Deborah M. Stephens, DO

“People don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.” I try to live and lead my career by this quote from Theodore Roosevelt. I joined the medical profession and specifically blood cancer research, because I like to develop long-term relationships with patients and find the science behind blood cancer to be fascinating. My specific area of clinical interest is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). I’m passionate about making life better for patients, whether it be through access to new therapies through clinical trials, education of patients, development of new clinical trials that improve quality of life and eliminate complications of living with CLL. I currently serve on the Medical Advisory Board for the CLL Society, which is the largest international patient advocacy group for patients with CLL. I lead the CLL Section for the SWOG Leukemia Working group, where I plan and implement international clinical trials for patients with CLL, including my role as the national chair of the S1925 EVOLVE CLL Trial evaluating early intervention for patients with high-risk CLL. Previously, I have served on the NCCN Guideline Panel to provide recommendations to clinicians for how to best manage patients with CLL. In addition to my research and clinical work, I enjoy spending time with my husband, son, and French bulldog. I love outdoor activities and you can find me hiking or trail running in the natural beauty around North Carolina.