Picture of Dr. Gray sitting down on a roller chair. He is wearing a mask.

Oncologist uses personalized approach to patient care

Every patient has a story to tell.

It may be a story of resiliency and determination or one of heartbreak and healing. No matter how the story unfolds, it's the lessons we learn along the way that leave a lasting impression.

For Dr. Flint Gray, hearing stories of his parents' friends who had cancer and seeing the toll it took on them and their loved ones ultimately led him on a journey toward medicine. But it wasn't until his postgraduate training when he began to see all of the advances that were happening in oncology that the specialty fully piqued his interest.

"A cancer diagnosis is such an individual thing, so it's important to provide a little more attention and tender loving care to people," Dr. Gray says. "I enjoy working and talking with people and getting to know them."

A native of Kingsport, Tennessee, Dr. Gray earned his Bachelor's degree in chemistry from Davidson College before earning his Doctorate of Medicine from Emory University School of Medicine in 1987. He then went on to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he completed his residency in internal medicine followed by fellowship training in hematology and oncology.

Dr. Gray began coming to Ashe Memorial Hospital in 2003 after recognizing that there were no oncology services available in Ashe County. After a hiatus in 2017, he returned to the hospital in 2020.

Today, Dr. Gray provides diagnoses, makes referrals for surgery and radiation, and prescribes medicines, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, biological therapy and targeted therapy. He also works collaboratively with larger medical facilities across the state, including the Novant Health Cancer Institute at Forsyth Medical Center, to ensure each of his patients receive the best possible care.

"We try to bring standard oncology services close to home, so patients don't have to travel," Dr. Gray says. "We're a smaller clinic, which allows for more personalization. Our patients are able to get to know their providers and can be seen more frequently. We try to make sure every patient gets the same level of care."

When he's not busy working, Dr. Gray enjoys spending time with his wife, Lisa, and daughters, Lucy, 21, and Emily, 17. He also enjoys running, biking and playing golf.