40 Under 40 2016

Kelly Stratton, M.D., 34

Blanchard
Urologic Oncologist, Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma
Stratton, who grew up in Blanchard, says his family has deep roots in Oklahoma, and he chose to return to the state to practice medicine. “I love being able to help people,” he says. “I wanted to make sure that patients can stay close to home and receive care from fellow Oklahomans. We take care of our own.” As a urologic oncologist, he treats cancer of the urinary tract, including prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer and testicular cancer. He volunteers for Us Too Prostate Cancer Support Group, and enjoys spending time with his family and running. “Particularly, I like to take my kids running in a jogging stroller,” he says. Jogging has helped make Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City his favorite place in the state. “It’s fun in the wintertime and a great place to run,” he says.

 

Christina M. Vaughn, 36

Collinsville
Attorney, Crowe & Dunlevy
Vaughn focuses on Native American law at Crowe & Dunlevy. While there are many things to love about her job, one thing she enjoys is the variety of issues she faces on a daily basis. “Nearly every day I get to explore some new question or issue or look for a new way to solve a problem,” she says. Vaughn is a cancer survivor, and said she enjoys helping out different volunteer causes. She is currently vice president of the Tulsa County Bar Association and a trustee on the Tulsa County Bar Foundation Board of Trustees, and she helps coordinate TCBA’s annual golf tournament. The tournament donates its proceeds to organizations such as Disabled American Veterans, Tulsa Lawyers for Children and the South Tulsa Community House. “Volunteering keeps my life’s stresses in perspective,” she says. “There are always others dealing with more difficult situations than I.”

Nicole Watts, 38

Bixby
Director of Civil Engineering, KKT Architects Inc.
Watts was born in Canada and moved to the U.S. When she was 5 years old, living first in Ohio and then moving to Tulsa her sophomore year in high school. In 2012, she had the opportunity to join KKT Architects and start a civil engineering department. She enjoys assisting people and is most proud of the work her department does with local nonprofit organizations. She has recently donated her technical skills to the Tulsa Ballet for the new Hardesty Center for Dance Education and to the Tree for All project at Chandler Park. “I believe it is the resident’s responsibility to create the community we want to live in, which is why I volunteer as much as possible and encourage my staff and peers to do so as well,” she says. “It has definitely made me more aware of the struggles that are in our city and how we can help.”

 

Camille Gunderson, M.D., 34

Oklahoma City
Gynecologic Oncologist, Stephenson Cancer Center at the University of Oklahoma
A native Louisianan, Gunderson moved to Oklahoma to pursue fellowship training in gynecologic oncology at Stephenson Cancer Center and joined the faculty in 2015. “When a patient has an aggressive cancer and an expected poor prognosis, occasionally she is able to defy the odds and have a good outcome,” she says. “In these rare cases where a patient does much better than anticipated, there is an immeasurable amount of happiness, relief, optimism and gratitude, which is inspiring and long lasting.” Besides working with patients, Gunderson says she enjoys watching bright people she has trained blossom into skilled professionals. “I relish in their success,” she says. She volunteers for the OK Humane Society, which is where she adopted her dog in 2012. She is also a member of the racing team for Red Coyote Running and Fitness Store.