By Annette Pinder  

Dr. Gayatri Vaidyanathan is a physician at Buffalo Medical Group, fellowship-trained in Hematology and Oncology at Roswell Park, and board-certified in Oncology and Hematology.  

Hematology is the medical specialty focused on the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders affecting the blood, bone marrow, and lymphatic systems. It includes both benign conditions, such as anemia, bleeding, or clotting disorders, and malignant diseases, including leukemia and lymphoma. Hematologists diagnose and manage these conditions using tools like blood tests and bone marrow evaluations. A hematologist oncologist is a physician trained in both blood disorders and cancers. Oncology, on the other hand, is the branch of medicine dedicated to diagnosing, treating, preventing, and studying cancer. It encompasses all tumor types and involves medical, surgical, and radiation therapies, as well as research and supportive or palliative care.  

Born and raised in Mumbai, India, Dr. Vaidyanathan always knew she wanted to become a doctor. “My dad’s brother was a physician, and my father always hoped someone else in the family would follow him. We were a middle-class family, and whenever we were sick, we would go to the local hospital for care. During these experiences, I saw many people suffering, and even as a child, 8 or 10 years old, I felt a passionate desire to help.” She started volunteering at the hospital in any way she could, even doing small tasks like moving supplies or cleaning. “It was a humbling experience for me,” she recalls, “and it cemented my commitment to medicine.”  

A major turning point in her medical training occurred during her years in Bhopal, India, where she completed five years of training. Witnessing the aftermath of the gas leak disaster—and the rise in cancer cases that followed—shaped her decision to pursue oncology. After her 3-year Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Buffalo, Dr. Vaidyanathan completed a 3-year fellowship at Roswell Park, focusing on hematology and oncology. She states, “While some physicians choose to specialize in one specific cancer area, I practice community oncology and see a variety of cancers each day. This includes benign cases, such as low white blood cell counts (leukopenia), anemia, and low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), as well as more serious cases, such as polycythemia, essential thrombocytosis, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, breast, lung, prostate, colon, and others.

“I feel that treating different types of cancers keeps me engaged and eager to learn.” Emphasizing the importance of routine screening, she notes that the most common cancer she encounters is breast cancer, followed by colon cancer. “Oncology is also a field where you build connections with entire families, walking with them through journeys that include hope, uncertainty, and sometimes loss. It requires immense patience, compassion, and the privilege of being trusted during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.”
  

Dr. Vaidyanathan’s husband is an engineer whom she met through her parents’ friends in India. The couple has two children—a 14-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son—who keep them joyfully busy. She is quick to acknowledge that none of this would be possible without her husband’s unwavering support. “He is incredibly supportive and shares equally in everything we do. Without him, it would be impossible to manage our day-to-day lives.” 
 
“I tell my children that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself, reminding them to never forget their roots, no matter how far they go, and to have grace and thank God for everything they have. Compared to my upbringing, they are extremely privileged. We do not want to push them. We want them to explore their interests. My parents were extremely supportive, and my mom was my backbone.” Dr. Vaidyanathan also recollects, “Before I came to Buffalo, I did not know how to drive. My husband taught me to drive a stick-shift car, and my kids motivated me to learn to ski. Now, they want me to learn speed skating.” 
  

Dr. Gayatri Vaidyanathan is thrilled to be part of Buffalo Medical Group and especially values working within a multispecialty practice. “If one of my patients needs care from a physician in another specialty, it is easy to refer them to my colleagues. We are one group and one family. We talk to one another, share experiences, and support each other. It is an uplifting environment, and I feel blessed to be part of BMG.” 
 
So, what would Dr. Vaidyanathan be doing if she weren’t a physician? “Recalling how much my grandmother taught me about art and fashion while growing up in India,” she said, “I’d for sure be a fashion designer!”