Physicians

Department / Division
Medicine / Medicine - Oncology

Address
DUMC 3505
Durham, NC 27710

10 Bryan Searle Drive, Room 432
Durham, NC 27710

Appointment Telephone
919-668-6688

Fax Telephone
919-613-5228

Training

• MD, Medical College of Ohio (University of Toledo College of Medicine), 2002

Residency

• Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center (Ohio), 2002-2005

Fellowship

• Hematology-Medical Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, 2005-2008

Other Training

• MHS, Clinical Research, Duke University, 2009

Clinical Interests
Gastrointestinal oncology, including pancreatic, esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers; research interests in health services, access to colorectal cancer care, supportive care

Research Interests
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.

Industry Relationships and Collaborations (What's this?)

This faculty member has no reported relationships with industry.

Representative Publications
Phelan, SM; Griffin, JM; Jackson, GL; Zafar, SY; Hellerstedt, W; Stahre, M; Nelson, D; Zullig, LL; Burgess, DJ; van Ryn, M. Stigma, perceived blame, self-blame, and depressive symptoms in men with colorectal cancer. Psycho-Oncology: journal of the psychological, social and behavioral dimensions of cancer. 2013;22:65-73. (2013) Abstract

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. A phase II study of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab in the treatment of metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinomas. The Oncologist. 2013;18:271-272. (2013) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Abernethy, AP. Financial toxicity, Part I: a new name for a growing problem. Oncology. 2013;27:80-149. (2013) Abstract

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. Chemotherapy use and patient treatment preferences in advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective cohort study. Cancer. 2013;119:854-862. (2013) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Peppercorn, JM; Schrag, D; Taylor, DH; Goetzinger, AM; Zhong, X; Abernethy, AP. The Financial Toxicity of Cancer Treatment: A Pilot Study Assessing Out-of-Pocket Expenses and the Insured Cancer Patient's Experience. The Oncologist. 2013;18:381-390. (2013) Abstract

Currow, DC; Tieman, JJ; Greene, A; Zafar, SY; Wheeler, JL; Abernethy, AP. Refining a checklist for reporting patient populations and service characteristics in hospice and palliative care research. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2012;43:902-910. (2012) Abstract

Palta, M; Patel, P; Broadwater, G; Willett, C; Pepek, J; Tyler, D; Zafar, SY; Uronis, H; Hurwitz, H; White, R; Czito, B. Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater: patterns of failure following resection and benefit of chemoradiotherapy. Annals of Surgical Oncology. 2012;19:1535-1540. (2012) Abstract

Rangwala, F; Zafar, SY; Abernethy, AP. Gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients with advanced disease: new methodologies, insights, and a proposed approach. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care. 2012;6:69-76. (2012) Abstract

Strickler, JH; Starodub, AN; Jia, J; Meadows, KL; Nixon, AB; Dellinger, A; Morse, MA; Uronis, HE; Marcom, PK; Zafar, SY; Haley, ST; Hurwitz, HI. Phase I study of bevacizumab, everolimus, and panobinostat (LBH-589) in advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 2012;70:251-258. (2012) Abstract

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. A phase I study of bevacizumab, everolimus and panitumumab in advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 2012;70:95-102. (2012) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Currow, DC; Cherny, N; Strasser, F; Fowler, R; Abernethy, AP. Consensus-based standards for best supportive care in clinical trials in advanced cancer. Lancet Oncology. 2012;13:e77-e82. (2012) Abstract

Altomare, I; Bendell, JC; Bullock, KE; Uronis, HE; Morse, MA; Hsu, SD; Zafar, SY; Blobe, GC; Pang, H; Honeycutt, W; Sutton, L; Hurwitz, HI. A phase II trial of bevacizumab plus everolimus for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer. The Oncologist. 2011;16:1131-1137. (2011) Abstract

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. A phase I study of bevacizumab (B) in combination with everolimus (E) and erlotinib (E) in advanced cancer (BEE). Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 2011;67:465-474. (2011) Abstract

Currow, DC; Foley, K; Zafar, SY; Wheeler, JL; Abernethy, AP. The need for a re-evaluation of best supportive care studies reported to date. British Journal of Cancer. 2011;104:390-391. (2011) Abstract

Hirsch, BR; Zafar, SY. Capecitabine in the management of colorectal cancer. Cancer Management and Research. 2011;3:79-89. (2011) Abstract

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. Early dissemination of bevacizumab for advanced colorectal cancer: a prospective cohort study. BMC Cancer. 2011;11:354. (2011) Abstract

