{"id":2242,"date":"2018-08-28T23:51:14","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T04:51:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forourwellness.org\/?p=2242"},"modified":"2025-10-02T11:33:18","modified_gmt":"2025-10-02T16:33:18","slug":"alum-doesnt-let-cancer-stop-him-from-doing-what-is-necessary-and-what-he-enjoys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/for-our-wellness\/alum-doesnt-let-cancer-stop-him-from-doing-what-is-necessary-and-what-he-enjoys\/","title":{"rendered":"Living life on his own terms"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Dr. Cortes retired from the Marines in 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Daniel Cortes, Ph.D. speaks willingly and in pragmatic tones about everything in his life, including the cancer that has returned stronger and crueler after a brief remission. His wife, his three daughters, his job and the service he provides to his community are all easily talked about. And so is his cancer.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCancer has obviously not been a positive or easy part of my life, but it has grounded me and given me some really good perspective. I never feel well; I\u2019m always in pain, but I have an appreciation for life. I have optimism and a passion to be a good person and do good work. It\u2019s a new perspective – being in Stage Four and considered incurable, I have a perspective that I think a lot of people don\u2019t have. I\u2019m having some of my best days.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cortes was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013, a year before he graduated from the Online Ph.D. in Business Psychology Program<\/a>. He began a year of chemotherapy while having to work on and then defend his dissertation. He explains that he lived at the hospital for a while but managed to finish because of the support he received.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere were several days where I anticipated feeling decent, and I just didn\u2019t. I am appreciative of the dean and my dissertation chair, but also of my professors. They were all very supportive \u2013 they allowed me to turn things in late, modify things or even just do some extra credit. The level of support they gave me was really amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Dr. Cortes with his daughters.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Cortes\u2019 attitude can also be credited for the accomplishment. A retired Marine who just separated from the Corps this year after 18 years, he describes himself as goal-driven and someone who gets things done \u201ccome hell or high water.\u201d It\u2019s that same attitude that keeps him successful in his current position as Occupational Safety Manager, Los Angeles Region for Zenith Insurance, a workers\u2019 compensation insurance company. He also presents on occupational safety throughout California and parts of the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cBecause of my program {at The Chicago School} I have the ability to look at organizations as a living, breathing entity. I developed my presentation, The Psychology behind Safe Decision<\/em> Making,<\/em> three years ago, linking occupational safety and business psychology. I help other leaders in occupational safety understand the psychological influences on safety culture. Nobody had connected the two before in my industry, and this has helped my career skyrocket.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

He does this despite the cancer that returned to his abdomen in 2015. It\u2019s a much more aggressive cancer that requires chemotherapy every other week and forces Cortes to work frequently from home. In March 2016 he endured one of medicine\u2019s most invasive surgical procedures.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHipec surgery\u2019s intent is to kill the cancer cells that aren\u2019t at the tumor level. People who have had the surgery usually have a year or two of complete remission, but by the time I left the hospital in May there were already tumors appearing. I was back on chemo in June.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Cortes with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Two years later, he is still undergoing chemotherapy and believes \u201cevery day\u2019s a beautiful day.\u201d This is just one more obstacle, he tells us, and obstacles only have the power you give them.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cHow I carry myself during this process is important. I model this behavior for my daughters and I tell them obstacles shouldn\u2019t stop you. I never feel sorry for myself. I\u2019m eating up every second I have.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This includes volunteering. Once a Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s deputy, he still works with the department training new recruits. He serves as a drill sergeant, acting as a stressor for the recruits in an effort to teach them confidence, self-control and how to be safe. He believes that he\u2019s helping to improve law enforcement at the micro-level while also being able to indulge his passion for coaching.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my contribution to making sure we have good cops out there that are well trained and can be a positive influence on our society, and I\u2019m also doing what I like: Helping people develop and reach their goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Learn more about The Chicago School<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you would like to learn more about programs at The Chicago School, fill out the form below to request more information. You can also apply today through our application portal.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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