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
Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences, Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments 2018
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
Awards & Honors
Expertise
Subject Headings
Global Scholarship
- Research
  - United Republic of Tanzania (Country)
Research
Selected Grants
- Examining Best Practices for Factoring Out-Of-Pocket Expenses into Patients' Health Care Decisions awarded by Patrick & Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation 2018 - 2020
- Couple Communication in Cancer: A Multi-method Examination awarded by Arizona State University 2016 - 2019
- Improving Advance Care Planning in Oncology: A Pragmatic, Cluster-Randomized Trial Integrating Patient Videos and Clinician Communication Training awarded by Dana Farber Cancer Institute 2018 - 2019
- PAPNavigator STTR (Fast-Track) awarded by Vivor, LLC 2016 - 2019
- Using AACT - to answer Oncology landscape portfolio of open trials awarded by American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network 2017 - 2018
- 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
- Academic Articles
  - Chino, F, Kamal, AH, Leblanc, TW, Zafar, SY, Suneja, G, & Chino, JP. (2018, November). Place of death for patients with cancer in the United States, 1999 through 2015: Racial, age, and geographic disparities. Cancer , 124 (22), 4408-4419. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Polite, BN, & McClellan, M. (2018, November). Engaging Patients in Value-Based Cancer Care: A Missed Opportunity. Jama Oncology , 4 (11), 1479-1480. Full Text
  - Sitlinger, A, & Zafar, SY. (2018, October). Health-Related Quality of Life: The Impact on Morbidity and Mortality. Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America , 27 (4), 675-684. (Review) Full Text
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Nicolla, J, Kamal, AH, Altomare, I, Samsa, G, & Zafar, SY. (2018, September). Going for Broke: A Longitudinal Study of Patient-Reported Financial Sacrifice in Cancer Care. Journal of Oncology Practice , 14 (9), e533-e546. Full Text
  - Hastert, TA, Young, GS, Pennell, ML, Padamsee, T, Zafar, SY, DeGraffinreid, C, Naughton, M, Simon, M, & Paskett, ED. (2018, September). Financial burden among older, long-term cancer survivors: Results from the LILAC study. Cancer Medicine , 7 (9), 4261-4272. Full Text
  - Leopold, C, Peppercorn, JM, Zafar, SY, & Wagner, AK. (2018, July). Defining Value of Cancer Therapeutics-A Health System Perspective. Journal of the National Cancer Institute , 110 (7), 699-703. Full Text
  - Vlahovic, G, Meadows, KL, Hatch, AJ, Jia, J, Nixon, AB, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Selim, MA, Crawford, J, Riedel, RF, Zafar, SY, Howard, LA, O'Neill, M, Meadows, JJ, Haley, ST, Arrowood, CC, Rushing, C, Pang, H, & Hurwitz, HI. (2018, July). A Phase I Trial of the IGF-1R Antibody Ganitumab (AMG 479) in Combination with Everolimus (RAD001) and Panitumumab in Patients with Advanced Cancer. The Oncologist , 23 (7), 782-790. Full Text
  - Chan, RJ, Gordon, L, Zafar, SY, & Miaskowski, C. (2018, May). Financial toxicity and symptom burden: what is the big deal? (Accepted). Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer , 26 (5), 1357-1359. Full Text
  - Tran, G, & Zafar, SY. (2018, May). Financial toxicity and implications for cancer care in the era of molecular and immune therapies. Annals of Translational Medicine , 6 (9), 166-null. (Review) Full Text
  - Shih, Y-CT, Nasso, SF, & Zafar, SY. (2018, March). Price Transparency for Whom? In Search of Out-of-Pocket Cost Estimates to Facilitate Cost Communication in Cancer Care. PharmacoEconomics , 36 (3), 259-261. Full Text
  - Moss, HA, Havrilesky, LJ, Zafar, SY, Suneja, G, & Chino, J. (2018, February). Trends in Insurance Status Among Patients Diagnosed With Cancer Before and After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Journal of Oncology Practice , 14 (2), e92-e102. Full Text
  - Tran, G, & Zafar, SY. (2018, February). Price of Cancer Care and Its Tax on Quality of Life. Journal of Oncology Practice , 14 (2), 69-71. Full Text
  - Williams, GR. (2018, February). Geriatric Assessment: Precision Medicine for Older Adults With Cancer. Journal of Oncology Practice , 14 (2), 97-98. Full Text
