Syed Yousuf Zafar | Scholars@Duke

Syed Yousuf Zafar
Associate Professor of Medicine

Dr. Zafar is a health services researcher with a focus in improving care delivery for patients with advanced cancer. He has obtained advanced training in health services research and has participated in single-institution, multi-institution and national studies focusing on access to care, cost of care, and comparative effectiveness of care delivery between health systems. His primary area of interest is in the cost of cancer care. He has conducted institutional and national studies on how treatment-related costs impact cancer patients' experience. His current work in this arena is focused on patient preferences regarding cost-related communication and decision-making.

A second field of interest is palliative care. Dr. Zafar has collaborated with national and international palliative care leaders to improve the design and delivery of palliative care in cancer clinical trials. Methodologically, this work has centered around systematic literature reviews, iterative surveys, and prospective clinical trials.

Dr. Zafar is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Health Disparities and Clinical Practice Guideline Committees. He is a member of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology's Health Disparities and Health Outcomes Committees. Dr. Zafar's work has been funded by the American Cancer Society, the HealthWell Foundation, the Duke Cancer Prevention and Control Program, the Duke Clinical Research Institute, and the CALGB Foundation.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Associate Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Medical Oncology, Medicine 2014
Associate Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University 2016
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers 2005
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute, Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers 2011
Member in the Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Institutes and Centers 2012

Contact Information

Duke Box 3505, Durham, NC 27710
Seeley G. Mudd Building, Rm 43, 10 Bryan Searle Dr., DUMC 3505, Durham, NC 27710
yousuf.zafar@duke.edu (919) 684-8111
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Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Fellow In Hematology Oncology, Medicine, Duke University 2005 - 2008
- Resident, Medicine, University of Cincinnati 2002 - 2005
- M.D., University of Toledo 2002
Duke Appointment History
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Medicine, Medical Oncology, Medicine 2010 - 2014
- Medical Instructor in the Department of Medicine, Medicine, Medical Oncology, Medicine 2008 - 2010
- Instructor, Temporary in the Department of Medicine, Medicine, Medical Oncology, Medicine 2008
Leadership & Clinical Positions at Duke
- Director, Center for Applied Cancer Health Policy
  Co-Leader, Health Care Delivery Focus Area, Cancer Control and Population Sciences
Recognition
In the News
- AUG 11, 2017 Duke Health News
  
  Out-of-Pocket Costs Exceed What Many Insured Cancer Patients Expect to Pay
- AUG 10, 2017 US News & World Report
  
  Cancer Takes Financial Toll, Even With Insurance
- AUG 10, 2017 Forbes
  
  Even Insured Patients Are Overwhelmed By The Cost Of Cancer Care
- AUG 10, 2017 NPR
  
  Widowed Early, A Cancer Doctor Writes About The Harm Of Medical Debt
- MAY 19, 2017 Duke Research Blog
  
  If the Cancer Doesn't Kill You, the Drug Bill Might
- JUN 6, 2016
  
  Cancer Patients with ACA Policies Swiftly Reach Out-of-Pocket Caps
- JUL 2, 2015 The Daily Mail
  
  How being obese could help you fight cancer
- JUL 1, 2015
  
  Thin Colorectal Cancer Patients Have Shorter Survival Than Obese Patients
- DEC 18, 2014
  
  ‘Financial Toxicity’ Can Lower Cancer Patients' Quality of Life
- JUN 14, 2013 New York Times
  
