Chief patient officer, american cancer society
Arif Kamal, MD MBA, MHS, FACP, FAAHPM, FASCO
Dr. Arif Kamal serves as chief patient officer at the American Cancer Society. In this newly created role, Dr. Kamal drives coordinated efforts to accelerate progress against cancer through the organization’s patient-, caregiver-, and healthcare professional-facing activities.
He leads the American Cancer Society’s patient support objectives and the development of strategic plans to measurably improve the lives of people with cancer and their families. Dr. Kamal oversees the organization’s cancer support, patient navigation, educational programs, patient lodging solutions, transportation services, contact center, and digital patient support offerings, as well as all aspects of organizational functions that touch cancer patients across 5,000 communities around the globe.
Prior to joining the American Cancer Society, Dr. Kamal served for more than 12 years as an oncologist, researcher, and innovative leader at Duke University and the Duke Cancer Institute. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Population Health at the Duke University School of Medicine, and recently served as physician quality and outcomes officer at the Duke Cancer Institute. He holds nationally recognized expertise in oncology quality assessment and palliative care.
In addition to clinical and academic pursuits at Duke Cancer Institute, Dr. Kamal co-founded Prepped Health, a company that develops innovative technology solutions to educate and engage patients facing a serious illness like cancer and their caregivers. He also holds several leadership positions within prestigious national professional organizations, has won numerous awards, and is a prolific author.
Dr. Kamal received his medical degree from the six-year combined BA/MD program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, with residencies and fellowships at the Mayo Clinic and Duke University. He holds a master’s degree in health science in clinical research from Duke University and a master’s in business administration from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst.
Dr. Kamal lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife and two young children.