ADROUNY, A. Richard 1952–

PERSONAL: Born May 7, 1952, in Aleppo, Syria; son of George A. (a biochemist and teacher) and Alice (a homemaker; maiden name, Karamanookian) Adrouny; married Karen Alyce Tamzarian (a homemaker), May 1, 1982; children: Melissa Knar, Gregory Adour. Ethnicity: "Armenian." Education: Duke University, B.S. (magna cum laude), 1973; Tulane University, M.D. and M.P.H.T.M., 1978. Politics: "Independent." Religion: Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, gardening, tennis.

ADDRESSES: Home—17364 Grosvenor Ct., Monte Sereno, CA 95030. Office—700 West Parr Ave., Ste. B, Los Gatos, CA 95032. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Physician in private practice, specializing in medical oncology and hematology, Los Gatos, CA, 1985–. Stanford University, adjunct clinical assistant professor of medicine. Palo Alto Medical Publishing, Inc., founder and publisher of "Care Sheets" (educational brochures for patients). Hospice of the Valley, member of board of directors, 1999–2002; American Cancer Society, volunteer.

MEMBER: American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, American Association for the Advancement of Science, California Medical Association, Santa Clara County Medical Association.

WRITINGS:

Understanding Colon Cancer, University Press of Mississippi (Jackson, MS), 2002.

Author of journal articles. Editorial advisor, Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine and Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer, Gale (Detroit, MI).

WORK IN PROGRESS: The Cancer-Free Zone: A Scientifically Proven Way to Reduce the Risk of Cancer; Thicker than Blood, a layperson's guide to blood clots.

SIDELIGHTS: A. Richard Adrouny told CA: "I am a practicing physician who is primarily motivated to write informational materials and books for patients, their families, and the general audience to help them understand complex medical subjects. I am influenced by encounters with people that I have on a daily basis in my practice. I have observed how difficult it is for people to understand complex issues related to diagnoses, treatments, and procedures. As a result, a significant sidebar to my medical career has been the writing of brochures, articles, and books on subjects that are both common and uncommon, and about which there may be a need for published articles or books.

"The process typically begins with my observation of a medical problem that may be poorly understood and appreciated. I draw on my own professional experience and the personal experiences of my patients to frame the subject matter. I then research the subject exhaustively in the scientific and medical literature to give the reader the most sound and scientifically based information possible. I am strongly oriented toward the scientific analysis of disease and try to avoid 'popular' or 'alternative' disease theories or treatments that have no scientific basis. I feel a strong ethical/moral obligation to my readers to provide accurate, scientific information that is not misleading, commercially biased, or based on emotional or empirical foundations.

"I am also motivated by the hunger that many of my patients feel for information about health and illness and the ends to which they will go to get that information. Sadly, much of that information (including material on the Internet) is misleading, inaccurate, or blatantly biased for commercial or other reasons.

"I hope in my work to provide concise, accurate, and easily understood explanations of various medical subjects."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, June 1, 2002, William Beatty, review of Understanding Colon Cancer, p. 1659.