Nemours Children’s Health is proud to spotlight the diverse passions and remarkable journeys of our esteemed physicians. Among them is Dr. Darren Klawinski, a Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist based at Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville.
Dr. Klawinski’s path to medicine was deeply personal. From a young age, his grandfather’s encouragement planted the seed of becoming a surgeon. However, fate had its own plans when, at 12 years old, Darren was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a form of brain cancer. Enduring surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy shaped his perspective, igniting a passion to provide hope and healing to others facing similar challenges.
After completing his pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship with Nemours in Jacksonville, Dr. Klawinski found himself drawn back to the institution. “I loved my time there and loved living in Jacksonville,” he says. Following additional training in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, the opportunity to return to Nemours presented itself, a choice he embraced wholeheartedly.
What sets Nemours apart for Dr. Klawinski is the collaborative approach to pediatric healthcare. The shared commitment to advancing children’s well-being resonates with his own values.
Outside the realm of medicine, Dr. Klawinski finds joy in various pursuits. Whether it’s spending cherished moments with his wife and dogs, embarking on hikes, or working on cars, his passions reflect a multifaceted persona beyond his career. “I have recently started working on my father’s 1969 Z28 Camaro as he was in the middle of restoring it when he passed,” shares Dr. Klawinski. “My father is the one who fostered my interest in cars and working on them. After he passed in September 2021, he left me his Camaro he was restoring. Once I moved it to my garage, I began working on it in my spare time. I was able to do much of the mechanical work, but eventually had to have professional help to restore the interior.”
Surprisingly, Dr. Klawinski identifies parallels between his hobby of working on cars and his role as a physician. Both involve a diagnostic approach to identifying issues and implementing strategic plans for resolution. “I think being able to work on restoring my father’s car is my way of honoring him and his memory,” he says.
This Doctors’ Day, Nemours Children’s Health proudly celebrates individuals like Dr. Klawinski, whose dedication to healing extends well beyond medicine.
