Dr. James Baer, radiation oncologist, had always wanted to do something where he could make a difference and make the world a better place.
“I wanted a meaningful career," he said. “My mother was a nurse and my father was an engineer. Radiation oncology is almost like marrying those two. It's health care, but with a technical bent to it."
Dr. Baer received his medical degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed an internship in internal medicine at The Reading Hospital and Medical Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. He completed a residency in radiation oncology at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, California and was chief resident. Dr. Baer is board-certified.
He sees adult patients for a variety of cancers, including brain, lung, breast, prostate, GI, and head and neck cancers. He's passionate about SBRT, or stereotactic body radiation therapy. SBRT delivers concentrated doses of targeted radiation to tumors. Instead of treating cancers with low doses of radiation over long periods of time, SBRT treats cancers with big doses in a short time.
“My field has changed over the years with the advancements in technology," he said. “Patients needing radiation now experience less side effects, better outcomes, and they can get back to their lives sooner with shorter treatments."
Dr. Baer believes honesty and compassion from physicians are essential for good patient care.
“I want to help them understand what is going on, what I can do for them, and work with them on what they want to do," he said. “I help them make informed decisions and explain things to them in a way they can understand."
For example, he'll share a patient's scans during an appointment to visually show what is going on and how it's affecting parts of their body.
“I'm not just treating their disease. I'm helping restore their quality of life, too," he said.
Dr. Baer has been married for more than 30 years. He enjoys spending time with his family, which includes his three children and two grandchildren. He owns a 2003 Road King Harley-Davidson and has been riding motorcycles since he was a kid. He also enjoys target shooting.