  Life, interrupted: The cost of cancer
Expertise
Subject Headings
Global Scholarship
- Research
  - United Republic of Tanzania (Country)
Research
Selected Grants
- PAPNavigator STTR (Fast-Track) awarded by Vivor, LLC 2016 - 2018
- Couple Communication in Cancer: A Multi-method Examination awarded by Arizona State University 2016 - 2017
- Financial Assistance, Navigation, and Communication Education (FinANCE): Development awarded by Brigham and Women's Hospital 2013 - 2015
- Does Comparative Effectiveness Research Promote Rationing or Rational Cancer Care? awarded by Greenwall Foundation 2013 - 2014
- CTSA KL2 awarded by National Institutes of Health 2006 - 2013
- Duke CTSA-KL2 awarded by National Institutes of Health 2006 - 2012
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Conference Papers
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Samsa, G, Nicolla, J, Altomare, I, and Zafar, SY. ""Going for Broke": Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Patient-Reported Willingness to Pay and Sacrifice in Cancer Care." October 1, 2016. Link to Item
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Samsa, G, Nicolla, J, Altomare, I, and Zafar, SY. ""Going for Broke": Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Patient-Reported Willingness to Pay and Sacrifice in Cancer Care." October 1, 2016. Link to Item
  - Mowery, YM, Salama, JK, Zafar, SY, Moore, HG, Willett, CG, Czito, B, Hopkins, MB, and Palta, M. "Radiation Oncologists' Practice Patterns and Attitudes Regarding Neoadjuvant Short-Course Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer in the United States." October 1, 2016. Link to Item
  - Mowery, YM, Salama, JK, Zafar, SY, Moore, HG, Willett, CG, Czito, B, Hopkins, MB, and Palta, M. "Radiation Oncologists' Practice Patterns and Attitudes Regarding Neoadjuvant Short-Course Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer in the United States." October 1, 2016. Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY. "Abstract IA09: Intervening on the financial toxicity of cancer care." March 2016. Full Text
  - Irwin, B, Kimmick, G, Altomare, I, Marcom, PK, Houck, K, Zafar, SY, and Peppercorn, J. "Patient experience and attitudes toward addressing the cost of breast cancer care." November 2014. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Grothey, A, Bekaii-Saab, T, Bendell, J, Sherrill, B, Bennett, L, Mun, Y, Sersch, M, Dalal, D, and Hurwitz, HI. "SURVIVAL AMONG METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER (MCRC) PATIENTS TREATED IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL (RCT) VS AN OBSERVATIONAL COHORT STUDY (OCS)." September 2012. Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Zafar, SY, Coeytaux, R, Rowe, K, Wheeler, JL, and Lyerly, HK. "Electronic patient-reported data capture as the foundation of a learning health care system." May 20, 2009. Link to Item
  - Bullock, KE, Hurwitz, HI, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Blobe, GC, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, Nixon, AB, Howard, LA, and Bendell, JC. "Bevacizumab (B) plus everolimus (E) in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)." May 20, 2009. Link to Item
- Journal Articles
  - Hunter, WG, Zafar, SY, Hesson, A, Davis, JK, Kirby, C, Barnett, JA, and Ubel, PA. "Discussing Health Care Expenses in the Oncology Clinic: Analysis of Cost Conversations in Outpatient Encounters." Journal of oncology practice (August 23, 2017): JOP2017022855-. Full Text
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Kamal, AH, Altomare, I, Samsa, G, and Zafar, SY. "Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Underinsurance in Cancer Care." JAMA oncology (August 10, 2017). Full Text
  - Porter, LS, Keefe, FJ, Baucom, DH, Olsen, M, Zafar, SY, and Uronis, H. "A randomized pilot trial of a videoconference couples communication intervention for advanced GI cancer." Psycho-oncology 26, no. 7 (July 2017): 1027-1035. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, and Peppercorn, JM. "Patient Financial Assistance Programs: A Path to Affordability or a Barrier to Accessible Cancer Care?." Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 35, no. 19 (July 2017): 2113-2116. Full Text
  - Mowery, YM, Salama, JK, Zafar, SY, Moore, HG, Willett, CG, Czito, BG, Hopkins, MB, and Palta, M. "Neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiation remains strongly favored over short-course radiotherapy by radiation oncologists in the United States." Cancer 123, no. 8 (April 2017): 1434-1441. Full Text
