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Washington, D.C. — Aziza Shad, chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Blood and Marrow Transplantation at Lombardi Cancer Center, was one of 56 physicians nationwide to be nominated by medical students for the 2001 Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Humanism in Medicine Award.
The AAMC Humanism in Medicine Award, which is sponsored by the AAMC and the Pfizer Medical Humanities Initiative, annually honors medical school faculty physicians who "embody the finest qualities of a healer and teacher." Honorees were nominated by the AAMC Organization of Student Representatives (OSR) based on five defining characteristics of humanism in medical education: positive mentoring skills, compassion and sensitivity, collarboration, community-service activity, and observance of professional ethics.
"I'm very honored that the students chose to nominate me for this award," said Shad, who has also been nominated several times for the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching at Georgetown, and who has received the Teacher of the Year Award in the Department of Pedicatrics three times. "Training future physicians is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable parts of what I do."
In nominating Shad, Georgetown medical students pointed out her devotion to mentoring students, her tireless volunteer work with a variety of organizations that seek to improve medicine in underserved areas, and her constant "patient-first" attitude.
"Whenever she deals with a child with cancer, she thinks of what she would want if her own child had cancer," wrote one student. "She deals with each patient and his or her family with respect, patience and dignity. Just ask any of her patients—they all love her."
In addition to treating children with cancer, Shad has started the Late Effects for Cancer Survivors Program, which involves adult survivors of childhood cancers. The Late Effects Program studies the physical, psychological and emotional long-term effects of pediatric cancer treatment, and helps survivors understand what the effects on them might be.
Shad received her MD degree in her native Pakistan and, after having completed several residencies in this country and overseas, spent six years at the National Cancer Institute as a fellow and then as a Visiting Scientist. She joined the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology as an assistant professor of pediatrics in 1995. She is widely published in pediatric lymphomas and pediatric oncology in developing countries.
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