  - Langer, SL, Romano, JM, Todd, M, Strauman, TJ, Keefe, FJ, Syrjala, KL, Bricker, JB, Ghosh, N, Burns, JW, Bolger, N, Puleo, BK, Gralow, JR, Shankaran, V, Westbrook, K, Zafar, SY, & Porter, LS. (2018, January). Links Between Communication and Relationship Satisfaction Among Patients With Cancer and Their Spouses: Results of a Fourteen-Day Smartphone-Based Ecological Momentary Assessment Study. Frontiers in Psychology , 9 , 1843-null. Full Text
  - Sitlinger, AP, & Zafar, SY. (2018, January). With Colorectal Cancer Treatment, Physical Toxicity Is Not the Only Concern. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum , 61 (1), 4-5. Full Text
  - Sloan, C, & Zafar, SY. (2018, January). Ask Early and Ask Often: How Discussing Costs Could Save Your Patient's Life. North Carolina medical journal , 79 (1), 39-42. Full Text
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Kamal, AH, Altomare, I, Samsa, G, & Zafar, SY. (2017, November). Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Underinsurance in Cancer Care. Jama Oncology , 3 (11), 1582-1584. Full Text
  - Hunter, WG, Zafar, SY, Hesson, A, Davis, JK, Kirby, C, Barnett, JA, & Ubel, PA. (2017, November). Discussing Health Care Expenses in the Oncology Clinic: Analysis of Cost Conversations in Outpatient Encounters. Journal of Oncology Practice , 13 (11), e944-e956. Full Text
  - Porter, LS, Keefe, FJ, Baucom, DH, Olsen, M, Zafar, SY, & Uronis, H. (2017, July). A randomized pilot trial of a videoconference couples communication intervention for advanced GI cancer. Psycho Oncology , 26 (7), 1027-1035. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, & Peppercorn, JM. (2017, July). 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 (19), 2113-2116. Full Text
  - Mowery, YM, Salama, JK, Zafar, SY, Moore, HG, Willett, CG, Czito, BG, Hopkins, MB, & Palta, M. (2017, April). Neoadjuvant long-course chemoradiation remains strongly favored over short-course radiotherapy by radiation oncologists in the United States. Cancer , 123 (8), 1434-1441. Full Text
  - Zullig, LL, Wolf, S, Vlastelica, L, Shankaran, V, & Zafar, SY. (2017, April). The Role of Patient Financial Assistance Programs in Reducing Costs for Cancer Patients. Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy , 23 (4), 407-411. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Peppercorn, J, Asabere, A, & Bastian, A. (2017, March). Transparency of Industry-Sponsored Oncology Patient Financial Assistance Programs Using a Patient-Centered Approach. Journal of Oncology Practice , 13 (3), e240-e248. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Newcomer, LN, McCarthy, J, Fuld Nasso, S, & Saltz, LB. (2017, January). 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. Annual Meeting , 37 , 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, & Zafar, SY. (2016, December). Validation and Quality Assessment of the Kilimanjaro Cancer Registry. Journal of Global Oncology , 2 (6), 381-386. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Samsa, G, Nicolla, J, Altomare, I, & Zafar, SY. (2016, October). "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 (2S), S135-S136. Full Text
  - Mowery, YM, Salama, JK, Zafar, SY, Moore, HG, Willett, CG, Czito, B, Hopkins, MB, & Palta, M. (2016, October). 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 (2S), S203-. Full Text
  - Wollins, DS, & Zafar, SY. (2016, October). A Touchy Subject: Can Physicians Improve Value by Discussing Costs and Clinical Benefits With Patients?. The oncologist , 21 (10), 1157-1160. Full Text
  - Hochman, MJ, Wolf, S, Zafar, SY, Portman, D, Bull, J, & Kamal, AH. (2016, June). Comparing Unmet Needs to Optimize Quality: Characterizing Inpatient and Outpatient Palliative Care Populations. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management , 51 (6), 1033-1039.e3. Full Text
  - Nipp, RD, Zullig, LL, Samsa, G, Peppercorn, JM, Schrag, D, Taylor, DH, Abernethy, AP, & Zafar, SY. (2016, June). Identifying cancer patients who alter care or lifestyle due to treatment-related financial distress. Psycho Oncology , 25 (6), 719-725. Full Text