  - Zullig, LL, Wolf, S, Vlastelica, L, Shankaran, V, and Zafar, SY. "The Role of Patient Financial Assistance Programs in Reducing Costs for Cancer Patients." Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy 23, no. 4 (April 2017): 407-411. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Peppercorn, J, Asabere, A, and Bastian, A. "Transparency of Industry-Sponsored Oncology Patient Financial Assistance Programs Using a Patient-Centered Approach." Journal of oncology practice 13, no. 3 (March 2017): e240-e248. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Newcomer, LN, McCarthy, J, Fuld Nasso, S, and Saltz, LB. "How Should We Intervene on the Financial Toxicity of Cancer Care? One Shot, Four Perspectives." American Society of Clinical Oncology educational book. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Meeting 37 (January 2017): 35-39. Full Text
  - Zullig, LL, Schroeder, K, Nyindo, P, Namwai, T, Silayo, E, Msomba, A, Munishi, MO, Karia, F, Muiruri, C, Bartlett, J, Maro, V, and Zafar, SY. "Validation and Quality Assessment of the Kilimanjaro Cancer Registry." Journal of global oncology 2, no. 6 (December 2016): 381-386. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Samsa, G, Nicolla, J, Altomare, I, and Zafar, SY. ""Going for Broke": Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Patient-Reported Willingness to Pay and Sacrifice in Cancer Care." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 96, no. 2S (October 2016): S135-S136. Full Text
  - Mowery, YM, Salama, JK, Zafar, SY, Moore, HG, Willett, CG, Czito, B, Hopkins, MB, and Palta, M. "Radiation Oncologists' Practice Patterns and Attitudes Regarding Neoadjuvant Short-Course Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer in the United States." International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics 96, no. 2S (October 2016): S203-. Full Text
  - Wollins, DS, and Zafar, SY. "A Touchy Subject: Can Physicians Improve Value by Discussing Costs and Clinical Benefits With Patients?." The oncologist 21, no. 10 (October 2016): 1157-1160. Full Text
  - Hochman, MJ, Wolf, S, Zafar, SY, Portman, D, Bull, J, and Kamal, AH. "Comparing Unmet Needs to Optimize Quality: Characterizing Inpatient and Outpatient Palliative Care Populations." Journal of pain and symptom management 51, no. 6 (June 2016): 1033-1039.e3. Full Text
  - Nipp, RD, Zullig, LL, Samsa, G, Peppercorn, JM, Schrag, D, Taylor, DH, Abernethy, AP, and Zafar, SY. "Identifying cancer patients who alter care or lifestyle due to treatment-related financial distress." Psycho-oncology 25, no. 6 (June 2016): 719-725. Full Text
  - Lathan, CS, Cronin, A, Tucker-Seeley, R, Zafar, SY, Ayanian, JZ, and Schrag, D. "Association of Financial Strain With Symptom Burden and Quality of Life for Patients With Lung or Colorectal Cancer." Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 34, no. 15 (May 2016): 1732-1740. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY. "Financial Toxicity of Cancer Care: It's Time to Intervene." Journal of the National Cancer Institute 108, no. 5 (May 2016). Full Text
  - Altomare, I, Irwin, B, Zafar, SY, Houck, K, Maloney, B, Greenup, R, and Peppercorn, J. "Physician Experience and Attitudes Toward Addressing the Cost of Cancer Care." Journal of oncology practice 12, no. 3 (March 2016): e281-248. Full Text
  - Kircher, SM, Meeker, CR, Nimeiri, H, Geynisman, DM, Zafar, SY, Shankaran, V, de Souza, J, and Wong, Y-N. "The Parity Paradigm: Can Legislation Help Reduce the Cost Burden of Oral Anticancer Medications?." Value in health : the journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research 19, no. 1 (January 2016): 88-98. Full Text
  - Roe, MT, Cyr, DD, Eckart, D, Schulte, PJ, Morse, MA, Blackwell, KL, Ready, NE, Zafar, SY, Beaven, AW, Strickler, JH, Onken, JE, Winters, KJ, Houterloot, L, Zamoryakhin, D, Wiviott, SD, White, HD, Prabhakaran, D, Fox, KAA, Armstrong, PW, Ohman, EM, and TRILOGY ACS Investigators, . "Ascertainment, classification, and impact of neoplasm detection during prolonged treatment with dual antiplatelet therapy with prasugrel vs. clopidogrel following acute coronary syndrome." European heart journal 37, no. 4 (January 2016): 412-422. Full Text
  - Deming, D, Uboha, N, Zafar, SY, Rosenberg, S, Bassetti, M, Glasgow, S, Borden, EC, and Lubner, S. "Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II Rectal Cancer." Seminars in oncology 42, no. 6 (December 2015): e99-107. (Review) Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Chino, F, Ubel, PA, Rushing, C, Samsa, G, Altomare, I, Nicolla, J, Schrag, D, Tulsky, JA, Abernethy, AP, and Peppercorn, JM. "The utility of cost discussions between patients with cancer and oncologists." The American journal of managed care 21, no. 9 (September 2015): 607-615.
