Behind every medicine is a story—a story of people who make it possible. In the series Where Craft Meets, Daiichi Sankyo explores and celebrates the people behind our medicines and shares how our unique crafts contribute to our collective mission to help patients.
Here, Ray Bedeaux, from Global Oncology Marketing, shares his personal connection to cancer and how it drives his commitment to improving lives through innovative therapies.
My hope is to give families more special moments together, such as those I shared with my father.
A Promise to My Father
My decision to devote my career to oncology is deeply personal. During my senior year in college, my father was diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, or bile duct cancer. As one of his caregivers, I witnessed the challenges of navigating a life-altering diagnosis. After undergoing extensive surgery, he spent months in the hospital and faced a year-long recovery. I am grateful he was well enough for more than three years for us to spend quality time together and create lasting memories.
As I was preparing to return to graduate school, my father suffered a complication, and he soon passed away. He had made me promise not to put my dreams on hold. In return, I made a promise of my own—to dedicate myself to the field of oncology.
Early in my oncology career, I had the privilege of meeting the first two patients enrolled in a clinical trial I supported. Speaking with them was a powerful reminder of the hope breakthrough medicines can bring. One patient, a mother of two high schoolers, shared her optimism about living long enough to see her children graduate – which she later achieved. Moments like these reaffirm my career choice and strengthen the promise I made to my father.
My Craft is Synthesis
My personal connection to cancer drives my craft of synthesis through which I seek to understand complexity, break it down into its key components, and focus on what truly matters. Few things are more complex than creating and delivering cancer treatments to patients who need them.
At Daiichi Sankyo, I lead a team working to transform science coming from our research and development teams into innovative medicines. My role involves synthesizing information to create a clear, focused plan that prioritizes what's critical. While the plan itself needs to be simple, developing it is anything but. To reach our goals, I continuously seek answers to open questions in order to deliver our medicines to as many patients as possible around the world.
The joy of spending time on the water is something I share with my wife and children.
The Future of Cancer is Now
One of the things I value most about my job is being at the intersection of everything involved in bringing medicines to patients. It's like working in a control tower, from where I can spot opportunities and anticipate challenges ahead. From this vantage point, I use my craft to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Over the past decade, I’ve seen remarkable progress in treating the type of cancer my father battled. Today, some patients can achieve better outcomes without undergoing the surgery he endured. Observing these advancements across the global oncology community has been profoundly moving. It feels like the future of cancer care is now, and I am proud to contribute to efforts that will benefit the patients of tomorrow.
Watch Ray Bedeaux in “Where Craft Meets”
Ray Bedeaux’s craft of synthesis reminds us to focus on what truly matters. Watch his story unfold in Where Craft Meets – Synthesis.
Explore more videos in the “Where Craft Meets” series, featuring Daiichi Sankyo employees who embody shokunin kishitsu, or the craftsperson spirit, on YouTube.
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