  - Lathan, CS, Cronin, A, Tucker-Seeley, R, Zafar, SY, Ayanian, JZ, & Schrag, D. (2016, May). 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 (15), 1732-1740. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY. (2016, May). Financial Toxicity of Cancer Care: It's Time to Intervene. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute , 108 (5). Full Text
  - Altomare, I, Irwin, B, Zafar, SY, Houck, K, Maloney, B, Greenup, R, & Peppercorn, J. (2016, March). Physician Experience and Attitudes Toward Addressing the Cost of Cancer Care. Journal of Oncology Practice , 12 (3), e281-248. Full Text
  - Kircher, SM, Meeker, CR, Nimeiri, H, Geynisman, DM, Zafar, SY, Shankaran, V, de Souza, J, & Wong, Y-N. (2016, January). 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 (1), 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, & TRILOGY ACS Investigators, . (2016, January). 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 (4), 412-422. Full Text
  - Deming, D, Uboha, N, Zafar, SY, Rosenberg, S, Bassetti, M, Glasgow, S, Borden, EC, & Lubner, S. (2015, December). Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage II Rectal Cancer. Seminars in oncology , 42 (6), 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, & Peppercorn, JM. (2015, September). The utility of cost discussions between patients with cancer and oncologists. The American journal of managed care , 21 (9), 607-615.
  - Nipp, RD, Currow, DC, Cherny, NI, Strasser, F, Abernethy, AP, & Zafar, SY. (2015, June 11). Best supportive care in clinical trials: review of the inconsistency in control arm design. British Journal of Cancer , 113 (1), 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, & Abernethy, AP. (2015, May). Safety and benefit of discontinuing statin therapy in the setting of advanced, life-limiting illness: a randomized clinical trial. Jama Internal Medicine , 175 (5), 691-700. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Ubel, PA, Tulsky, JA, & Pollak, KI. (2015, May). Cost-related health literacy: a key component of high-quality cancer care. Journal of Oncology Practice , 11 (3), 171-173. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, McNeil, RB, Thomas, CM, Lathan, CS, Ayanian, JZ, & Provenzale, D. (2015, March). Population-based assessment of cancer survivors' financial burden and quality of life: a prospective cohort study. Journal of Oncology Practice , 11 (2), 145-150. Full Text
  - Bestvina, CM, Zullig, LL, & Zafar, SY. (2015). 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 (3), 544-544. Full Text Link to Item
  - Kasi, PM, Zafar, SY, & Grothey, A. (2015, January). Is obesity an advantage in patients with colorectal cancer?. Expert review of gastroenterology & hepatology , 9 (11), 1339-1342. (Review) Full Text
  - Bestvina, CM, Zullig, LL, & Yousuf Zafar, S. (2014, November). The implications of out-of-pocket cost of cancer treatment in the USA: a critical appraisal of the literature. Future Oncology (London, England) , 10 (14), 2189-2199. (Review) Full Text
  - Irwin, B, Kimmick, G, Altomare, I, Marcom, PK, Houck, K, Zafar, SY, & Peppercorn, J. (2014, November). Patient Experience and Attitudes Toward Addressing the Cost of Breast Cancer Care. ONCOLOGIST , 19 (11), 1135-1140. Full Text Link to Item
  - Taylor, DH, Danis, M, Zafar, SY, Howie, LJ, Samsa, GP, Wolf, SP, & Abernethy, AP. (2014, October). 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 (28), 3163-3168. Full Text
  - Smith, SK, Nicolla, J, & Zafar, SY. (2014, September). Bridging the gap between financial distress and available resources for patients with cancer: a qualitative study. Journal of Oncology Practice , 10 (5), 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, & Hurwitz, HI. (2014, August). Phase I study of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, and everolimus in advanced solid tumors. Investigational New Drugs , 32 (4), 700-709. Full Text
  - Danis, M, Abernethy, AP, Zafar, SY, Samsa, GP, Wolf, SP, Howie, L, & Taylor, DH. (2014, July 19). A decision exercise to engage cancer patients and families in deliberation about Medicare coverage for advanced cancer care. BMC health services research , 14 , 315-. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Tulsky, JA, & Abernethy, AP. (2014, June). It's time to have 'the talk': cost communication and patient-centered care. Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) , 28 (6), 479-480.
