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Dr. Brian Rini is the inaugural Chief of Clinical Trials at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) in Nashville, Tennessee and a member of the KCA’s Medical Steering Committee, which provides strategic guidance to the KCA on medical and patient education programs.

We spoke with Dr. Rini about his work with the KCA and with patients.

Dr. Brian Rini (right) with Dr. Bradley Leibovich, both members of the KCA’s Medical Steering Committee and Co-Chairs of the KCA’s first Think Tank: Coalition for a Cure prior to IKCS 2019.

How long have you been working with the KCA and what motivated you to get involved?
I have been involved intermittently with the KCA over the last 15 years or so. I attended the very first annual meeting (IKCS) in Chicago during my time as a fellow at the University of Chicago. My mentor there was Dr. Nick Vogelzang and I was beginning to become more interested in kidney cancer research. Around 2005 I moved to Cleveland Clinic and started to get more involved on the programming committee and advisory board through Ron Bukowski. I have been more intensely involved over the past year, helping to plan the first Think Tank at last year’s IKCS.

What prompted/inspired you to go into the medical field?
My mom is a nurse, and I always loved science and math. When it came time to decide, it was either medicine or computer science. I landed on medicine.

What is meaningful about being a physician? How do your patients inspire you?
What makes this profession special is that you get to help people every day. There are many professions where that is not true. Unfortunately, I don’t always get to help every patient with every decision, but that’s what motivates me.Clinical trials are also a unique way where I can help patients. When you get involved in developing trials and regimens that receive FDA approval, you get to help more people than just those in your own office.

What is your favorite travel destination and why?
My favorite city is probably Tokyo. It is a big, wonderful city with diversity, great people, amazing culture, and unique scenery.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I recently moved to Nashville and, when everything opens again, I look forward to exploring the live music scene. I really enjoy playing guitar and piano, exercising outdoors, and spending time with my family.

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