  - Nipp, RD, Currow, DC, Cherny, NI, Strasser, F, Abernethy, AP, and Zafar, SY. "Best supportive care in clinical trials: review of the inconsistency in control arm design." British journal of cancer 113, no. 1 (June 11, 2015): 6-11. (Review) Full Text
  - Kutner, JS, Blatchford, PJ, Taylor, DH, Ritchie, CS, Bull, JH, Fairclough, DL, Hanson, LC, LeBlanc, TW, Samsa, GP, Wolf, S, Aziz, NM, Currow, DC, Ferrell, B, Wagner-Johnston, N, Zafar, SY, Cleary, JF, Dev, S, Goode, PS, Kamal, AH, Kassner, C, Kvale, EA, McCallum, JG, Ogunseitan, AB, Pantilat, SZ, Portenoy, RK, Prince-Paul, M, Sloan, JA, Swetz, KM, Von Gunten, CF, and Abernethy, AP. "Safety and benefit of discontinuing statin therapy in the setting of advanced, life-limiting illness: a randomized clinical trial." JAMA internal medicine 175, no. 5 (May 2015): 691-700. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Ubel, PA, Tulsky, JA, and Pollak, KI. "Cost-related health literacy: a key component of high-quality cancer care." Journal of oncology practice 11, no. 3 (May 2015): 171-173. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, McNeil, RB, Thomas, CM, Lathan, CS, Ayanian, JZ, and Provenzale, D. "Population-based assessment of cancer survivors' financial burden and quality of life: a prospective cohort study." Journal of oncology practice 11, no. 2 (March 2015): 145-150. Full Text
  - Bestvina, CM, Zullig, LL, and Zafar, SY. "The implications of out-of-pocket cost of cancer treatment in the USA: a critical appraisal of the literature (vol 10, pg 2189, 2014)." FUTURE ONCOLOGY 11, no. 3 (2015): 544-544. Full Text Link to Item
  - Kasi, PM, Zafar, SY, and Grothey, A. "Is obesity an advantage in patients with colorectal cancer?." Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology 9, no. 11 (January 2015): 1339-1342. (Review) Full Text
  - Bestvina, CM, Zullig, LL, and Yousuf Zafar, S. "The implications of out-of-pocket cost of cancer treatment in the USA: a critical appraisal of the literature." Future oncology (London, England) 10, no. 14 (November 2014): 2189-2199. (Review) Full Text
  - Irwin, B, Kimmick, G, Altomare, I, Marcom, PK, Houck, K, Zafar, SY, and Peppercorn, J. "Patient Experience and Attitudes Toward Addressing the Cost of Breast Cancer Care." ONCOLOGIST 19, no. 11 (November 2014): 1135-1140. Full Text Link to Item
  - Taylor, DH, Danis, M, Zafar, SY, Howie, LJ, Samsa, GP, Wolf, SP, and Abernethy, AP. "There is a mismatch between the medicare benefit package and the preferences of patients with cancer and their caregivers." Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 32, no. 28 (October 2014): 3163-3168. Full Text
  - Smith, SK, Nicolla, J, and Zafar, SY. "Bridging the gap between financial distress and available resources for patients with cancer: a qualitative study." Journal of oncology practice 10, no. 5 (September 2014): e368-e372. Full Text
  - Rangwala, F, Bendell, JC, Kozloff, MF, Arrowood, CC, Dellinger, A, Meadows, J, Tourt-Uhlig, S, Murphy, J, Meadows, KL, Starr, A, Broderick, S, Brady, JC, Cushman, SM, Morse, MA, Uronis, HE, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, Wallace, J, Starodub, AN, Strickler, JH, Pang, H, Nixon, AB, and Hurwitz, HI. "Phase I study of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, and everolimus in advanced solid tumors." Investigational new drugs 32, no. 4 (August 2014): 700-709. Full Text
  - Danis, M, Abernethy, AP, Zafar, SY, Samsa, GP, Wolf, SP, Howie, L, and Taylor, DH. "A decision exercise to engage cancer patients and families in deliberation about Medicare coverage for advanced cancer care." BMC health services research 14 (July 19, 2014): 315-. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Tulsky, JA, and Abernethy, AP. "It's time to have 'the talk': cost communication and patient-centered care." Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) 28, no. 6 (June 2014): 479-480.
  - Bestvina, CM, Zullig, LL, Rushing, C, Chino, F, Samsa, GP, Altomare, I, Tulsky, J, Ubel, P, Schrag, D, Nicolla, J, Abernethy, AP, Peppercorn, J, and Zafar, SY. "Patient-oncologist cost communication, financial distress, and medication adherence." Journal of oncology practice 10, no. 3 (May 2014): 162-167. Full Text
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, J, Taylor, DH, Lu, Y, Samsa, G, Abernethy, AP, and Zafar, SY. "Self-reported financial burden and satisfaction with care among patients with cancer." The oncologist 19, no. 4 (April 2014): 414-420. Full Text