  - De Boer, C, Niyonzima, N, Orem, J, Bartlett, J, & Zafar, SY. (2014, May 20). Prognosis and delay of diagnosis among Kaposi's sarcoma patients in Uganda: A cross-sectional study. Infectious Agents and Cancer , 9 (1). Full Text
  - Bestvina, CM, Zullig, LL, Rushing, C, Chino, F, Samsa, GP, Altomare, I, Tulsky, J, Ubel, P, Schrag, D, Nicolla, J, Abernethy, AP, Peppercorn, J, & Zafar, SY. (2014, May). Patient-oncologist cost communication, financial distress, and medication adherence. Journal of Oncology Practice , 10 (3), 162-167. Full Text
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, J, Taylor, DH, Lu, Y, Samsa, G, Abernethy, AP, & Zafar, SY. (2014, April). Self-reported financial burden and satisfaction with care among patients with cancer. The Oncologist , 19 (4), 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, & Hurwitz, HI. (2014, April). 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 (2), 330-339. Full Text
  - Peppercorn, J, Zafar, SY, Houck, K, Ubel, P, & Meropol, NJ. (2014, March 1). Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?. The Lancet Oncology , 15 (3). (Review) Full Text
  - Peppercorn, J, Zafar, SY, Houck, K, Ubel, P, & Meropol, NJ. (2014, March). Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?. The Lancet. Oncology , 15 (3), e132-e138. Full Text
  - Peppercorn, J, Zafar, SY, Houck, K, Ubel, P, & Meropol, NJ. (2014, March). Does comparative effectiveness research promote rationing of cancer care?. The Lancet Oncology , 15 (3), e132-e138. 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, & Clauser, SB. (2014, March). 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 (8), 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, & College of American Pathologists, . (2014, February). Template for reporting results of biomarker testing of specimens from patients with carcinoma of the colon and rectum. Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine , 138 (2), 166-170. Full Text
  - De Boer, C, Niyonzima, N, Orem, J, Bartlett, J, & Zafar, SY. (2014, January). Prognosis and delay of diagnosis among Kaposi's sarcoma patients in Uganda: a cross-sectional study. Infectious agents and cancer , 9 , 17-. Full Text
  - Hirsch, BR, & Yousuf Zafar, S. (2014, January 1). Comparative effectiveness research: Moving medical oncology forward. Seminars in Radiation Oncology , 24 (1), 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, & Hurwitz, HI. (2014, January 1). Phase I study of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, bevacizumab, and everolimus in advanced solid tumors. Investigational New Drugs , 32 (4), 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, & Hurwitz, HI. (2014, January 1). 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 (2), 330-339. Full Text
  - Yousuf Zafar, S, Tulsky, JA, & Abernethy, AP. (2014, January 1). It's time to have 'The talk': Cost communication and patient-centered care. Oncology (United States) , 28 (6), 13-null.
