M. Wasif Saif, MD, an Expert in Gastrointestinal Cancers, Appointed at Yale Cancer Center

[July 2005--New Haven, Connecticut] Yale Cancer Center Director, Richard L. Edelson, MD, has announced the appointment of M. Wasif Saif, MD, MBBS, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Section of Medical Oncology.  Dr. Saif is an expert in gastrointestinal cancers, with a specific interest in pancreatic and colorectal cancers. 
 
“Dr. Saif is one of the true rising stars in the field of gastrointestinal malignancies with a growing national and international reputation, and his appointment as a member of the GI disease unit in the Section of Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center is very well-deserved,” said Dr. Edward Chu, Chief of Medical Oncology.
 
Throughout his career, Dr. Saif has played a leading role in the development of novel anticancer agents and therapy regimens for the treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies.  Dr. Saif’s investigation into pancreatic cancer currently focuses on the molecular biology of this disease and the identification of novel biological targets for drug development.  He is also interested in improving upon the response and survival rates for colorectal cancer with the development of novel molecular and pharmacogenetic approaches for the treatment of the disease.

Dr. Saif received his Medical Degree from King Edward Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine before going to the National Cancer Institute, where he completed fellowships in Medical Oncology and Hematology and served as Medical Staff Fellow in Gastrointestinal Oncology.

After completion of his fellowship training in Medical Oncology, Dr. Saif was recruited to join the faculty as an Assistant Professor in the Department of medicine, Gastrointestinal Malignancies, and the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).  During his time at the UAB Cancer Center, Dr. Saif developed a national reputation as a clinical investigator in the treatment of pancreatic and colorectal cancer.  He has been actively involved in both clinical and scientific research and places special emphasis on Phase I and II clinical trials and new drug development.

He is twice the recipient of the Outstanding Service Award from Cancer Care for his contributions to cancer research and received the American Medical Association’s Physician’s Recognition Award for distinguished participation in CME.  Dr. Saif serves on the editorial board of Clinical Colorectal Cancer, which is the only specialty journal in the Unites States that focuses on all aspects of colorectal cancer.  In addition, he serves key leadership roles on various committees, including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Committee for Colorectal Cancer, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Committee for Gastrointestinal Malignancies.

Yale Cancer Center is one of a select network of 39 comprehensive cancer centers in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute and the only one in Southern New England. Bringing together the resources of Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Yale University School of Medicine, its mission encompasses patient care, research, cancer prevention and control, community outreach and education.

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