In this heartfelt episode of Living With Metastatic Cancer, Dr. Peter Crane interviews Dr. James C. Wittig, an orthopedic oncologist and sarcoma specialist. Dr. Wittig reflects on his unconventional path into medicine, the evolution of limb-sparing surgery for sarcoma patients, his deep commitment to vulnerable populations, and the personal calling that led him to launch the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. He also shares candid insights on physician burnout, finding joy in medicine, and living with purpose after facing his own health challenges.

Episode Highlights

• Early aspiration to become a doctor, work as an EMT, and unexpected discovery of orthopedic oncology
• Training with limb-sparing surgery pioneers Ralph Marcove and Martin Malawer
• The shift from amputation to limb salvage in the 1980s–90s and the role of chemotherapy
• Starting the first orthopedic oncology clinic at Bellevue Hospital for underserved patients
• Performing over 200 complex cases in his first year of practice
• Personal story as a first responder at Ground Zero on 9/11 and its lasting impact
• Founding the Pediatric Cancer Foundation to support families with financial, nutritional, and holistic care (brain, body, soul, spirit)
• Practical advice for physicians facing burnout: focus on joy, meditation, purpose, and compartmentalizing “noise”
• Why he continues to compete only with himself to deliver better patient care

Top 3 Takeaways

• True fulfillment in medicine comes from focusing on patients and competing with yourself rather than external pressures.
• Even during personal health challenges, it’s possible to create meaningful impact, Dr. Wittig started a foundation while on medical leave.
• Living every day with purpose and making your own happiness a priority allows you to show up fully for your patients and family.

About Dr. James Wittig

Dr. James C. Wittig is a board-certified orthopedic oncologist and sarcoma surgeon with over 25 years of experience. He specializes in the surgical treatment of bone and soft tissue tumors in children and adults. A graduate of NYU School of Medicine, he completed fellowships with leading experts in limb-sparing surgery. He previously served as Chair of Orthopedics and founded an orthopedic oncology clinic at Bellevue Hospital serving vulnerable populations. He is the founder of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of New Jersey and maintains active educational and humanitarian efforts.

Websites:

• jamescwittigmd.com
• tumorsurgery.org
• pediatriccancerfoundationnj.org

About the Host:

Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.

About the Show:

Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.

In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

LMC Series Note:
Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations.

The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.

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