  - Zullig, LL, Peppercorn, JM, Schrag, D, Taylor, DH, Lu, Y, Samsa, G, Abernethy, AP, & Zafar, SY. (2013, November). Financial Distress, Use of Cost-Coping Strategies, and Adherence to Prescription Medication Among Patients With Cancer. Journal of Oncology Practice , 9 (6S), 60s-63s. Full Text
  - Ubel, PA, Abernethy, AP, & Zafar, SY. (2013, October). Full disclosure--out-of-pocket costs as side effects. The New England Journal of Medicine , 369 (16), 1484-1486. Full Text
  - Zullig, LL, Peppercorn, JM, Schrag, D, Taylor, DH, Lu, Y, Samsa, G, Abernethy, AP, & Zafar, SY. (2013, August 20). Financial Distress, Use of Cost-Coping Strategies, and Adherence to Prescription Medication Among Patients With Cancer. J Oncol Pract . Full Text Link to Item
  - Jackson, GL, Zullig, LL, Zafar, SY, Powell, AA, Ordin, DL, Gellad, ZF, Abbott, D, Schlosser, JM, Hersh, J, & Provenzale, D. (2013, April). Using NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology to measure the quality of colorectal cancer care in the veterans health administration. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : Jnccn , 11 (4), 431-441. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, & Abernethy, AP. (2013, April). Financial Toxicity, Part II: How Can We Help With the Burden of Treatment-Related Costs?. ONCOLOGY-NEW YORK , 27 (4), 253-+. Link to Item
  - Fouad, MN, Lee, JY, Catalano, PJ, Vogt, TM, Zafar, SY, West, DW, Simon, C, Klabunde, CN, Kahn, KL, Weeks, JC, & Kiefe, CI. (2013, March). Enrollment of patients with lung and colorectal cancers onto clinical trials. Journal of Oncology Practice , 9 (2), e40-e47. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, & Abernethy, AP. (2013, February). Financial toxicity, Part I: a new name for a growing problem. Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) , 27 (2), 80-149.
  - 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, & Cancer Care Outcomes Research & Surveillance CanCORS Consortium, . (2013, February). Chemotherapy use and patient treatment preferences in advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective cohort study. Cancer , 119 (4), 854-862. Full Text
  - Phelan, SM, Griffin, JM, Jackson, GL, Zafar, SY, Hellerstedt, W, Stahre, M, Nelson, D, Zullig, LL, Burgess, DJ, & Ryn, MV. (2013). Stigma, perceived blame, self-blame, and depressive symptoms in men with colorectal cancer. Psycho-Oncology , 22 (1), 65-73. Full Text
  - Phelan, SM, Griffin, JM, Jackson, GL, Zafar, SY, Hellerstedt, W, Stahre, M, Nelson, D, Zullig, LL, Burgess, DJ, & van Ryn, M. (2013, January). Stigma, perceived blame, self-blame, and depressive symptoms in men with colorectal cancer. Psychooncology , 22 (1), 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, & Hurwitz, HI. (2013, January). A phase II study of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab in the treatment of metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinomas. The Oncologist , 18 (3), 271-272. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, & Abernethy, AP. (2013). Financial toxicity, Part II: how can we help with the burden of treatment-related costs?. Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) , 27 (4), 253-256.
  - Zafar, SY, & Abernethy, AP. (2013, January 1). Financial toxicity, Part I: a new name for a growing problem. Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) , 27 (2).
  - 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. (2013). Chemotherapy use and patient treatment preferences in advanced colorectal cancer: A prospective cohort study. Cancer , 119 (4), 854-862. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Peppercorn, JM, Schrag, D, Taylor, DH, Goetzinger, AM, Zhong, X, & Abernethy, AP. (2013, January). The financial toxicity of cancer treatment: a pilot study assessing out-of-pocket expenses and the insured cancer patient's experience. The Oncologist , 18 (4), 381-390. Full Text
  - Zullig, LL, Muiruri, C, Abernethy, A, Weiner, BJ, Bartlett, J, Oneko, O, & Zafar, SY. (2013). Cancer registration needs assessment at a tertiary medical centre in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. World Health Popul , 14 (2), 12-23. Link to Item
  - Roe, MT, Armstrong, PW, Fox, KAA, White, HD, Prabhakaran, D, Goodman, SG, Cornel, JH, Bhatt, DL, Clemmensen, P, Martinez, F, Ardissino, D, Nicolau, JC, Boden, WE, Gurbel, PA, Ruzyllo, W, Dalby, AJ, McGuire, DK, Leiva-Pons, JL, Parkhomenko, A, Gottlieb, S, Topacio, GO, Hamm, C, Pavlides, G, Goudev, AR, Oto, A, Tseng, C-D, Merkely, B, Gasparovic, V, Corbalan, R, Cinteză, M, McLendon, RC, Winters, KJ, Brown, EB, Lokhnygina, Y, Aylward, PE, Huber, K, Hochman, JS, Ohman, EM, & TRILOGY ACS Investigators, . (2012, October). Prasugrel versus clopidogrel for acute coronary syndromes without revascularization. The New England Journal of Medicine , 367 (14), 1297-1309. Full Text
