#3 IN THE SERIES “BRINGING PRECISION MEDICINE TO EVERYONE”
Bringing Precision and Compassion to Every Cancer Journey with Dr. Arif Kamal
What does it take to truly bring precision medicine to everyone? In this powerful, one-hour episode, Dr. Arif Kamal joins host Karan Cushman to explore how the American Cancer Society is working to close the growing gap between breakthrough science and real-world access to care—especially in rural and underserved communities.
As the organization’s first Chief Patient Officer, Dr. Kamal leads efforts across 5,000 communities to improve the patient experience through navigation, education, support, and advocacy. Drawing on his background in oncology and palliative care—and his own family’s cancer journey—he shares a deeply personal and practical vision for advancing precision medicine with compassion at the core.
Topics include:
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The role of empathy and humility in delivering whole-person care
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How ACS is tackling access and affordability through initiatives like the Change the Odds campaign
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Why ACS CAN’s biomarker testing legislation is a crucial step toward equitable precision care
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The power of precision compassion: pairing empathy with action to improve outcomes
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How ACS collaborates with clinicians and health systems to support implementation at scale
Dr. Kamal reminds us that the most effective cancer care is not just personalized—it’s human. And as we move toward a future shaped by innovation, accessibility and empathy must go hand in hand.
“We can’t just make precision medicine smarter—we have to make it more humane.” – Dr. Arif Kamal
Listen now and subscribe to the Precision Medicine Podcast to hear how leaders like Dr. Kamal are helping redefine what’s possible for patients—no matter their zip code.
Download the episode transcript here.
Listen to the series Bringing Precision Medicine to Everyone:
Episode #1: Dr. Kashyap Patel and Dr. Angela Katsikas, Bringing Precision Medicine to Everyone
Episode #2: Ellen Matloff and Dr. Angela Katsikas, Understanding Inherited Cancer Risk
Special thanks to Dr. Kashyap Patel and his No One Left Alone initiative for collaborating with us on this series. Our goal is to equip patients, caregivers and care teams with the knowledge and tools needed to deliver the best of modern cancer care– no matter where a patient lives.
Up next: The evolving role of liquid biopsy in early detection and precision oncology.
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About Our Guest
Arif Kamal, MD, MBA, MHS, FACP, FAAHPM, FASCO
Chief Patient Officer, American Cancer Society
Dr. Arif Kamal is the inaugural chief patient officer for the American Cancer Society. In this role, he drives coordinated efforts to accelerate progress against cancer through the organization’s patient, caregiver, and healthcare professional mission initiatives.
Dr. Kamal oversees the organization’s support network, patient navigation services, educational programs, patient and caregiver lodging and transportation, 24/7 contact center, digital patient support resources, and organizational efforts that impact the full cancer continuum across 20,000 global communities. He is also a practicing oncologist and palliative care physician in North Carolina and an associate professor of medicine and population health at the Duke University School of Medicine. In 2017, Dr. Kamal co-founded Prepped Health, a company that develops innovative technology solutions to educate and engage people facing serious illness and their caregivers.
Dr. Kamal is active with several national professional organizations, currently serving as the president for the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine board of directors. He has published more than 225 peer-reviewed scientific articles and is recognized as an international expert in supportive oncology and palliative care. He has been a guest on Good Morning America and interviewed by The New York Times, CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, and USA Today.
Dr. Kamal received his medical degree from the six-year combined B.A./M.D. program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He completed his internal medicine residency and a hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at the Mayo Clinic, and a hematology-oncology fellowship at Duke University. He holds a Master of Health Science in clinical research from Duke University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Dr. Kamal lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife and two children.