Medical Oncology

Syed Yousuf Zafar, MD

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute
Campus mail Duke Box 3505, Durham, NC 27710
Phone (919) 684-8111
Email address yousuf.zafar@duke.edu

Dr. Zafar is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine, Public Policy, and Population Health Science at the Duke Cancer Institute and Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. He serves as Director of Healthcare Innovation at the Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Zafar also serves as Clinical Associate Director of Duke Forge (Health Data Science Center). Dr. Zafar is considered an international expert in identifying and intervening upon the financial burden of cancer care. His research explores ways to improve cancer care delivery with a primary focus on improving the value of cancer treatment from both patient-focused and policy perspectives.

Dr. Zafar speaks internationally on his research and cancer care delivery. He has over 100 publications in top peer-reviewed journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and JAMA Oncology. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society, among others. His work has been covered by national media outlets including New York Times, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Washington Post. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

In Their Words

Education and Training

  • Fellow in Hematology-Oncology, Medicine, Duke University, 2005 - 2008
  • Resident, Medicine, University of Cincinnati, 2002 - 2005
  • M.D., The University of Toledo, 2002

Grants

Publications

Zafar, S Yousuf, Lee N. Newcomer, Justin McCarthy, Shelley Fuld Nasso, and Leonard B. Saltz. “How Should We Intervene on the Financial Toxicity of Cancer Care? One Shot, Four Perspectives.” Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book 37 (2017): 35–39. https://doi.org/10.1200/EDBK_174893.

PMID
28561659
Full Text

Zullig, Leah L., Kristin Schroeder, Pilli Nyindo, Theresia Namwai, Elvis Silayo, Angelah Msomba, Michael Oresto Munishi, et al. “Validation and Quality Assessment of the Kilimanjaro Cancer Registry.” J Glob Oncol 2, no. 6 (December 2016): 381–86. https://doi.org/10.1200/JGO.2015.002873.

PMID
28717724
Full Text

Mowery, Y. M., J. K. Salama, S. Y. Zafar, H. G. Moore, C. G. Willett, B. Czito, M. B. Hopkins, and M. Palta. “Radiation Oncologists' Practice Patterns and Attitudes Regarding Neoadjuvant Short-Course Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer in the United States.” Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 96, no. 2S (October 1, 2016): S203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2016.06.505.

PMID
27675787
Full Text

Chino, F., J. M. Peppercorn, C. Rushing, G. Samsa, J. Nicolla, I. Altomare, and S. Y. Zafar. “"Going for Broke": Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Patient-Reported Willingness to Pay and Sacrifice in Cancer Care.” Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 96, no. 2S (October 1, 2016): S135–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2016.06.330.

PMID
27675612
Full Text

Mowery, Y. M., J. K. Salama, S. Y. Zafar, H. G. Moore, C. G. Willett, B. Czito, M. B. Hopkins, and M. Palta. “Radiation Oncologists' Practice Patterns and Attitudes Regarding Neoadjuvant Short-Course Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer in the United States.” In International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 96:S203–S203, 2016.

Scholars@Duke

Chino, F., J. M. Peppercorn, C. Rushing, G. Samsa, J. Nicolla, I. Altomare, and S. Y. Zafar. “"Going for Broke": Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Patient-Reported Willingness to Pay and Sacrifice in Cancer Care.” In International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, 96:S135–36, 2016.

Scholars@Duke

Nipp, Ryan D., Leah L. Zullig, Gregory Samsa, Jeffrey M. Peppercorn, Deborah Schrag, Donald H. Taylor, Amy P. Abernethy, and S Yousuf Zafar. “Identifying cancer patients who alter care or lifestyle due to treatment-related financial distress.” Psychooncology 25, no. 6 (June 2016): 719–25. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.3911.

PMID
26149817
Full Text

Hochman, Michael J., Steven Wolf, Syed Yousuf Zafar, Diane Portman, Janet Bull, and Arif H. Kamal. “Comparing Unmet Needs to Optimize Quality: Characterizing Inpatient and Outpatient Palliative Care Populations.” J Pain Symptom Manage 51, no. 6 (June 2016): 1033-1039.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.12.338.

PMID
27046299
Full Text

Lathan, Christopher S., Angel Cronin, Reginald Tucker-Seeley, S Yousuf Zafar, John Z. Ayanian, and Deborah Schrag. “Association of Financial Strain With Symptom Burden and Quality of Life for Patients With Lung or Colorectal Cancer.” J Clin Oncol 34, no. 15 (May 20, 2016): 1732–40. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2015.63.2232.

PMID
26926678
Full Text

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