Oncologist Near Me – Nazik Hammad: A Leader in Cancer Care, Medical Education, and Health Equity

Welcome to OncoDaily‘s special section “Oncologist Near Me” where we introduce prominent oncologists from around the world.

Here, you can get to know the leading cancer specialists in your area, including both personal and professional details that you won’t find in their research articles.

Interested solely in research? We’ve got that covered too! Discover top research articles by the author, learn about their academic achievements, awards, and honors, watch their interviews, and memorize some quotes for much-needed inspiration!

We’ve curated the internet to find the most important information about them. If you have more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Nazik Hammad, MD, MSc, MEHP, FACP

Nazik Hammad is a distinguished medical oncologist specializing in gastrointestinal oncology, focusing on colorectal cancer. She is currently a Professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada. Additionally, she is a member of the board of directors for the Institute of Cancer and Crisis (ICC).

Education

Dr. Hammad, originally from Sudan, graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Khartoum. She trained in internal medicine and hematology-oncology at Wayne State University in Michigan. In addition to her clinical expertise, she holds a Master’s degree in Medical Education from Johns Hopkins University and an M.Sc. in Immunology from the University of Toronto. Although she initially focused on infectious diseases after completing her internal medicine training, she soon discovered her passion for oncology and shifted her specialization.

Career

Dr. Hammad has had a remarkable career in oncology, medical education, and global health. Since 2023, she has been a Professor in the Division of Hematology-Oncology at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto. Alongside her teaching role, she is the Faculty Lead for the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC), where she works to strengthen academic partnerships between Canada and Ethiopia.

Dr. Hammad with Dr. Amsalu and Dr. Fozia, supporting the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration (TAAAC). Photo credit to Nazik Hamad/X 

From 2015 to 2023, Dr. Hammad co-chaired the Education and Training Committee of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), helping to improve cancer research and training across Africa. Before her current position, she spent nearly a decade at Queen’s University, where she was an Associate Professor in the Department of Oncology and worked as a Medical Oncologist at the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario. She was with Queen’s from 2009 to 2023, contributing to both clinical care and academic development.

Nazik Hammad at the ASCO-AORTIC symposium in Dakar with Lynn Schuchter and Verna Vanderpuye. Photo credit to Nazik Hamad/X

Dr. Hammad’s impact goes beyond the clinic. She served as the Director of Global Health at Queen’s University Faculty of Health Sciences from 2019 to 2020, advancing global health initiatives. She also took on leadership roles in supporting diversity, such as co-chairing the Network for Advancing Black Learners in Medicine in Ontario, where she worked to create better opportunities for Black medical students and residents. Additionally, she has shared her expertise as a visiting professor at the University of Nairobi, Kenya, strengthening global medical education.

Honors and Awards

• Harvard Global Health Catalyst Distinguished Young Leader Award (2019)
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada International Development, Aid and Collaboration Grant for Faculty Development among African Oncologists (2020)
• Full open Master’s fellowship at the University of Toronto
• 100 Influential Women in Oncology – OncoDaily (2023, 2024)

Advancing Cancer Care and Education

Dr. Nazik Hammad’s work extends beyond the clinic. She focuses on improving cancer care, medical education, and healthcare systems, particularly in low—and middle-income countries (LMICs). With a Master’s in Medical Education from Johns Hopkins University, she teaches and mentors future healthcare professionals in Sudan and Kenya. She specializes in program development, curriculum design, and innovative education. Her contributions are recognized at international conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.

Instead of vacations, Dr. Hammad often travels to Africa to share her expertise. She uses online communication platforms to teach physicians across borders. She played a key role in the Choosing Wisely Africa initiative and contributed to the Lancet Oncology Commission on Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa, addressing the growing cancer burden in the region.

She’s also an advocate for Black medical learners, co-chairing the Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario’s Network for Advancing Medical Learners (N-ABL) to improve mentorship and support. Through her involvement in the Lancet Commission on Women, Power, and Cancer, she calls for greater recognition of women’s roles in cancer care as patients and professionals.

Despite her challenges as an International Medical Graduate (IMG), Dr. Hammad has become a leader in global oncology. She advocates for greater support for IMGs and currently serves on the board of the Institute of Cancer and Crisis, continuing her commitment to global health and cancer care.

Dr. Hammad actively uses her social media platforms to address these issues. OncoDaily recognized her as an OncoInfluencer to follow on social media.

Follow her on LinkedIn and X.

