Surviving Cancer. Discovering Purpose.

The following is an excerpt from Alumni & Friends Magazine Summer 2025 issue. Read the full issue here.

A year ago, Eric Grahek ’02 was enjoying a summer day in the pool, tossing a volleyball around with his children, when the ball made impact with his lip.

In the coming weeks, he would learn that the seemingly innocent canker sore that formed would reveal a life-changing cancer and catalyze his oral cancer advocacy.

Driven by his desire and aptitude for personal connection, Eric’s experience at Jamestown College resulted in a network and career that is likely responsible for saving his life.

In 1999, Eric found himself on a college campus in Jamestown, North Dakota as a classic, bleach-blond SoCal teen listening to Tupac and Biggie. Transferring from a junior college in Thousand Oaks, California alongside a childhood friend and fellow basketball recruit, Eric’s professional path was still unknown to him when he first arrived at Jamestown College. While enjoying his classes in Communications, Marketing, Business, and Public Relations, he sought out unique internship opportunities to gain experience and clarity on his passions.

“When I was at Jamestown, everyone was one big family,” Eric remembered. “It was one even playing field. One of the great things about Jamestown was that I never had a professor who acted like they were above anyone else. Everyone was there to help make everyone better.”

His first step was speaking to the college’s head of Public Relations who helped place him at Jamestown Hospital. As an intern, he was tasked with writing the Annual Hospice Appeal, a heartfelt letter sent to residents across North Dakota, raising thousands of dollars for state hospice care. Having enjoyed fundraising and working in the healthcare field, Eric recalled an interaction from childhood as he considered possible careers.

Growing up, Eric was enthralled by his neighbor’s BMW. He assumed this friend’s father must have an impressive career, perhaps as a doctor; however, when asked, the neighbor explained that he was a Medical Sales Representative. Admiring his sleek car, Eric concluded that Medical Sales must be a lucrative profession. When Eric graduated from Jamestown College in 2002, he set out to pursue that very career, beginning in Minneapolis.

In 2005, Eric was one of the youngest salesmen in the country at Cintas Corporation, the largest uniform supplier in North America. In the process of moving to Texas to join his soon-to-be-wife in her hometown, he began interviewing for jobs while still living and working in Minneapolis. A recruiter for Shire, a pharmaceutical company, reached out about an incredible medical sales role, but there was a catch: second-round interviews were taking place in Houston that week. The recruiter was certain that it couldn’t work out given the short notice and such a considerable travel distance. Eric disagreed.

“If you can reserve the time for me to meet with the hiring team, I’ll be there,” Eric had told the recruiter. That mindset—show up, connect, find a way—would become his signature.

The recruiter knew immediately from this phone call that he was the perfect candidate, and Eric bought a plane ticket, flew to Houston, nailed his interview, and secured the job. He excelled at Shire for several years; yet Eric felt called by God to do something more meaningful.

Years later, Eric transitioned to dental sales in Florida, working for BioHorizons. But it wasn’t easy.

“Being in sales is tough,” he says. “Being in front of doctors is tough. What can I do that brings value to people that’s different?”

This thought sparked the creation of his podcast, EG Dominates Dental, to offer patients personal insight into their doctors’ practice through his interviews with dental professionals. Understanding the value in earning their patients’ confidence, dentists agreed to be featured, and once Eric was in the room for their interview, he could make his BioHorizons pitch.

EG Dominates Dental proved to be a major success, quickly amassing nearly 15,000 followers on social media. By the time of the pool volleyball incident that sparked his cancer journey in June of 2024, Eric had built tremendous trust in the doctors he interviewed, just as he had done for their patients listening to the podcast.

Three weeks after Eric’s canker sore had formed, it had grown instead of healed. While working on a project with Dr. Michel Furtado, his first ever podcast guest, Eric felt a nagging urge to not leave without getting an examination.

“If I wasn’t in dental, I would have probably waited another two or three weeks to have it looked at,” he said. “And it would have been too late.”

After five excruciatingly silent minutes, Dr. Furtado insisted he have a biopsy right away, and Eric knew exactly who to turn to: highly regarded oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Shaunda Kelly, the guest from Eric’s second podcast episode. She performed Eric’s biopsy immediately, and upon returning from his family vacation the next week, Eric called Dr. Kelly to receive his results.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Stage 2, nearly Stage 3.

