can, but she continues the pursuit to “Kick Cancers Ass”, attend her much deserved fellowship, take and pass Part I of the boards, and become a female joint reconstructive surgeon.
I have watched this emotional journey Jessi has been on, I cannot say I would have the courage to do what she has done this past year and a half. I would not be as strong and as resilient as she has through the treatments, continuous hospitalizations due to complications, and on the many days we thought this could be it, she got back up and continued to fight, she doesn’t give up, this is the very definition of COURAGE!
We nominate Dr. Jessica Block to receive the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Courage Award!
