Chadi Nabhan, MD, MBA, is an award-winning hematologist and a medical oncologist who previously hosted an award-winning podcast, Outspoken Oncology, which has now been rebranded to Healthcare Unfiltered – an honest, raw, timely podcast tackling any and all topics in healthcare. No edits and no filters; that is “Healthcare Unfiltered.” Combining his background in clinical care, cancer research, precision medicine, genomics, clinical trials, real-world data, controversies in medicine, and health care advocacy, Dr. Nabhan brings a unique and powerful perspective to current medical events. It’s the weekly podcast that you don’t want to miss.
Welcome and thank you for visiting! My life is a collection of important and beautiful things (of course, some bad unfortunate incidents), and I am glad to share this insight with you.
Physician
As a hematologist and medical oncologist, I specialize in treating and diagnosing cancers with special clinical care expertise and research interest in all kinds of lymphomas and genitourinary cancers.
I went to medical school in Damascus, Syria, and graduated in 1991 before coming to the US in 1992 to pursue post-graduate training. I landed in Boston and fell in love with the city (and, of course, with the New England Patriots long before they became champions). I spent some time in Boston at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School doing basic science research before moving to Chicago for an internal medicine residency at Loyola University.
Following residency, I practiced primary care in an underserved area in the south side of Chicago for one year, then completed a 3-year fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Northwestern University and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.
I took care of patients mainly in the greater Chicago land area. I practiced primarily at Advocate Health Care (Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, to be exact) and the University of Chicago.
Health Care Policy
My clinical practice was divided between Advocate health care and the University of Chicago, where I held leadership positions in both institutions. I was Chief of Hematology and Oncology while practicing at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. At the University of Chicago, I was the Medical Director of the Clinical Cancer Center and an Associate Professor of Medicine. I held other leadership and academic positions at the University of Chicago mainly focused on improving the outcomes and quality of care of patients with cancer. I became increasingly interested in healthcare policy and economics in medicine as they impact patient care and healthcare delivery. I decided to pursue a business degree in healthcare management, obtaining an MBA from Loyola University Quinlan School of Business in 2016.
I transitioned from direct patient care in September 2016, assuming various administrative and research roles, but I continued to be heavily engaged in all activities that impact patients and their families. Currently, I serve as chairman of the Precision Oncology Alliance at Caris Life Sciences.
Research
I have over 300 peer-reviewed scientific articles, abstracts, and book chapters focusing on non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, Prostate Cancer, real-world evidence, and outcomes research.
I hosted a healthcare podcast titled “Outspoken Oncology,” which debuted on February 26, 2019. My goal with this podcast was to tackle general healthcare topics of interest to the general public and to bring on the most qualified guest to discuss the topic. That podcast halted in the summer of 2020, and I rebranded it as “Healthcare Unfiltered.”, which has been widely successful. My podcast is not about me; it’s about you and what you might need to become well-informed about when it comes to contemporary topics in healthcare. For example, I dedicated several weeks of the podcast covering all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was lucky enough to win a Gold communication award from MarCom in November 2019, and I owe this to my listeners. Healthcare Unfiltered airs every Tuesday at 7 am CST, and it’s the one podcast you should not miss.
You can watch all the podcast episodes on my YouTube channel (Chadi Nabhan and Healthcare Unfiltered.) Let me know what you think by emailing me or by DM me on Twitter @chadinabhan
Personal
I am a student of life, and sometimes my twin boys teach me what I need to learn. I love being a father and want to excel at it. But, like you, if you’re a parent, know there is always room for improvement. I contemplate and reflect a lot and realize that I am where I am because I was lucky. Sure, I worked hard and continue to do so, but let’s be honest, luck plays a significant role in where we end up and who we become.
I am an avid reader, read 12-15 books each year, and don’t like fiction. There are enough real-life stories to catch up on that we need no fiction (nothing against fiction book readers out there). However, I hope that by reading more books, I will improve my writing skills (check out my book recommendations.)
I live by the principle that I can always do better. It’s a problem and gets demanding, but there is always room for improvement. Being an immigrant who came to this beautiful country, there is a chip on my shoulder to try harder and work more. It gets tiring every once and a while. I don’t lack motivation; I lack time to fulfill everything I am motivated to do.
The happiest moment in my life has always been telling a patient that they’re cured. A hug from a patient’s family for a job well-done would instantly bring tears to my eyes. Nothing will ever make me happier. If there were a time machine, I would always do the same and care for cancer patients. But there is a writer and a journalist in me, maybe a podcast host on a larger scale. I hope that some of these dreams will materialize with time (I am not that old).
Thank you for coming into my world; I hope we get to know each other better.