A desire to serve the community and to give something back led Dr. Charles S. Kuzma to decide on a career in medicine.

"I can't think of a field where an individual can make as big a difference as in medicine," he says.

Kuzma recently joined the medical oncology program at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital that is a collaboration with Pinehurst Medical Clinic. Board certified in hematology, medical oncology and internal medicine, he is part of a five-physician medical oncology team that also includes Drs. David G. Allen, Todd A. Moore, Robert A. Pohlmeyer and Ellen M. Willard. Their offices are located in the FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center on the Moore Regional Hospital campus.

"Dr. Kuzma comes to us with an outstanding background in cancer care," says Willard, medical director for Moore Regional's medical oncology program. "We are happy to have someone with his training and experience join our practice."

Kuzma earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry summa cum laude from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia and received his medical degree from the Temple University School of Medicine, also in Philadelphia.

After joining the U.S. Navy, he completed a residency in internal medicine at the Naval Hospital of Oakland, Calif., and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the Naval Medical Center of San Diego/University of Southern California.

During his active duty naval service, Kuzma was stationed in Europe and Okinawa as well as California. He is now a member of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

"Cancer has touched a number of my family members," Kuzma says about his decision to specialize in cancer care. "There is no sub-specialty of medicine that allows a doctor to be a greater patient advocate than hematology/oncology."

He says that he has been impressed by the caliber of care offered through Moore Regional's cancer program as well as by the availability of a Clinical Trials program at the hospital.

He has an extensive background in cancer clinical trials and research, calling it "my passion within the cancer field," and hopes to be involved with the FirstHealth program.

"Dr. Willard and everyone else has been absolutely fantastic," he says of his affiliation with FirstHealth. "It's a good working community where everyone is on the same team."

Although they are new residents of the Sandhills, Kuzma and his wife are very familiar with the area.

Mrs. Kuzma's parents, Ray and Sheila Sibiga, retired to Seven Lakes 15 years ago, and Mrs. Kuzma spent extended periods of time with them during her husband's various military deployments.

In addition, the couple's young son was born at Moore Regional Hospital three years ago.