  - Strickler, JH, McCall, S, Nixon, AB, Brady, JC, Pang, H, Rushing, C, Cohn, A, Starodub, A, Arrowood, C, Haley, S, Meadows, KL, Morse, MA, Uronis, HE, Blobe, GC, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, and Hurwitz, HI. "Phase I study of dasatinib in combination with capecitabine, oxaliplatin and bevacizumab followed by an expanded cohort in previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer." Invest New Drugs 32, no. 2 (April 2014): 330-339. Full Text Link to Item
  - Peppercorn, J, Zafar, SY, Houck, K, Ubel, P, and Meropol, NJ. "Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?." The Lancet. Oncology 15, no. 3 (March 2014): e132-e138. Full Text
  - Peppercorn, J, Zafar, SY, Houck, K, Ubel, P, and Meropol, NJ. "Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?." The Lancet Oncology 15, no. 3 (March 2014): e132-e138. Full Text
  - Peppercorn, J, Zafar, SY, Houck, K, Ubel, P, and Meropol, NJ. "Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?." The Lancet Oncology 15, no. 3 (March 1, 2014). (Review) Full Text
  - van Ryn, M, Phelan, SM, Arora, NK, Haggstrom, DA, Jackson, GL, Zafar, SY, Griffin, JM, Zullig, LL, Provenzale, D, Yeazel, MW, Jindal, RM, and Clauser, SB. "Patient-reported quality of supportive care among patients with colorectal cancer in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System." Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 32, no. 8 (March 2014): 809-815. Full Text
  - Bartley, AN, Hamilton, SR, Alsabeh, R, Ambinder, EP, Berman, M, Collins, E, Fitzgibbons, PL, Gress, DM, Nowak, JA, Samowitz, WS, Zafar, SY, Members of the Cancer Biomarker Reporting Workgroup, and College of American Pathologists, . "Template for reporting results of biomarker testing of specimens from patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum." Arch Pathol Lab Med 138, no. 2 (February 2014): 166-170. Full Text Link to Item
  - De Boer, C, Niyonzima, N, Orem, J, Bartlett, J, and Zafar, S. "Prognosis and delay of diagnosis among Kaposi’s sarcoma patients in Uganda: a cross-sectional study." Infectious Agents and Cancer 9, no. 1 (2014): 17-17. Full Text
  - De Boer, C, Niyonzima, N, Orem, J, Bartlett, J, and Zafar, SY. "Prognosis and delay of diagnosis among Kaposi's sarcoma patients in Uganda: a cross-sectional study." Infectious agents and cancer 9 (January 2014): 17-. Full Text
  - Hirsch, BR, and Yousuf Zafar, S. "Comparative effectiveness research: Moving medical oncology forward." Seminars in Radiation Oncology 24, no. 1 (January 1, 2014): 49-53. Full Text
  - Rangwala, F, Bendell, JC, Kozloff, MF, Arrowood, CC, Dellinger, A, Meadows, J, Tourt-Uhlig, S, Murphy, J, Meadows, KL, Starr, A, Broderick, S, Brady, JC, Cushman, SM, Morse, MA, Uronis, HE, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, Wallace, J, Starodub, AN, Strickler, JH, Pang, H, Nixon, AB, and Hurwitz, HI. "Phase I study of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, and everolimus in advanced solid tumors." Investigational New Drugs 32, no. 4 (January 1, 2014): 700-709. Full Text
  - Strickler, JH, McCall, S, Nixon, AB, Brady, JC, Pang, H, Rushing, C, Cohn, A, Starodub, A, Arrowood, C, Haley, S, Meadows, KL, Morse, MA, Uronis, HE, Blobe, GC, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, and Hurwitz, HI. "Phase i study of dasatinib in combination with capecitabine, oxaliplatin and bevacizumab followed by an expanded cohort in previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer." Investigational New Drugs 32, no. 2 (January 1, 2014): 330-339. Full Text
  - Yousuf Zafar, S, Tulsky, JA, and Abernethy, AP. "It's time to have 'The talk': Cost communication and patient-centered care." ONCOLOGY (United States) 28, no. 6 (January 1, 2014): 13-.
  - Ubel, PA, Abernethy, AP, and Zafar, SY. "Full disclosure--out-of-pocket costs as side effects." N Engl J Med 369, no. 16 (October 17, 2013): 1484-1486. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zullig, LL, Peppercorn, JM, Schrag, D, Taylor, DH, Lu, Y, Samsa, G, Abernethy, AP, and Zafar, SY. "Financial Distress, Use of Cost-Coping Strategies, and Adherence to Prescription Medication Among Patients With Cancer." J Oncol Pract (August 20, 2013). Full Text Link to Item
  - Jackson, GL, Zullig, LL, Zafar, SY, Powell, AA, Ordin, DL, Gellad, ZF, Abbott, D, Schlosser, JM, Hersh, J, and Provenzale, D. "Using NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology to measure the quality of colorectal cancer care in the veterans health administration." J Natl Compr Canc Netw 11, no. 4 (April 1, 2013): 431-441. Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, and Abernethy, AP. "Financial Toxicity, Part II: How Can We Help With the Burden of Treatment-Related Costs?." ONCOLOGY-NEW YORK 27, no. 4 (April 2013): 253-+. Link to Item
