Every day, people from around the world are making real progress in the fight against cancer. Areej El-Jawahri, MD, is among the forefront of this group, developing innovations that are far-reaching and impactful.
In the words of her colleague, Lara Traeger, PhD, Dr. El-Jawahri is “changing the culture of hematology oncology.” She has revolutionized the integration of palliative care for patients with hematologic cancers. She designed, developed, conducted and published the first clinical trial showing that integrating palliative care into inpatient care during bone marrow transplant improves the quality of life for both patients and their families.
Her research, which one colleague noted as “paradigm-shifting,” is ensuring that patients with hematologic malignancies and their families receive the support and care they need to maximize their quality of life as they navigate their cancer diagnosis. What’s more, Dr. El-Jawahri is recognized as an inspiring and generous mentor, providing valuable guidance to many individuals pursuing a path in cancer care.
Above all, Dr. El-Jawahri has earned the deep admiration and respect of her patients. In fact, her first patient, Joanne Newman, recalls the time she was hospitalized for 30 days post-infusion. “Dr. El-Jawahri would come after her working day had ended to spend time with me,” Joanne writes. “She also dealt with the entire family, and my children felt comforted with her patient explanations and suggestions. She seemed to sense what I was feeling, and always made that extra effort to offer help.”
