The Gift of Purpose: How a Father’s Passion Inspired His Daughter’s Career

Inspired by her father’s career,  Arushi Thaper became a medical oncologist and joins him in practice, continuing a family legacy of care.

Arushi Thaper always knew she would follow in her father’s footsteps as a medical oncologist. Now, she is taking the next step in her journey, joining her father in practice and carrying forward the legacy that first inspired her.

Growing up Arushi saw firsthand how deeply her father, Dr. Sandeep Thaper, a medical oncologist and hematologist with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), valued his work.

She watched him throughout her childhood build meaningful relationships with his patients and their families. “He treated them as if they were part of our own family,” Arushi recalls.

What stood out to her was the way he saw people beyond their diagnosis. At the dinner table, his stories were never about “the patient with cancer.” Instead, they were about the devoted dog owner, the teacher, the engineer, or someone with a fascinating career or hobby. “He truly cared about each person as an individual,” she says. “That made a lasting impression on me.”

A Father’s Example, A Daughter’s Mission

“Arushi was born while I was completing my fellowship in hematology and oncology, and it seems she has been observing me ever since,” Sandeep said. Over the years, as members of their extended family faced difficult battles with cancer, his daughter became increasingly interested in finding cures and improving treatments. “She was always asking thoughtful, insightful questions,” he said, adding, “Her curiosity ultimately led her to oncology.”

Arushi remembers her father telling her, “If you become a doctor, it’s not just to get a job—it’s to become enlightened.” At the time, she thought it was an unusual comment. But after recently completing her own fellowship training at the University of Florida in Gainesville, she now understands exactly what he meant—that perspective reflects her father’s deep compassion for patients facing serious illness and his lifelong commitment to learning and growing as a physician.

It is a philosophy that has shaped her own approach to medicine—one rooted in empathy, curiosity and a desire to continually develop the skills needed to help patients navigate some of life’s most demanding challenges.

Her FCS colleagues agree.

As a physician leader responsible for recruiting top talent to the statewide FCS practice, Dr. Scott Lunin quickly recognized what set the younger Dr. Thaper apart: her ability to combine exceptional clinical expertise and sound judgment with a genuine commitment to the patient experience.

“Dr. Thaper delivers physician-scientist-level care wrapped in a warm blanket of empathy, patience, precision and compassion. FCS is lucky to have her on our team of dedicated specialists” he said.

Sandeep, too, admires his daughter’s work ethic. “She has a very genuine compassion for sick patients and a very keen interest in learning skills to help patients who have oncological illnesses,” he says.

Comparing Notes Across Generations

While the fundamentals of compassionate patient care remain unchanged, the tools available to fight cancer have evolved dramatically in recent years. Both father and daughter are practicing in an era of unprecedented innovation, with advances in cancer care that would have been difficult to imagine just a decade ago.

What stood out to her was the way he saw people beyond their diagnosis. At the dinner table, his stories were never about “the patient with cancer.” Instead, they were about the devoted dog owner, the teacher, the engineer, or someone with a fascinating career or hobby. “He truly cared about each person as an individual,” she says. “That made a lasting impression on me.”

“What we do today is very different from what I was doing 20 years ago,” Sandeep said. “Back then, we had maybe twenty to twenty-five different drugs and only a few dozen treatment options. Today, there are hundreds.”

They often marvel together at the new therapies, technologies and treatment approaches that are expanding what is possible for patients today. “All of the treatments I learned during fellowship weren’t even available when my dad began practicing,” Arushi says.

With that, Sandeep emphasizes to his daughter the need to stay humble and to keep learning. “Never think that you cannot cure somebody, ” he points out. “I have seen many cases where people had given up, but we have been able to give them hope.”

Finding the Right Fit

Arushi says that while her father has always been supportive, he was careful to let her chart her own course.

“When I started looking for a permanent position, he never tried to influence my decision,” she said. “He wanted me to figure it out for myself and make the choice that felt right for me.”

That search ultimately led her to FCS, where she will join the clinical team in Winter Park this August caring for patients with all forms of cancer and blood disorders.

“I actually learned about the Winter Park clinic through a colleague who thought it would be a good fit, and it is,” Arushi said.

What stood out most to her was the welcoming, family-like environment. “Everyone at this practice is so kind and personable,” she said. “It was important to me that patient care is at the forefront and their focus is on making patients’ lives easier.  I’m really excited.”

More Than Medicine: A Father-Daughter Connection

“He has been my influence and my inspiration,” Arushi says of her dad.

His dedication to patients has served as a model for how she approaches medical care. Clear, effective communication has been a priority throughout her training and remains central to the way she cares for patients, ensuring they feel informed, understood and supported throughout their care journey.

And while they share a love of medicine, they don’t talk shop too often. During family time, Arushi explains that her dad quickly shifts into “Grandpa Mode,” doting on her two-year-old son and her older sister’s two children, ages four and seven, who share birthdays with their grandfather in the month of June.

“My wife, Mini, is the planner,” Sandeep says, and he gladly follows along – often on trips to Disney or exploring new interests as the children grow older.

As Father’s Day approaches, Arushi reflects on the special bond that has shaped both her life and her career. “I’m a daddy’s girl and one of his biggest fans,” she said. “My goal is to be the kind of physician he is—because he’s one of the best.”

Sandeep is confident his daughter will carry forward the purpose and passion that inspired her journey.