Abernethy, AP; Ahmad, A; Zafar, SY; Wheeler, JL; Reese, JB; Lyerly, HK. Electronic patient-reported data capture as a foundation of rapid learning cancer care. Medical Care. 2010;48:S32-S38. (2010) Abstract

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. A strategy to advance the evidence base in palliative medicine: formation of a palliative care research cooperative group. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2010;13:1407-1413. (2010) Abstract

Abernethy, AP; Wheeler, JL; Zafar, SY. Management of gastrointestinal symptoms in advanced cancer patients: the rapid learning cancer clinic model. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care. 2010;4:36-45. (2010) Abstract

Abernethy, AP; Zafar, SY; Uronis, H; Wheeler, JL; Coan, A; Rowe, K; Shelby, RA; Fowler, R; Herndon, JE. Validation of the Patient Care Monitor (Version 2.0): a review of system assessment instrument for cancer patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2010;40:545-558. (2010) Abstract

Bull, J; Zafar, SY; Wheeler, JL; Harker, M; Gblokpor, A; Hanson, L; Hulihan, D; Nugent, R; Morris, J; Abernethy, AP. Establishing a regional, multisite database for quality improvement and service planning in community-based palliative care and hospice. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 2010;13:1013-1020. (2010) Abstract

Chrischilles, EA; Pendergast, JF; Kahn, KL; Wallace, RB; Moga, DC; Harrington, DP; Kiefe, CI; Weeks, JC; West, DW; Zafar, SY; Fletcher, RH. Adverse events among the elderly receiving chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2010;28:620-627. (2010) Abstract

Jackson, GL; Melton, LD; Abbott, DH; Zullig, LL; Ordin, DL; Grambow, SC; Hamilton, NS; Zafar, SY; Gellad, ZF; Kelley, MJ; Provenzale, D. Quality of nonmetastatic colorectal cancer care in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2010;28:3176-3181. (2010) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Currow, DC; Daugherty, CK; Abernethy, AP. Standards for palliative care delivery in oncology settings. The Cancer Journal. 2010;16:436-443. (2010) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Marcello, JE; Wheeler, JL; Rowe, KL; Morse, MA; Herndon, JE; Abernethy, AP. Treatment-related toxicity and supportive care in metastatic colorectal cancer. The Journal of Supportive Oncology. 2010;8:15-20. (2010) Abstract

Abernethy, AP; Barbour, SY; Uronis, H; Zafar, SY; Coan, A; Rowe, K; Pupa, MR; Wheeler, JL; Herndon, JE. Quality management of potential chemotherapy-induced neutropenic complications: evaluation of practice in an academic medical center. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2009;17:735-744. (2009) Abstract

Abernethy, AP; Wheeler, JL; Zafar, SY. Detailing of gastrointestinal symptoms in cancer patients with advanced disease: new methodologies, new insights, and a proposed approach. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care. 2009;3:41-49. (2009) Abstract

Cherny, NI; Abernethy, AP; Strasser, F; Sapir, R; Currow, D; Zafar, SY. Improving the methodologic and ethical validity of best supportive care studies in oncology: lessons from a systematic review. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2009;27:5476-5486. (2009) Abstract

Dupont, A; Wheeler, J; Herndon, JE; Coan, A; Zafar, SY; Hood, L; Patwardhan, M; Shaw, HS; Lyerly, HK; Abernethy, AP. Use of tablet personal computers for sensitive patient-reported information. The Journal of Supportive Oncology. 2009;7:91-97. (2009) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Alexander, SC; Weinfurt, KP; Schulman, KA; Abernethy, AP. Decision making and quality of life in the treatment of cancer: a review. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2009;17:117-127. (2009) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Marcello, JE; Wheeler, JL; Rowe, KL; Morse, MA; Herndon, JE; Abernethy, AP. Longitudinal patterns of chemotherapy use in metastatic colorectal cancer. Journal of Oncology Practice. 2009;5:228-233. (2009) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Abernethy, AP; Abbott, DH; Grambow, SC; Marcello, JE; Herndon, JE; Rowe, KL; Kolimaga, JT; Zullig, LL; Patwardhan, MB; Provenzale, DT. Comorbidity, age, race and stage at diagnosis in colorectal cancer: a retrospective, parallel analysis of two health systems. BMC Cancer. 2008;8:345. (2008) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Currow, D; Abernethy, AP. Defining best supportive care. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2008;26:5139-5140. (2008) Abstract

Zafar, SY; Howell, DN; Gockerman, JP. Malignancy after solid organ transplantation: an overview. The Oncologist. 2008;13:769-778. (2008) Abstract