WebMD Health Heroes

Watching his mother and two uncles go through chemotherapy inspired this cancer researcher to create less toxic treatments that do the job better. Three major discoveries and a Nobel Prize later, he’s nowhere near done.

As a young girl she attended cancer fundraisers. That led to a career in immunology research and ultimately to patents for six cancer vaccines.

When her husband was the patient, she learned how confusing the medical system can be. Now she advocates for every patient she treats.

As a breast cancer survivor, she knows what it’s like to face the disease head-on. Now she helps others make plans for the future.

This Oscar winner is lending her name -- and personal experience -- to an all-out effort to change the way doctors and hospitals approach lymphedema. In her spare time, she’s directing a new breast cancer documentary.

After losing their mother to clear cell sarcoma, the singer-songwriter and his sister wanted to honor her. Learn more about the foundation, which sponsors research into this rare type of cancer, and the woman who inspired it.

She comes from a family best known for politics, but this author, radiologist and now, blogger, turned her focus on cancer instead. She’s also a philanthropist who supports two nonprofit organizations focused on prevention.

When she couldn't find a book on her rare condition, she wrote one herself. What happened next left her teary eyed.

She invented a device to diagnose diabetic retinopathy without the need for an extensive eye exam. That's a huge help to people in developing countries. And it isn't even her first invention.

This budding psychiatrist has taken part in research efforts that aim to diagnose and treat people with developmental disabilities. See what inspires her.

She's a consistent presence in her students' lives, from day one of medical school until they leave for their residency. Find out how she prepares them for success.