At age 13, Dr. Amber Orman, a radiation oncologist, lifestyle medicine specialist, and chief wellness officer at the AdventHealth Medical Group, made a career decision - and one that could’ve recently saved her mom’s life. She volunteered with her mom, Debra, who was a nurse at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Ind. and it made an imprint.
“I helped get patients water, change beds and sat with patients and talked to them,” said Orman. “I saw her taking care of strangers like they were family. I saw her thriving, happy and with true purpose as a caregiver and I knew then that I wanted to pursue a career that allowed me to make a positive impact on people’s lives.”
That three-month summer experience led Orman to medical school and eventually to her career as a radiation oncologist and lifestyle medicine specialist with a focus on breast cancer. Over her decade-long career, she’s seen thousands of patients, but she never thought she’d read her mother’s scan and know they were likely dealing with cancer.
“My mom’s mammograms repeatedly revealed dense breast tissue and suspicious areas, but her care team kept ordering mammogram after mammogram,” said Dr. Orman. “I finally looked at the scans and requested an MRI be ordered, and that’s when we found the cancer.”
Her mom, diagnosed in February 2024, has an early stage of breast cancer which is very treatable. Now, Dr. Orman finds herself on the patient side, alongside her mom going through the steps of her care with her physicians.
“Because I treat all of my patients like family, just as my mom did as a nurse, my mom’s diagnosis didn’t feel any different than my patients,” said Dr. Orman. “However, because I know personally the trauma and grief my mom is carrying right now due to the recent loss of her son, my brother, this experience has made me more aware of what each patient is going through in their lives outside of the disease.”
This empathy drives her practice. For example, when she goes into a room, she does a short mind-clearing breathing exercise to remind herself to stay present, be there for the patient and to remind herself there's so much more going on with this person than what she’s treating.
With her family loss and her mother’s recent diagnosis, this Mother’s Day will be a little more special for Dr. Orman.
“Talking to my mom this Mother’s Day will not be taken for granted,” said Dr. Orman. “We’ve been through a lot in the last six months. For me, I might get a massage. I am intentional about my selfcare, my alone time, my physical activity, my food, my sleep, my deep breathing – all so I can be healthy and support my family, my patients and myself.”