It is with great sadness that I write this fond memory of Dr. Arceci.
A large, probably malignant tumor was discovered in my son’s abdomen and he was transferred to Johns Hopkins the same day. He was admitted on a Friday evening and the doctor on service that weekend was Robert Arceci.
My son, Gregory, had surgery to biopsy the tumor and it was identified quickly as a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. I will always remember Dr. Arceci’s great compassion towards Gregory and, to us, his deeply shocked and bemused parents. He talked to us as peers, explaining complex information carefully, without condescension, and with great empathy. He had great warmth, and, when appropriate, humor.
Later in Gregory’s treatment it was Dr. Arceci who told us of a potentially serious mistake in the medication he had been given intrathecally. He did so with integrity and full disclosure, openly addressing the need to rebuild our trust in Gregory’s medical team. This mistake also highlighted the shortage of a number of key oncology drugs. I learned of, and became peripherally involved in, Dr. Arceci’s efforts to raise awareness about the situation. He was a powerful advocate for those affected by these shortages, not limited to drugs used in oncology, and spoke with such passion about the need for change in the practices and politics of drug manufacture.
Dr. Arceci was clearly an important scientist and an influential activist; he was also a man of great moral fiber, and a very kind human being.
Laura Leach
