OnPoint Employee Spotlight: Chad Brown, Cancer Registry Coordinator
We’re proud to introduce our employee spotlight for the month of October! Dive into Chad Brown’s Q&A to learn more about his career journey and life outside of work.
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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work! What initially drew you to the healthcare industry, specifically cancer registry?
My name is Chad Brown, and I am from a small town in Alabama. My background is in biology, and I began working in the cancer registry in 2012. I initially entered the cancer registry profession at the suggestion of a good friend who is an oncology research nurse. I quickly fell in love with the field and, thirteen years later, couldn’t be happier with that decision.
How has your role evolved since you started in the industry?
I believe everyone in the cancer registry has seen their role evolve over the last decade. One of the most significant areas of evolution has been the shift toward more concurrent data abstraction. Overall, I believe my role as an ODS has evolved from a retrospective data collector to a data analyst who directly supports research, quality improvement, and hospital policy.
Tell us about a proud moment in your career (or life!)
My proudest moments are the births of my three children. I have a thirteen-year-old daughter and six-year-old twin boy and girl. I also recently obtained a master’s degree from the University of Oklahoma, which has been a long-time goal of mine.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy the purpose-driven work of being an ODS. For me, being an ODS is more than working with data, but seeing and learning about cancer patients’ stories of resilience. With my background in biology, I also enjoy the combination of research, genetics, and introduction of new treatments that we constantly see.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to pursue a career in oncology data?
Find yourself a good mentor. Being an ODS can be rewarding, but it isn’t an easy job. With standards and rules changing frequently, it is highly beneficial to have a mentor and other ODSs with whom you can regularly communicate. I believe it is also important to develop clinical understanding. Studying and familiarizing yourself with different treatment modalities, types of cancer, and understanding the real-world context of cancer diagnosis and treatment can improve your abilities as an ODS.
What’s one tool, habit, or process that makes your workday smoother?
One process that is crucial for making my workday smooth is staying up to date on updates provided by our standard setters. The cancer registry world is constantly evolving, and it is essential to regularly review our standards and manuals.
What do you like to do in your free time? What passions and/or hobbies do you enjoy?
Most of my free time is spent coaching travel softball. When I am not coaching, I enjoy golf and occasionally take a fishing or hunting trip. I also laser engrave items such as leather patches, keychains, cups, and more.
If you could instantly master one new skill, what would it be?
If I could master a new skill, it would be delegation. Delegation is important in empowering and developing others, but I tend to do as much as I possibly can myself.
What’s the most random or interesting thing on your desk right now?
The most random thing on my desk currently is a can of leather shoe polish (I was using it to touch up some engraved leather).
What’s the next place on your travel bucket list?
One of my bucket list events is to attend the FIFA World Cup. The 2026 World Cup is being held in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and I hope to travel to one of the host sites.
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Don’t forget to check back each month to get to know our featured employee of the month! We love sharing the different stories and personalities behind OnPoint, and we hope you enjoy learning more about our team.