Julia Cogburn, MD, is an oncologist at the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute. She is board-certified in medical oncology after receiving her Doctor of Medicine degree and residency training in Pathology and Internal Medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. After completing a Medical Oncology /Hematology fellowship at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, she began caring for patients with Florida Cancer Specialists in 2009.
I did not know anything about the Greater Tampa Bay area when I came here after my undergraduate studies. I am the second oldest of six kids, so it was a big deal when I left my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida.
I did my undergraduate studies at the University of Florida in Gainesville, then completed medical school at the University of South Florida and interviewed at places in New York and Chicago to complete my fellowship. It was funny because the interviews occur in January and February, which was so cold and dreary. The interviewers would say, “You want to leave Tampa and come here?” So that got me thinking it was a no-brainer to stay in GTB.
My training in medicine connected me to many influential people in medicine and oncology at various hospitals and institutions. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute is on the cutting edge with clinical trials. Through our own research initiatives, we also collaborate with other private practice oncology groups as well as local physicians in the Greater Tampa Bay community. I feel so fortunate to be in the GTB area, where there is so much innovation and collaboration between healthcare practices.
I am a foodie and love the restaurant scene, with constantly evolving spots and new places popping up. The sports scene is impressive, with year-round events and a fantastic fan base. The Straz Center always brings top-notch shows and highlights local talent, and the charming Tampa Theater is also a gem. The live music the area attracts in its numerous indoor and outdoor venues is second to none.
The long stretches of Bayshore Boulevard and the Riverwalk offer a fantastic and safe place to exercise or explore new spots along the waterfront. The bay area is a great place to own or rent a boat, kayak, paddle board or jet ski. So, those doctors in Chicago were right: Why go anywhere else?
– Julia Cogburn
By Deborah Holmén.
