Skip to main content

Syed Yousuf Zafar

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine
Medicine, Medical Oncology
Duke Box 3505, Durham, NC 27710
Seeley G. Mudd Building, Rm 43, 10 Bryan Searle Dr., DUMC 3505, Durham, NC 27710

Overview


Dr. Zafar is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine, Public Policy, and Population Health Science at the Duke Cancer Institute and Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. He serves as Director of Healthcare Innovation at the Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Zafar also serves as Clinical Associate Director of Duke Forge (Health Data Science Center). Dr. Zafar is considered an international expert in identifying and intervening upon the financial burden of cancer care. His research explores ways to improve cancer care delivery with a primary focus on improving the value of cancer treatment from both patient-focused and policy perspectives.

Dr. Zafar speaks internationally on his research and cancer care delivery. He has over 100 publications in top peer-reviewed journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and JAMA Oncology. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the American Cancer Society, among others. His work has been covered by national media outlets including New York Times, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Washington Post. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine · 2022 - Present Medicine, Medical Oncology, Medicine
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute · 2011 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society · 2020 - Present Duke Science & Society, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy · 2024 - Present Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News


Published June 6, 2019
Soaring insurance deductibles and high drug prices hit sick Americans with a ‘double whammy’
Published June 6, 2019
High Deductibles Push Millions Of Americans To Make 'Difficult Sacrifices' For Health Care
Published February 21, 2019
The Financial Toxicity of Illness

View All News

Recent Publications


Food insecurity prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplant is associated with malnutrition and worse outcomes.

Journal Article Bone Marrow Transplant · June 2025 Food insecurity (FI), defined as the lack of continuous access to adequate food, affects 17-55% of cancer patients. Effects may be exacerbated in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients, who face nutritional challenges due to treatment side effe ... Full text Link to item Cite

Association Between Delayed/Forgone Medical Care and Resource Utilization Among Women with Breast Cancer in the United States.

Journal Article Ann Surg Oncol · April 2025 BACKGROUND: Although high treatment costs of breast cancer care are well documented, the relationship between delayed/forgone (D/F) care and resource utilization among patients with breast cancer is unknown. This study sought to investigate the relationshi ... Full text Link to item Cite
View All Publications

Recent Grants


Examining Best Practices for Factoring Out-Of-Pocket Expenses into Patients' Health Care Decisions

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Patrick & Catherine Weldon Donaghue Medical Research Foundation · 2018 - 2021

PAPNavigator STTR (Fast-Track)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Vivor, LLC · 2016 - 2019

View All Grants

Education, Training & Certifications


The University of Toledo · 2002 M.D.

External Links


twitter