Kaylyn Sinicrope, M.D., chose oncology because it’s a specialty where physicians routinely form bonds with their patients. She chose neuro-oncology because she’s motivated to help advance the treatment of brain tumors.

Story by: David Steen Martin on November 13, 2020

Neuro-oncologist Kaylyn Sinicrope, M.D., always wanted to a doctor, a profession that combines two things she loves to do.

“I’ve always had an interest in fixing problems and helping people,” said Dr. Sinicrope, who’s now with Norton Cancer Institute.

Dr. Sinicrope, who trained at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, treats brain tumors and other neurological conditions related to cancer.

According to Dr. Sinicrope, she chose oncology because it’s a specialty where physicians routinely form bonds with their patients. She chose neuro-oncology because she is motivated to help advance the treatment of brain tumors. She plans to focus her research on glioblastoma, a particularly dangerous brain tumor.

“I see so many patients who have so few treatment options,” Dr. Sinicrope said. “Glioblastoma is such a devastating disease. It’s very motivating for me.”

The sophisticated clinical trials at the Norton Healthcare Brain Tumor Center shows it is on the leading edge of cancer treatment research, making it a lot like the academic centers where she trained. Dr. Sinicrope has been the lead author or co-author on a number of peer-reviewed research papers.

Originally from Modesto, California, Dr. Sinicrope earned an undergraduate degree in biology before attending Boston University Medical School. She did her medical training in neurology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard.

“After going through neurology, I saw the oncologists and how close and connected they were to their patients. I really wanted to have that relationship with patients,” Dr. Sinicrope said.

After serving as chief resident in neurology at Harvard, Dr. Sinicrope did a fellowship in neuro-oncology at MD Anderson.

Dr. Sinicrope also treats neurological conditions related to cancer, including headaches, tremors, seizures, nerve conditions, inflammation of the brain and cognitive conditions. These Issues can be the result of either the cancer itself or treatment.

“Chemotherapy and the disease process can be toxic to the nervous system,” Dr. Sinicrope said.

When deciding where to practice medicine, Dr. Sinicrope said she was impressed with Norton Healthcare’s level of collaboration of multidisciplinary approach, something she said she hadn’t seen outside of academia.

The Brain Tumor Center is a collaboration of Norton Neuroscience Institute and Norton Cancer Institute. The Brain Tumor Center’s tumor board meets to consider each patient and allow a free flow of viewpoints from specialists across a broad spectrum of related disciplines.

Dr. Sinicrope is married to another physician, Brent J. Sinicrope, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon who did his medical training in Louisville. Together, they have a 7-month-old baby boy. When she’s not working, Dr. Sinicrope likes cooking and spinning.