Yousuf Zafar
Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute
Appointment:
Topics:
Yousuf Zafar
Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute
Dr. Zafar is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and Adjunct Professor of Medicine. He served as Chief Quality & Innovation Officer at the Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Zafar also served as Clinical Associate Director of Duke Forge (Health Data Science Center). Dr. Zafar’s work has focused on identifying and intervening upon the financial burden of cancer care. He explores ways to improve cancer care delivery with a primary focus on improving quality and 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 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.
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Publications
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Bergens MA, Lowder YP, Li Y, Johnson EJ, Winthrop HM, Bush AT, et al. Food insecurity prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplant is associated with malnutrition and worse outcomes. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2025 Jun;60(6):857–63.Reddy KP, Jarrell K, Berkowitz C, Hulse S, Elmore LC, Fishman R, et al. ASO Visual Abstract: Association Between Delayed/Forgone Medical Care and Resource Utilization Among Women with Breast Cancer in the United States. Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Apr;32(4):2605–6.Reddy KP, Jarrell K, Berkowitz C, Hulse S, Elmore LC, Fishman R, et al. Association Between Delayed/Forgone Medical Care and Resource Utilization Among Women with Breast Cancer in the United States. Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Apr;32(4):2534–44.Peppercorn J, Gelin M, Masteralexis TE, Zafar SY, Nipp RD. Screening for Financial Toxicity in Oncology Research and Practice: A Narrative Review. JCO Oncol Pract. 2025 Jan;21(1):5–11.
See more publications at Scholars@Duke