Selected publications

• Ngwa W, Addai BW, Adewole I, Ainsworth V, Alaro J, Alatise OI, Ali Z, Anderson BO, Anorlu R, Avery S, Barango P, Bih N, Booth CM, Brawley OW, Dangou JM, Denny L, Dent J, Elmore SNC, Elzawawy A, Gashumba D, Geel J, Graef K, Gupta S, Gueye SM, Hammad N, Hessissen L, Ilbawi AM, Kambugu J, Kozlakidis Z, Manga S, Maree L, Mohammed SI, Msadabwe S, Mutebi M, Nakaganda A, Ndlovu N, Ndoh K, Ndumbalo J, Ngoma M, Ngoma T, Ntizimira C, Rebbeck TR, Renner L, Romanoff A, Rubagumya F, Sayed S, Sud S, Simonds H, Sullivan R, Swanson W, Vanderpuye V, Wiafe B, Kerr D. Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a Lancet Oncology Commission. Lancet Oncol. 2022 Jun;23(6):e251-e312. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00720-8. Epub 2022 May 9. PMID: 35550267; PMCID: PMC9393090.
• Ginsburg O, Vanderpuye V, Beddoe AM, Bhoo-Pathy N, Bray F, Caduff C, Florez N, Fadhil I, Hammad N, Heidari S, Kataria I, Kumar S, Liebermann E, Moodley J, Mutebi M, Mukherji D, Nugent R, So WKW, Soto-Perez-de-Celis E, Unger-Saldaña K, Allman G, Bhimani J, Bourlon MT, Eala MAB, Hovmand PS, Kong YC, Menon S, Taylor CD, Soerjomataram I. Women, power, and cancer: a Lancet Commission. Lancet. 2023 Dec 2;402(10417):2113-2166. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01701-4. Epub 2023 Sep 26. PMID: 37774725.
• Tomiak A, Braund H, Egan R, Dalgarno N, Emack J, Reid MA, Hammad N. Exploring How the New Entrustable Professional Activity Assessment Tools Affect the Quality of Feedback Given to Medical Oncology Residents. J Cancer Educ. 2020 Feb;35(1):165-177. doi: 10.1007/s13187-018-1456-z. PMID: 30604387.
• Hammad N, Heilbrun LK, Philip PA, Shields AF, Zalupski MM, Venkatramanamoorthy R, El-Rayes BF. CA19-9 as a predictor of tumor response and survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine based chemotherapy. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2010 Jun;6(2):98-105. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-7563.2010.01290.x. PMID: 20565421; PMCID: PMC3865855.
• Ramjeesingh R, Orr C, Bricks CS, Hopman WM, Hammad N. A retrospective study on the role of diabetes and metformin in colorectal cancer disease survival. Curr Oncol. 2016 Apr;23(2):e116-22. doi: 10.3747/co.23.2809. Epub 2016 Apr 13. PMID: 27122979; PMCID: PMC4835004.

Interviews and Lectures with Nazik Hammad

Cancer and Crisis Talks with Jemma Arakelyan #3 – Dr. Nazik Hammad – OncoDaily

Global Summit on War and Cancer 2023: Nazik Hammad’s speech on cancer control in conflict zones in Africa – OncoDaily

The role of the workforce in implementing Choosing Wisely in cancer care – ecancer

The role of the workforce in implementing Choosing Wisely in cancer care – ecancer 

What does the cancer workforce look like in Africa? – ecancer

Quotes from Nazik Hammad

“Cancer does not know if you are in a conflict situation or not.”

“As an IMG, I may not have had the same access to resources and mentorship as others. Now, being recognized as a leader in global oncology and participating at all levels of the healthcare system in Canada, I feel privileged to have achieved this. I hope we continue to recognize and support the talents, resourcefulness, and resilience that IMGs bring to medicine in Canada.”

“Anti-Black racism has historically affected Black people’s access to medical education. I still hear medical students and residents say they aren’t receiving the right type of mentorship or don’t see themselves represented in medicine. We must ensure that issues related to mentorship, microaggressions, and well-being are addressed.”

“With looming global health threats such as novel viruses, climate change, and non-communicable diseases, the need for cross-country collaborations has never been more urgent.”

“Proud to be an IMG, proud to be a Black woman from the African Sahel. I send all my love to African girls struggling to access even a primary school education and stand in unwavering support of public schools, public universities, and universal health coverage.”

How to contact her?

Email: [email protected]
Location: 36 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada

References

1. Medical oncologist seeks to better equip the cancer care workforce around the world – Medicine, University of Toronto
2. OncoInfluencers to Follow on Social Media: Dr. Nazik Hammad – OncoDaily
3. Dr. Nazik Hammad – Women, power, and cancer: A Lancet Commission, ecancer
4. Nazik Hammad – Kingston Health Sciences Centre
5. Dr. Nazik Hammad was appointed Faculty Lead for the Toronto Addis Ababa Academic Collaboration – Medicine, University of Toronto
6. Dr. Nazik Hammad wins the 2019 Harvard Global Health Catalyst Distinguished Young Leader Award – Queen’s University
7. Nazik Hammad – ISCO
8. Cancer and Crisis Talks with Jemma Arakelyan #3 – Dr. Nazik Hammad – OncoDaily
9. Nazik Hammad – X
10. Nazik Hammad – LinkedIn

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