  - Strickler, JH, Starodub, AN, Jia, J, Meadows, KL, Nixon, AB, Dellinger, A, Morse, MA, Uronis, HE, Marcom, PK, Zafar, SY, Haley, ST, & Hurwitz, HI. (2012, August). Phase I study of bevacizumab, everolimus, and panobinostat (LBH-589) in advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology , 70 (2), 251-258. Full Text
  - 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, & Hurwitz, HI. (2012, July). A phase I study of bevacizumab, everolimus and panitumumab in advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology , 70 (1), 95-102. Full Text
  - Currow, DC, Tieman, JJ, Greene, A, Zafar, SY, Wheeler, JL, & Abernethy, AP. (2012, May). Refining a checklist for reporting patient populations and service characteristics in hospice and palliative care research. J Pain Symptom Manage , 43 (5), 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, & Czito, B. (2012, May). Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: patterns of failure following resection and benefit of chemoradiotherapy. Annals of Surgical Oncology , 19 (5), 1535-1540. Full Text
  - Rangwala, F, Zafar, SY, & Abernethy, AP. (2012, March). Gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients with advanced disease: new methodologies, insights, and a proposed approach. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care , 6 (1), 69-76. (Review) Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Currow, DC, Cherny, N, Strasser, F, Fowler, R, & Abernethy, AP. (2012, February). Consensus-based standards for best supportive care in clinical trials in advanced cancer. The Lancet. Oncology , 13 (2), e77-e82. (Review) Full Text
  - 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, & Cancer Care and Outcomes Research and Surveillance (CanCORS) Consortium, . (2011, August 16). Early dissemination of bevacizumab for advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective cohort study. Bmc Cancer , 11 , 354-null. Full Text
  - 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, & Bendell, JC. (2011, February). A phase I study of bevacizumab (B) in combination with everolimus (E) and erlotinib (E) in advanced cancer (BEE). Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology , 67 (2), 465-474. Full Text
  - Currow, DC, Foley, K, Zafar, SY, Wheeler, JL, & Abernethy, AP. (2011, February). The need for a re-evaluation of best supportive care studies reported to date. British Journal of Cancer , 104 (3), 390-391. Full Text
  - Altomare, I, Bendell, JC, Bullock, KE, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, Blobe, GC, Pang, H, Honeycutt, W, Sutton, L, & Hurwitz, HI. (2011, January). A phase II trial of bevacizumab plus everolimus for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. The Oncologist , 16 (8), 1131-1137. Full Text
  - Hirsch, BR, & Zafar, SY. (2011, January). Capecitabine in the management of colorectal cancer. Cancer Management and Research , 3 , 79-89. Full Text
  - 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, & Kutner, JS. (2010, December). A strategy to advance the evidence base in palliative medicine: formation of a palliative care research cooperative group. Journal of Palliative Medicine , 13 (12), 1407-1413. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Abernethy, AP, Zafar, SY, Uronis, H, Wheeler, JL, Coan, A, Rowe, K, Shelby, RA, Fowler, R, & Herndon, JE. (2010, October). Validation of the Patient Care Monitor (Version 2.0): a review of system assessment instrument for cancer patients. J Pain Symptom Manage , 40 (4), 545-558. Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Currow, DC, Daugherty, CK, & Abernethy, AP. (2010, September). Standards for palliative care delivery in oncology settings. Cancer J , 16 (5), 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, & Abernethy, AP. (2010, August). Establishing a regional, multisite database for quality improvement and service planning in community-based palliative care and hospice. J Palliat Med , 13 (8), 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, & Provenzale, D. (2010, July). Quality of nonmetastatic colorectal cancer care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology , 28 (19), 3176-3181. Full Text