  - Fouad, MN, Lee, JY, Catalano, PJ, Vogt, TM, Zafar, SY, West, DW, Simon, C, Klabunde, CN, Kahn, KL, Weeks, JC, and Kiefe, CI. "Enrollment of patients with lung and colorectal cancers onto clinical trials." J Oncol Pract 9, no. 2 (March 2013): e40-e47. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Malin, JL, Grambow, SC, Abbott, DH, Kolimaga, JT, Zullig, LL, Weeks, JC, Ayanian, JZ, Kahn, KL, Ganz, PA, Catalano, PJ, West, DW, Provenzale, D, and Cancer Care Outcomes Research & Surveillance CanCORS Consortium, . "Chemotherapy use and patient treatment preferences in advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective cohort study." Cancer 119, no. 4 (February 15, 2013): 854-862. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, and Abernethy, AP. "Financial toxicity, Part I: a new name for a growing problem." Oncology (Williston Park) 27, no. 2 (February 2013): 80-149. Link to Item
  - Phelan, SM, Griffin, JM, Jackson, GL, Zafar, SY, Hellerstedt, W, Stahre, M, Nelson, D, Zullig, LL, Burgess, DJ, and Ryn, MV. "Stigma, perceived blame, self-blame, and depressive symptoms in men with colorectal cancer." Psycho-Oncology 22, no. 1 (2013): 65-73. Full Text
  - Phelan, SM, Griffin, JM, Jackson, GL, Zafar, SY, Hellerstedt, W, Stahre, M, Nelson, D, Zullig, LL, Burgess, DJ, and van Ryn, M. "Stigma, perceived blame, self-blame, and depressive symptoms in men with colorectal cancer." Psychooncology 22, no. 1 (January 2013): 65-73. Full Text Link to Item
  - Uronis, HE, Bendell, JC, Altomare, I, Blobe, GC, Hsu, SD, Morse, MA, Pang, H, Zafar, SY, Conkling, P, Favaro, J, Arrowood, CC, Cushman, SM, Meadows, KL, Brady, JC, Nixon, AB, and Hurwitz, HI. "A phase II study of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab in the treatment of metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinomas." Oncologist 18, no. 3 (2013): 271-272. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Malin, JL, Grambow, SC, Abbott, DH, Kolimaga, JT, Zullig, LL, Weeks, JC, Ayanian, JZ, Kahn, KL, Ganz, PA, Catalano, PJ, West, DW, and Provenzale, D. "Chemotherapy use and patient treatment preferences in advanced colorectal cancer: A prospective cohort study." Cancer 119, no. 4 (2013): 854-862. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Peppercorn, JM, Schrag, D, Taylor, DH, Goetzinger, AM, Zhong, X, and Abernethy, AP. "The financial toxicity of cancer treatment: a pilot study assessing out-of-pocket expenses and the insured cancer patient's experience." Oncologist 18, no. 4 (2013): 381-390. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, and Abernethy, AP. "Financial toxicity, Part I: a new name for a growing problem." Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) 27, no. 2 (2013): 80-149.
  - Zafar, SY, and Abernethy, AP. "Financial toxicity, Part II: how can we help with the burden of treatment-related costs?." Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) 27, no. 4 (2013): 253-256.
  - Zullig, LL, Muiruri, C, Abernethy, A, Weiner, BJ, Bartlett, J, Oneko, O, and Zafar, SY. "Cancer registration needs assessment at a tertiary medical centre in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania." World Health Popul 14, no. 2 (2013): 12-23. Link to Item
  - Strickler, JH, Starodub, AN, Jia, J, Meadows, KL, Nixon, AB, Dellinger, A, Morse, MA, Uronis, HE, Marcom, PK, Zafar, SY, Haley, ST, and Hurwitz, HI. "Phase I study of bevacizumab, everolimus, and panobinostat (LBH-589) in advanced solid tumors." Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 70, no. 2 (August 2012): 251-258. Full Text Link to Item
  - Vlahovic, G, Meadows, KL, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Blobe, GC, Riedel, RF, Zafar, SY, Alvarez-Secord, A, Gockerman, J, Starodub, AN, Ready, NE, Anderson, EL, Bendell, JC, and Hurwitz, HI. "A phase I study of bevacizumab, everolimus and panitumumab in advanced solid tumors." Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 70, no. 1 (July 2012): 95-102. Full Text Link to Item
  - Currow, DC, Tieman, JJ, Greene, A, Zafar, SY, Wheeler, JL, and Abernethy, AP. "Refining a checklist for reporting patient populations and service characteristics in hospice and palliative care research." J Pain Symptom Manage 43, no. 5 (May 2012): 902-910. Full Text Link to Item
