As a neurosurgeon specializing in tumors of the pituitary — the kidney bean-sized gland at the base of the brain that regulates the body’s growth, metabolism and reproductive development — Pamela Jones, MD, MS, MPH, understands that the prospect of brain surgery can leave patients feeling anxious and vulnerable. So, she often draws on her journalism training to put her patients at ease.
“There are a lot of parallels between being a physician and being a journalist,” says Dr. Jones, who trained as a science and health reporter before attending medical school. “Journalism school taught me how to ask the right questions, how to listen and observe, and deliver information in a way that’s accessible. And those are the same tools physicians use to establish trust.”
The same holds true for her role as the leading expert in pituitary and neuroendocrine disorders in the Mass General Brigham (MGB) Department of Neurosurgery — and one of only two dedicated pituitary surgeons in the MGB system.
“Every day is different; every case has its own challenge, and I’m helping improve patients’ lives,” she says. “That’s what I love about my job.”
A Revelatory Moment
The daughter of a neurosurgeon, Dr. Jones always knew medicine was in her future — she just wasn’t sure what form it would take. As an undergraduate at Stanford majoring in biology, she discovered New York University’s graduate program in biomedical journalism and saw an opportunity to combine her education with her childhood passion for creative writing. But several months in, while profiling an osteoporosis researcher, she had a revelation.
“Just hearing her talk about her experience with patients and her clinical trials, a switch went off in my head — that’s what I was supposed to be doing,” she says.
“Journalism school taught me how to ask the right questions, how to listen and observe, and deliver information in a way that’s accessible. And those are the same tools physicians use to establish trust.”
After turning in the story, Dr. Jones emailed the researcher to thank her and to ask if there might be any opportunities to join her lab. The researcher didn’t have any openings, but she knew an endocrinologist colleague who did. Dr. Jones jumped at the chance. Her time in the lab put her on the path to medical school.
“I loved the dance of the endocrine system, its feedback mechanisms and the way that when hormones are in their normal state, everything is in perfect balance,” Dr. Jones says.
Hunting the Invisible
Although typically benign, pituitary tumors can be incredibly disruptive because of the location of the gland and its critical role as a regulator for various bodily functions. Some tumors press on nearby structures, like the optic nerves; others can trigger excess hormone production. Surgery is almost always the best option for treatment.
Rather than drilling a hole in the skull, Dr. Jones — with the help of an otolaryngologist — accesses the pituitary through the nostril. Then, with the help of an image-guidance system and an endoscope, she locates and removes the tumor, which can range in size from as big as a lemon to as small as a poppy seed.
“Sometimes it feels like you’re hunting the invisible,” she says. “But I love my days in the operating room.”
As fulfilling as she finds helping patients through surgery, like a good journalist, Dr. Jones keeps asking questions.
The Challenge of Cushing’s Disease
In her clinical research, Dr. Jones focuses on Cushing’s disease — a rare and debilitating condition that can occur when a pituitary tumor stimulates the adrenal gland, causing excess production of cortisol. Patients with Cushing’s disease experience a wide range of physical and emotional challenges, including sudden weight gain in the midsection, depression and fatigue. Surgery is the first treatment option, but the tumors are difficult to locate and can recur. These recurrences are usually treated with radiation therapy, or in some cases, removal of the adrenal glands — a drastic step that necessitates life-long hormone-replacement therapy.
“When I was a resident, I kept thinking there has to be a better way to treat this horrible disease,” she says.
Because of its rarity, Cushing’s disease is overlooked by the major funding agencies, but with philanthropic support from grateful patients, Dr. Jones is working to develop a non-invasive treatment that would eliminate the need for “needle-in-a-haystack” surgery.
“These patients understand the urgency,” she says. “Thanks to their generosity, there are good things on the horizon.”
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