Eric couldn’t believe his ears. He was a young, healthy man, rarely even catching a cold. He thought, “How can I have an aggressive cancer?”

Before Eric even considered how he would find treatment, Dr. Kelly sent him to the best surgeon in her professional network: Dr. Terry Su. Usually booked out for several weeks, Dr. Kelly had arranged for Eric to be seen the next day.

Dr. Su had a unique intensity to his aura. He was the best of the best, and knew it. Coupled with the recommendation by his colleague, Eric felt he could trust Dr. Su by his confidence in outlining their aggressive surgical plan. A grueling 12-hour surgery later, Dr. Su successfully removed all cancerous tissue, resulting in an extensive scar along Eric’s neck and the disfigurement of his mouth.

Despite a painful recovery, Eric knew he wanted to transform his experience into something positive. He had a higher calling than to be an ordinary survivor; he saw his journey as an opportunity to help other oral cancer patients and to streamline the diagnosis and treatment process.

“For six months after surgery, I was recovering and thinking about what I could do to make this experience a positive one for anyone diagnosed with oral cancer,” Eric said. “Or anyone in the oral field.”

That thought became his mission.

He understood that his path to recovery was not the norm, most patients being passed between physicians and oncologists and radiologists, wasting precious time for appointments and second and third opinions. He calculated that his relationships and his trust in his doctors saved six weeks that the cumbersome process usually consumed—six weeks Eric didn’t have to lose.

Without Eric’s talent and thirst for building relationships, his cancer story could have been very different. From seeking out Jamestown College’s Head of PR for internship placement, to probing his neighbor about his career, or even jumping on a plane for a chance to interview at Shire, these moments embody the value Eric creates through conversation.

“If I can connect dentists with specialists and connect someone diagnosed with head and neck cancer to the right doctors quickly,” he said, “I can help streamline the flow. I can help save lives.”

That’s what he’s doing now.

Eric has spent the last year advocating for oral cancer prevention and treatment reform. His podcast, once a handy sales tactic that also provided patients with invaluable trust in their doctors, has now expanded to also share the stories of cancer patients. Recently, he hosted Michael Cramer, fellow cancer survivor and advocate, and his mother and caregiver Ashlee Cramer. Discussing the importance of a positive mindset for both patients and caregivers, clips shared on Eric’s social media were met with an outpouring of support and offered hope and community to those battling the disease.

“God put all these people in my life for a reason,” Eric reflected. “I want to be able to take this experience and give back. I think that is my calling.”

Between his podcast and social media platforms, Eric continues to spark important conversations with a newfound personal relevance and passion. He also shares his story at events across the region to bring awareness to the challenges of oral cancer care, warn against the risks of smoking and chewing tobacco, and support important organizations, including the Oral Cancer Foundation.

More than an inspiration, Eric is a champion for oral cancer patients and hopes to start the first Oral Cancer Support group in North America, bringing community and connection to those close to home.

As he transforms the lives of others, Eric’s life has also been metamorphosed by his experience, instilled with a renewed value for his time; each evening, Eric reflects on the day asking himself, “If this were my last day, did I maximize it? Did I connect with the people important to me? Did I accomplish my goals?” knowing each day is precious.

“What you’re sacrificing for money is your time,” he said. “And nothing is more important than your time. I didn’t realize that until a year ago.”

Today, Eric continues to have regular screenings, all cancer-free, and undergo reconstructive surgery. Currently working with the Florida Dental Association to create a truly unique case study presentation that will educate over 10,000 dental professionals attending the 2027 Florida Dental Convention, Eric finally feels he’s fulfilling God’s calling for his life.

He still keeps up with two dozen of his Jamestown classmates every month.

“The relationships I made at Jamestown were so impactful for my entire life so far,” he said. “Jamestown is a community of caring individuals that came together for a like-minded cause. Everyone is on the same level, and everyone is there to help support.”

Eric Grahek is living proof of what’s possible when connection meets calling. What started as a sales podcast has become a movement. And what began as a terrifying diagnosis has become a mission—to save time, to save lives, and to make every day count.