A Pioneer in Care: Philip Dombrowski, MD
The interventional radiologist at Cape Cod Healthcare was named Clinician of the Year by the Barnstable District of the Massachusetts Medical Society in recognition of his leadership, innovation and commitment to advancing patient care.
When Philip Dombrowski, MD, was named Clinician of the Year by the Barnstable District Medical Society earlier this month, the recognition carried special meaning and one that he didn’t take for granted. For Dr. Dombrowski, it wasn’t just a personal milestone. It was a reflection of decades spent building something entirely new for patients on Cape Cod.
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized by my colleagues,” said Dr. Dombrowski.
An interventional radiologist at Cape Cod Healthcare, Dr. Dombrowski has spent nearly four decades advancing an ever-evolving field that was still in its infancy when he began. Interventional radiology (IR) uses minimally invasive, image-guided techniques to treat a wide range of conditions, offering patients faster recovery, less pain and shorter hospital stays.
“When I began my training, IR was a new and emerging specialty,” he said. He completed his fellowship at the University of Virginia under Dr. Charles Tegtmeyer, a pioneer in the field. That early exposure helped shape not only his career path, but his vision for what IR could become.
That vision ultimately brought him to Cape Cod 38 years ago.
At the time, patients on the Cape had limited options: undergo surgery or travel to Boston for advanced procedures. Dr. Dombrowski saw an opportunity to change that. Instead of beginning his practice at a Boston teaching hospital as originally planned, he embraced the idea of expanding services on the Cape that hadn’t existed before.
In those early years, the work required creativity and a lot of travel. “I was an itinerant IR doctor,” he said, moving between Falmouth, Hyannis, Tobey and Jordan hospitals with catheters and guide wires packed in a ski bag.
Today, his work environment and schedule look very different. He now practices in a state-of-the-art interventional radiology suite at Cape Cod Hospital. Supported by a highly trained and dedicated team, Dr. Dombrowski has helped transform IR into a leading-edge service for patients on the Cape.
The field itself has also evolved dramatically. IR now offers advanced treatments for a wide range of conditions. Embolization techniques are used to treat uterine fibroids, prostate enlargement and relieve knee pain associated with osteoarthritis. It plays a critical role in emergency situations and trauma care, such as stopping internal bleeding, in life-saving care for conditions like deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Dr. Dombrowski also collaborates closely with colleagues including interventional radiologists Damian Dupuy, MD, and Luke Higgins, MD, to support advanced treatment for a variety of cancers.
The Power of the Human Touch
Despite the technology and precision that define IR, some of the most meaningful moments in Dr. Dombrowski’s career have centered on the human side of medicine.
One case, in particular, stands out.
Several years ago, a healthy middle-aged man was enjoying a summer day with his wife when he was suddenly stricken with severe abdominal pain. He arrived at Cape Cod Hospital with a life-threatening pancreatic aneurysm. During the procedure, when traditional approaches failed, Dr. Dombrowski and his team quickly adapted, successfully treating the aneurysm through a left radial artery wrist approach.
That patient was journalist and author Sebastian Junger.
Following his recovery, Junger chronicled the experience in his book, “In My Time of Dying,” offering a rare, firsthand look at the intensity of the interventional radiology suite and the prospect of facing mortality. In a later piece reflecting on his care, he described the profound impact of something far simpler than technology: human connection.
“When I was denied pain medication because my vital signs were so low,” Junger wrote, “a nurse held my hand and said, ‘breathe with me.’ To my surprise, the combination of touch, breathing and human connection flooded my system with endorphins and oxytocin that immediately eased my pain.”
For Dr. Dombrowski, that message resonates deeply.
“We cannot forget,” he said, “that in an increasingly technological world, a smile, a word of encouragement and human interaction are profoundly important.”
Collaborative Environment
That balance between innovation and compassion is what defines his work. No two days are the same in interventional radiology. A carefully planned schedule can shift in an instant to accommodate emergency cases, requiring adaptability, focus and teamwork.
It’s a challenge he embraces, supported by what he describes as a uniquely collaborative environment at Cape Cod Healthcare, one where specialists work together, sharing knowledge for the benefit of patients.
He also credits strong leadership and a forward-thinking administration for fostering the growth of advanced programs on Cape Cod, supported by a team of skilled physicians, technologists, nurses and support staff.
Outside the hospital, he finds balance in time with his family—his wife, three daughters and granddaughter—as well as in simple routines like gardening, daily workouts and long walks to the beach with his dogs. “I’m always ready for our sometimes-grueling schedule and life’s next challenge.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Dombrowski encourages the next generation of physicians to consider IR, but with a clear understanding of what it demands.
“It’s a dynamic field,” he said. “You can never become complacent. It’s essential to stay curious and current.”