  - Abernethy, AP, Ahmad, A, Zafar, SY, Wheeler, JL, Reese, JB, & Lyerly, HK. (2010, June). Electronic patient-reported data capture as a foundation of rapid learning cancer care. Med Care , 48 (6 Suppl), S32-S38. Full Text Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Wheeler, JL, & Zafar, SY. (2010, March). Management of gastrointestinal symptoms in advanced cancer patients: the rapid learning cancer clinic model. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care , 4 (1), 36-45. (Review) Full Text
  - Chrischilles, EA, Pendergast, JF, Kahn, KL, Wallace, RB, Moga, DC, Harrington, DP, Kiefe, CI, Weeks, JC, West, DW, Zafar, SY, & Fletcher, RH. (2010, February). Adverse events among the elderly receiving chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology , 28 (4), 620-627. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Marcello, JE, Wheeler, JL, Rowe, KL, Morse, MA, Herndon, JE, & Abernethy, AP. (2010, January). Treatment-related toxicity and supportive care in metastatic colorectal cancer. J Support Oncol , 8 (1), 15-20. Link to Item
  - Cherny, NI, Abernethy, AP, Strasser, F, Sapir, R, Currow, D, & Zafar, SY. (2009, November 10). Improving the methodologic and ethical validity of best supportive care studies in oncology: lessons from a systematic review. J Clin Oncol , 27 (32), 5476-5486. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Marcello, JE, Wheeler, JL, Rowe, KL, Morse, MA, Herndon, JE, & Abernethy, AP. (2009, September). Longitudinal patterns of chemotherapy use in metastatic colorectal cancer. Journal of Oncology Practice , 5 (5), 228-233. Full Text
  - Abernethy, AP, Barbour, SY, Uronis, H, Zafar, SY, Coan, A, Rowe, K, Pupa, MR, Wheeler, JL, & Herndon, JE. (2009, June). Quality management of potential chemotherapy-induced neutropenic complications: evaluation of practice in an academic medical center. Support Care Cancer , 17 (6), 735-744. Full Text Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Zafar, SY, Coeytaux, R, Rowe, K, Wheeler, JL, & Lyerly, HK. (2009, May). 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 (15_suppl), 6522-.
  - Bullock, KE, Hurwitz, HI, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Blobe, GC, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, Nixon, AB, Howard, LA, & Bendell, JC. (2009, May). 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 (15_suppl), 4080-.
  - Dupont, A, Wheeler, J, Herndon, JE, Coan, A, Zafar, SY, Hood, L, Patwardhan, M, Shaw, HS, Lyerly, HK, & Abernethy, AP. (2009, May). Use of tablet personal computers for sensitive patient-reported information. J Support Oncol , 7 (3), 91-97. Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Wheeler, JL, & Zafar, SY. (2009, March). Detailing of gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients with advanced disease: new methodologies, new insights, and a proposed approach. Curr Opin Support Palliat Care , 3 (1), 41-49. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY, Abernethy, AP, & Currow, D. (2009, February 10). To the editor. Journal of Clinical Oncology , 27 (5), 829-null. (Letter) Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Alexander, SC, Weinfurt, KP, Schulman, KA, & Abernethy, AP. (2009, February). Decision making and quality of life in the treatment of cancer: a review. Support Care Cancer , 17 (2), 117-127. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Yousuf, SY, Abernethy, AP, Abbott, DH, Grambow, SC, Marcello, JE, Herndon, JE, Rowe, KL, Kolimaga, JT, Zullig, LL, Patwardhan, MB, & Provenzale, DT. (2008, November 25). Comorbidity, age, race and stage at diagnosis in colorectal cancer: A retrospective, parallel analysis of two health systems. Bmc Cancer , 8 . Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Abernethy, AP, Abbott, DH, Grambow, SC, Marcello, JE, Herndon, JE, Rowe, KL, Kolimaga, JT, Zullig, LL, Patwardhan, MB, & Provenzale, DT. (2008, November 25). Comorbidity, age, race and stage at diagnosis in colorectal cancer: a retrospective, parallel analysis of two health systems. Bmc Cancer , 8 , 345-null. Full Text Open Access Copy
  - Zafar, SY, Currow, D, & Abernethy, AP. (2008, November). Defining best supportive care. Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology , 26 (31), 5139-5140. (Letter) Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Howell, DN, & Gockerman, JP. (2008, July). Malignancy after solid organ transplantation: an overview. Oncologist , 13 (7), 769-778. (Review) Full Text Link to Item
  - Zafar, Y, & Hurwitz, HI. (2007, July 1). Monoclonal antibodies to EGFR: What does the future hold?. Oncology , 21 (8), 976-977.
