Oaklawn recognizes Dr. Vincent Shen upon his upcoming retirement
MARSHALL — Oaklawn announces the upcoming retirement of hematologist and oncologist Vincent Shen, M.D., who will conclude his clinical privileges on Dec. 31, 2025, after 21 years of service to patients with cancer and blood-related disorders. Dr. Shen has been a respected presence in Oaklawn’s hematology/oncology team since joining the organization in 2004.
“Dr. Shen has been a steadfast patient advocate throughout his 21-year tenure at Oaklawn, and we wish him the best on his retirement,” said Oaklawn Chief Medical Officer Dr. Summer Liston-Crandall. “Many patients and Oaklawn team members carry fond memories of Dr. Shen, and his contributions to patient care have been so impactful.”
Dr. Shen earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Missouri before completing his internship and residency in internal medicine at St. Louis University Hospital. He later completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland.
Before joining Oaklawn, Dr. Shen served more than 27 years in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves, retiring as a Captain while contributing to oncology and hematology research. Reflecting on his military service, he said, “I have some nostalgia for the Navy because of training… Each time I completed my service, I received medals… just an acknowledgment of a good job.”
Throughout his career, Dr. Shen has witnessed dramatic changes in cancer care. “During my time at Oaklawn, the healthcare field has changed, and no more so than oncology,” he said. “I often state that if I never learned anything in medical school, it didn’t hurt me, because that’s how much oncology has changed.”
He emphasized the importance of collaboration in providing patient care. “I could not have done my job without the utter confidence and collegiality of my colleagues,” he said. “Too, too much to mention… I’m indebted.”
Dr. Shen also expressed gratitude for the dedication of Oaklawn’s clinical staff. He recalled a moment several years ago when coworkers intervened after noticing he appeared ill. “They said, ‘You’re going straight to the emergency room,’” he recalled. “I was in acute renal failure… They saved my life. It just goes to show you your working relationships are extremely important. There’s no person that’s unimportant.”
As he transitions into retirement following cardiac bypass surgery, Dr. Shen said he hopes to spend more time with family, enjoy the pace of community life, and remain connected to the people and places that have supported him over the years.
He also shared advice for physicians-in-training, emphasizing compassion as the heart of medicine. “People say they want to go into medicine, and I would tell them that you have to love people,” he said. “You have to have compassion, humanitarianism… In order to be a successful physician, you have to enjoy talking to people.”
Oaklawn extends its sincere gratitude to Dr. Shen for his 21 years of dedicated service and the expertise and humanity he brought to his practice. The hospital is committed to ensuring a seamless transition of care for all of Dr. Shen’s patients, who will continue to receive compassionate, expert treatment from the dedicated hematology/oncology team.
