How a Spartanburg physician helped to transform Upstate cancer care

AI-assisted summary

Dr. James Bearden, a recently retired oncologist, is recognized for his dedication to both individual patient care and advancing cancer treatment in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

He partnered with Dr. Julian Josey to establish a comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer treatment center, which evolved into the Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute.

Bearden was instrumental in bringing National Cancer Institute-backed clinical trials to the Upstate, allowing local patients access to advanced treatments.

Colleagues and patients remember him for his compassionate bedside manner and his visionary role in transforming regional cancer care.

Visionary thinking and dedication to fine details don’t always go hand-in-hand.

Not so in the case of oncologist James Bearden, who