Dr. Christina “Christy” Gomez has built a career defined not only by expertise in gastrointestinal cancers but also by her unique approach to narrative medicine. Raised in Miami by Cuban immigrant parents, she knew from childhood that medicine was her calling, even when her father reminded her of the sacrifices it would demand. In this intimate conversation with Dr. Peter Crane, Christy shares: • Her early conviction to pursue medicine despite being the first in her family to do so • The lessons her patients have taught her—captured in handwritten scraps of quotes that became her book, Stopped in My Tracks • Why silence, listening, and narrative medicine matter just as much as tests and treatments • How parenting her adopted son has deepened her perspective on healing, patience, and resilience This episode is a reminder that medicine is more than diagnosis and treatment—it’s about being fully present with the person in front of you, and about honoring the sacredness of their story. Highlights • Turning bedside conversations into Stopped in My Tracks—and why patients’ exact words matter • Narrative medicine 101: listen first, pause before answering, reflect back stories with care • Teaching trainees to keep purpose alive during residency/fellowship • Facing uncertainty with patients: naming it, walking together, and planning A/B/C • Parenting through a physician lens: using everyday “healing moments” to teach resilienceTop 3 Key Takeaways 1. Medicine is storytelling. Listening deeply—and sometimes letting silence work—creates room for healing. 2. Honesty builds partnership. Patients want clear truth delivered with compassion and options. 3. Choose medicine because you love it. Purpose sustains you when the work is hard and the path is uncertain.About the Guest: Dr. Christy Gomez is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist whose career blends rigorous science with the art of narrative medicine. Born and raised in Miami to Cuban immigrant parents, Christy felt called to medicine from an early age, a conviction that carried her through medical school, residency, and fellowship into a field she deeply loves. Specializing in GI cancers, she pairs clinical expertise with an uncommon gift for listening—collecting patient quotes that capture the raw truths of life with cancer. These stories became the foundation for her book, Stopped in My Tracks: A Physician’s Collection of Cancer Patients’ Quotes (https://www.amazon.com/Stopped-My-Tracks-Physicians-Collection/dp/1737563975/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._fs6eWQfKupL_enCRYCH29xlm-x3NQvrCBlx_a6IERTrLCvy4_QK1xeYpN7M1YPDkYtfKXQm19rui4c8by6fAVZZDoqcmyDVnaR52dD6m8cb8qED5EtjZnqLS1iNmgCFY9OP0TSP2vGpAzfzUPGbnkMP2_4KJpYMg3D3WEazktL79o1G79mY_VHrzFPPUnNarlHXYYwlGzv6dLCBxQe8B1laePnzOy_vqYwjy2swvBc.o3SmwGdmdwgV7nGnpPUUmfydTjljD2PvMpqDXdQxcX4&dib_tag=se&qid=1755564175&refinements=p_27%3AChristina+Gomez&s=books&sr=1-4) , a work that reflects her belief that healing begins with human connection. Beyond her clinical practice, Christy is a mother, mentor, and advocate for patient-centered care. She is passionate about teaching the next generation of physicians to pause, listen, and honor the sacredness of the patient-doctor relationship. Whether through her writing, her conversations in the exam room, or her role as a parent, Christy reminds us that medicine is not only about treating disease but also about witnessing humanity and carrying patients through uncertainty with compassion. Website: christinagomezmd.com (https://christinagomezmd.com) Book: Stopped in My Tracks: A Physician's Collection of Cancer Patients' Quotes (https://www.amazon.com/Stopped-My-Tracks-Physicians-Collection/dp/1737563975/ref=sr_1_4?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._fs6eWQfKupL_enCRYCH29xlm-x3NQvrCBlx_a6IERTrLCvy4_QK1xeYpN7M1YPDkYtfKXQm19rui4c8by6fAVZZDoqcmyDVnaR52dD6m8cb8qED5EtjZnqLS1iNmgCFY9OP0TSP2vGpAzfzUPGbnkMP2_4KJpYMg3D3WEazktL79o1G79mY_VHrzFPPUnNarlHXYYwlGzv6dLCBxQe8B1laePnzOy_vqYwjy2swvBc.o3SmwGdmdwgV7nGnpPUUmfydTjljD2PvMpqDXdQxcX4&dib_tag=se&qid=1755564175&refinements=p_27%3AChristina+Gomez&s=books&sr=1-4) About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the tru...