Danielle Bowen, PA-C
Danielle Bowen is a physician assistant who specializes in caring for cancer patients. She earned her master's degree in physician assistant studies from South University in Savannah after graduating from Mercer University with a bachelor's degree biomedical engineering. Before joining the team at Piedmont Cancer Institute in 2021, Danielle cared for patients in both internal medicine and family medicine practices in Georgia and North Carolina.
With an early career focus in primary care, Danielle participated in medical research for many years - referring many patients to clinical trials. From her personal experience with a variety of cancers in the lives of her family members, Danielle has experienced how cancer affects every aspect of life and has witnessed the will it takes to fight it. She has seen the loss from undetected cancer in loved ones and friends, and she is passionate and compassionate in caring for patients with cancer diagnosis.
Danielle is a certified scuba diver and loves every aspect of the ocean and conservation of our ocean waters. Her husband also works in the cancer field, and they are parents to a toddler. Danielle considers herself a "foodie" and enjoys watching the Food Network and recreating the dishes she sees. She especially enjoys spending time with family and considers them a gift from God. She says, "I could not do anything without the help of God".
About Me: Q&A
Why Oncology?
Prior to oncology I spent about 15 years in primary care where we more or less screened for and at times diagnosed cancer. I would then send my patients off to an oncologist and would not see them for months or longer. When they returned they were grateful for the care we gave that lead to their remission. I always thought it would be challenging and rewarding to be a part of the team that helped patients through a very scary and uncertain time in their life. When my aunt was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2014 and went through her chemotherapy journey, I realized how little I knew about the disease and the medications used. Then, in 2017, my mother was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and finally realized how little I knew about her breast cancer, staging and outcomes. When the opportunity came up to work in oncology, I was ready for the challenge to work in a medical specialty that has touched my family.
What is the best part of your job?
I get to work with a team of providers and staff that really love what they do and are very caring and knowledgeable about this speciality. I am privileged to care for some of our more critically ill patients as I work the inpatient care side in Fayetteville.
What is it like to work with your PCI doctors?
I love working for all three of them as they are all so different and have been great mentors in my oncology journey. They each take a different approach, while this can be a challenge, it is also great experience. They are all brilliant and love their patients, and I model that. They are also very encouraging to open discussions through the day regarding all their patients, known and new.
If you could spend the day with anyone dead or alive (no relatives), who would it be and what would you do?
This is a hard question. I would have to say my high school biology teacher, Ms. Breen. We would likely go on some outing to a local beach or science museum as she loved hands on experiences. She passed about a year and a half ago after a 15 year battle with multiple myeloma. She was one of the reasons I was able to excel in school many, many years ago.
