Get to Know Hematologist Oncologist Dan Popescu, MD

Lehigh Valley Topper Cancer Institute is excited to welcome hematologist oncologist Dan Popescu, MD, back to Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN).

In the past, Dr. Popescu provided care through Lehigh Valley Physician Group. This past February, he returned to the network to care for patients at Dale and Frances Hughes Cancer Center at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono.

As a board-certified and fellowship-trained hematologist oncologist, Dr. Popescu treats a wide range of cancer types (with a focus on caring for patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal cancers).

I grew up in Romania. My aunt, who was like a second mother to me, was an internal medicine physician there. Throughout my childhood, starting when I was 4 years old, I would join her for rounds with her patients. Those experiences really influenced my decision to pursue a career in the medical field.

I hope that throughout our time together, I can inspire my patients to look for the positives in their lives. No matter how serious or difficult a situation is, there is always something good to take away from it.

The best part of my job is getting to meet so many different people and having the honor of supporting them on their care journeys.

One of the most difficult parts of my job is separating my work and personal life. I care about my patients, and that doesn’t stop when I step outside the office.

If you are thinking about becoming a clinician, you should look into the different types and decide which specific role you would like to pursue. Then, find out how many years of education and training it will take to reach that goal. While working in the medical field is incredibly rewarding, it requires a lot of time and dedication. It’s important to know what to expect before diving in.

Even though I was inspired to go into medicine at a young age, the first thing I wanted to be was a streetcar (trolley) operator!