- Conference Papers
  - Chino, F, Suneja, G, Moss, H, Zafar, SY, Havrilesky, L, & Chino, J. (2018, May). Health Care Disparities in Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation: Changes in Insurance Status After Medicaid Expansion Under the Affordable Care Act. Full Text
  - Coronado, DYS, Hahn, T, Albelda, R, Khera, N, Odejide, OO, Soiffer, RJ, Zafar, SY, & Abel, GA. (2017, December 7). Financial Burden and Patient-Reported Outcomes after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: Impact of Pre-Treatment Awareness of Transplant-Associated Costs. 59th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH). Atlanta, GA. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. Link to Item
  - Sitlinger, A, Sachdev, R, Anderson, D, & Zafar, SY. (2017, December 7). Insurance Design and Out-of-Pocket (OOP) Costs: a Comparison of Oral and Intravenous (IV) Treatment Plans for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) in the Era of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). 59th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Hematology (ASH). Atlanta, GA. AMER SOC HEMATOLOGY. Link to Item
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Samsa, G, Nicolla, J, Altomare, I, & Zafar, SY. (2016, October 1). "Going for Broke": Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Patient-Reported Willingness to Pay and Sacrifice in Cancer Care. Full Text Link to Item
  - Chino, F, Peppercorn, JM, Rushing, C, Samsa, G, Nicolla, J, Altomare, I, & Zafar, SY. (2016, October 1). "Going for Broke": Out-of-Pocket Costs, Financial Distress, and Patient-Reported Willingness to Pay and Sacrifice in Cancer Care. Link to Item
  - Mowery, YM, Salama, JK, Zafar, SY, Moore, HG, Willett, CG, Czito, B, Hopkins, MB, & Palta, M. (2016, October 1). Radiation Oncologists' Practice Patterns and Attitudes Regarding Neoadjuvant Short-Course Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer in the United States. Full Text Link to Item
  - Mowery, YM, Salama, JK, Zafar, SY, Moore, HG, Willett, CG, Czito, B, Hopkins, MB, & Palta, M. (2016, October 1). Radiation Oncologists' Practice Patterns and Attitudes Regarding Neoadjuvant Short-Course Radiation Therapy for Rectal Cancer in the United States. Link to Item
  - Zafar, SY. (2016, March). Abstract IA09: Intervening on the financial toxicity of cancer care. Full Text
  - Irwin, B, Kimmick, G, Altomare, I, Marcom, PK, Houck, K, Zafar, SY, & Peppercorn, J. (2014, November). Patient experience and attitudes toward addressing the cost of breast cancer care. Full Text
  - Zafar, SY, Grothey, A, Bekaii-Saab, T, Bendell, J, Sherrill, B, Bennett, L, Mun, Y, Sersch, M, Dalal, D, & Hurwitz, HI. (2012, September). SURVIVAL AMONG METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER (MCRC) PATIENTS TREATED IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL (RCT) VS AN OBSERVATIONAL COHORT STUDY (OCS). Link to Item
  - Abernethy, AP, Zafar, SY, Coeytaux, R, Rowe, K, Wheeler, JL, & Lyerly, HK. (2009, May 20). Electronic patient-reported data capture as the foundation of a learning health care system. Link to Item
  - Bullock, KE, Hurwitz, HI, Uronis, HE, Morse, MA, Blobe, GC, Hsu, SD, Zafar, SY, Nixon, AB, Howard, LA, & Bendell, JC. (2009, May 20). Bevacizumab (B) plus everolimus (E) in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Link to Item
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
- PUBPOL 393: Research Independent Study 2017

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