  - Palta, M, Patel, P, Broadwater, G, Willett, C, Pepek, J, Tyler, D, Zafar, SY, Uronis, H, Hurwitz, H, White, R, and Czito, B. "Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: patterns of failure following resection and benefit of chemoradiotherapy." Ann Surg Oncol 19, no. 5 (May 2012): 1535-1540. Full Text Link to Item
  - Rangwala, F, Zafar, SY, and Abernethy, AP. "Gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients with advanced disease: new methodologies, insights, and a proposed approach." Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 6, no. 1 (March 2012): 69-76. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Currow, DC, Cherny, N, Strasser, F, Fowler, R, and Abernethy, AP. "Consensus-based standards for best supportive care in clinical trials in advanced cancer." Lancet Oncol 13, no. 2 (February 2012): e77-e82. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Malin, JL, Grambow, SC, Abbott, DH, Schrag, D, Kolimaga, JT, Zullig, LL, Weeks, JC, Fouad, MN, Ayanian, JZ, Wallace, R, Kahn, KL, Ganz, PA, Catalano, P, West, DW, Provenzale, D, and Cancer Care and Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) Consortium, . "Early dissemination of bevacizumab for advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective cohort study. (Published online)" BMC Cancer 11 (August 16, 2011): 354-. Full Text Link to Item
  - Bullock, KE, Petros, WP, Younis, I, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Blobe, GC, Zafar, SY, Gockerman, JP, Lager, JJ, Truax, R, Meadows, KL, Howard, LA, O'Neill, MM, Broadwater, G, Hurwitz, HI, and Bendell, JC. "A phase I study of bevacizumab (B) in combination with everolimus (E) and erlotinib (E) in advanced cancer (BEE)." Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 67, no. 2 (February 2011): 465-474. Full Text Link to Item
  - Currow, DC, Foley, K, Zafar, SY, Wheeler, JL, and Abernethy, AP. "The need for a re-evaluation of best supportive care studies reported to date." Br J Cancer 104, no. 3 (February 1, 2011): 390-391. Full Text Link to Item
  - Altomare, I, Bendell, JC, Bullock, KE, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, Blobe, GC, Pang, H, Honeycutt, W, Sutton, L, and Hurwitz, HI. "A phase II trial of bevacizumab plus everolimus for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer." Oncologist 16, no. 8 (2011): 1131-1137. Full Text Link to Item
  - Hirsch, BR, and Zafar, SY. "Capecitabine in the management of colorectal cancer." Cancer Manag Res 3 (2011): 79-89. Full Text Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Aziz, NM, Basch, E, Bull, J, Cleeland, CS, Currow, DC, Fairclough, D, Hanson, L, Hauser, J, Ko, D, Lloyd, L, Morrison, RS, Otis-Green, S, Pantilat, S, Portenoy, RK, Ritchie, C, Rocker, G, Wheeler, JL, Zafar, SY, and Kutner, JS. "A strategy to advance the evidence base in palliative medicine: formation of a palliative care research cooperative group." J Palliat Med 13, no. 12 (December 2010): 1407-1413. Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Zafar, SY, Uronis, H, Wheeler, JL, Coan, A, Rowe, K, Shelby, RA, Fowler, R, and Herndon, JE. "Validation of the Patient Care Monitor (Version 2.0): a review of system assessment instrument for cancer patients." J Pain Symptom Manage 40, no. 4 (October 2010): 545-558. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Currow, DC, Daugherty, CK, and Abernethy, AP. "Standards for palliative care delivery in oncology settings." Cancer J 16, no. 5 (September 2010): 436-443. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Bull, J, Zafar, SY, Wheeler, JL, Harker, M, Gblokpor, A, Hanson, L, Hulihan, D, Nugent, R, Morris, J, and Abernethy, AP. "Establishing a regional, multisite database for quality improvement and service planning in community-based palliative care and hospice." J Palliat Med 13, no. 8 (August 2010): 1013-1020. Full Text Open Access Copy Link to Item
  - Jackson, GL, Melton, LD, Abbott, DH, Zullig, LL, Ordin, DL, Grambow, SC, Hamilton, NS, Zafar, SY, Gellad, ZF, Kelley, MJ, and Provenzale, D. "Quality of nonmetastatic colorectal cancer care in the Department of Veterans Affairs." J Clin Oncol 28, no. 19 (July 1, 2010): 3176-3181. Full Text Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Ahmad, A, Zafar, SY, Wheeler, JL, Reese, JB, and Lyerly, HK. "Electronic patient-reported data capture as a foundation of rapid learning cancer care." Med Care 48, no. 6 Suppl (June 2010): S32-S38. Full Text Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Wheeler, JL, and Zafar, SY. "Management of gastrointestinal symptoms in advanced cancer patients: the rapid learning cancer clinic model." Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 4, no. 1 (March 2010): 36-45. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Chrischilles, EA, Pendergast, JF, Kahn, KL, Wallace, RB, Moga, DC, Harrington, DP, Kiefe, CI, Weeks, JC, West, DW, Zafar, SY, and Fletcher, RH. "Adverse events among the elderly receiving chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer." J Clin Oncol 28, no. 4 (February 1, 2010): 620-627. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Marcello, JE, Wheeler, JL, Rowe, KL, Morse, MA, Herndon, JE, and Abernethy, AP. "Treatment-related toxicity and supportive care in metastatic colorectal cancer." J Support Oncol 8, no. 1 (January 2010): 15-20. Link to Item
  - Cherny, NI, Abernethy, AP, Strasser, F, Sapir, R, Currow, D, and Zafar, SY. "Improving the methodologic and ethical validity of best supportive care studies in oncology: lessons from a systematic review." J Clin Oncol 27, no. 32 (November 10, 2009): 5476-5486. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Marcello, JE, Wheeler, JL, Rowe, KL, Morse, MA, Herndon, JE, and Abernethy, AP. "Longitudinal patterns of chemotherapy use in metastatic colorectal cancer." J Oncol Pract 5, no. 5 (September 2009): 228-233. Full Text Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Barbour, SY, Uronis, H, Zafar, SY, Coan, A, Rowe, K, Pupa, MR, Wheeler, JL, and Herndon, JE. "Quality management of potential chemotherapy-induced neutropenic complications: evaluation of practice in an academic medical center." Support Care Cancer 17, no. 6 (June 2009): 735-744. Full Text Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Zafar, SY, Coeytaux, R, Rowe, K, Wheeler, JL, and Lyerly, HK. "Electronic patient-reported data capture as the foundation of a learning health care system." Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 27, no. 15_suppl (May 2009): 6522-.
  - Bullock, KE, Hurwitz, HI, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Blobe, GC, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, Nixon, AB, Howard, LA, and Bendell, JC. "Bevacizumab (B) plus everolimus (E) in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC)." Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology 27, no. 15_suppl (May 2009): 4080-.
  - Dupont, A, Wheeler, J, Herndon, JE, Coan, A, Zafar, SY, Hood, L, Patwardhan, M, Shaw, HS, Lyerly, HK, and Abernethy, AP. "Use of tablet personal computers for sensitive patient-reported information." J Support Oncol 7, no. 3 (May 2009): 91-97. Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Wheeler, JL, and Zafar, SY. "Detailing of gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients with advanced disease: new methodologies, new insights, and a proposed approach." Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 3, no. 1 (March 2009): 41-49. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Alexander, SC, Weinfurt, KP, Schulman, KA, and Abernethy, AP. "Decision making and quality of life in the treatment of cancer: a review." Support Care Cancer 17, no. 2 (February 2009): 117-127. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Abernethy, AP, and Currow, D. "To the editor." Journal of Clinical Oncology 27, no. 5 (2009): 829--. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Abernethy, AP, Abbott, DH, Grambow, SC, Marcello, JE, Herndon, JE, Rowe, KL, Kolimaga, JT, Zullig, LL, Patwardhan, MB, and Provenzale, DT. "Comorbidity, age, race and stage at diagnosis in colorectal cancer: a retrospective, parallel analysis of two health systems. (Published online)" BMC Cancer 8 (November 25, 2008): 345-. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Currow, D, and Abernethy, AP. "Defining best supportive care." J Clin Oncol 26, no. 31 (November 1, 2008): 5139-5140. (Letter) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Howell, DN, and Gockerman, JP. "Malignancy after solid organ transplantation: an overview." Oncologist 13, no. 7 (July 2008): 769-778. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Abernethy, AP, Abbott, DH, Grambow, SC, Marcello, JE, 2nd, JEH, Rowe, KL, Kolimaga, JT, Zullig, LL, Patwardhan, MB, and Provenzale, DT. "Comorbidity, age, race and stage at diagnosis in colorectal cancer: a retrospective, parallel analysis of two health systems." BMC cancer 8 (2008): 345--. Full Text
  - Zafar, Y, and Hurwitz, HI. "Monoclonal antibodies to EGFR: What does the future hold?." ONCOLOGY 21, no. 8 (2007): 976-977.
Teaching & Mentoring
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- PUBPOL 393: Research Independent Study 2017

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