CLOSE SHAVE

Oncologist lets young patients cut his hair for fundraiser

SPECIAL TO VIEWPediatric oncologist Ron Kline of Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada poses as Austin Power?s nemesis, Dr. Evil, while stylist Anita Daly finishes shaving his head. The shave came after Kline?s pediatric patients were allowed cut his hair as a reward for reaching a fundraising goal. Advertisement

In an age when modern technology and medical advancement has made it possible to alter physical appearance, some might find it strange that a doctor would choose to be bald.

But that's just what pediatric hematologist and oncologist Ron Kline has done.

The doctor volunteered to shave his head on June 21 after three weeks of fundraising to benefit charities for pediatric cancer.

"It's a funny thing, how attached people are to their hair," Kline said. "It felt very strange to me, but I had fun. It just really made me appreciate what so many of my patients have to go through with chemo."

Cancer patients who undergo treatment with chemotherapy often loose their hair.

"That's one of the reasons I decided to go ahead and do this," Kline said. "I wanted the kids that I treat to see me do it and to be a part of shaving my head. These poor kids get poked and prodded and messed with by doctors and nurses on a regular basis. I thought that it would be nice for them to be able to turn the tables and do something to me for a change."

Patients were able to take a whack at the good doctor's hair after a $5 donation.

"We had probably close to 50 people come out, and at least 15 kids got to cut a piece of my hair off," Kline said. "They giggled and smiled and were very happy to do so."

Kline's practice is a part of the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, 3196 S. Maryland Parkway, which raised more than $5,000 in less than a month to benefit the Candlelighters of Southern Nevada and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. Both are organizations designed to assist families and patients with the financial, emotional and physical demands of dealing with the disease.

Kline family friend Bruce Ford, an Anthem resident and chief operating officer of Community Bank of Nevada, also pledged to shave his head and joined in the fundraising efforts by posting fliers around his building.

"Employees and patrons had an incentive to donate to an account that we set up specifically for this purpose," Ford said. "And we also raised $5,000. The community really turned out for us -- for these kids. It was a neat experience. I didn't mind getting rid of my hair for such a great cause, and I hope I can do it again."

Kline considers this year's event to be a great success and plans to have an annual "Bald-a-thon" for as many years as he is in practice.

"This is such a tough disease," Kline said. "We are effective in treating approximately 85 percent of patients. They will recover and go on to live normal, full lives. The other 15 percent do die. We're working all the time to improve that statistic. But, in the meantime, let's not forget that these are kids who sometimes need to be reminded that they are kids. Not that they are sick. I want to put a smile on their little faces any way that I can."