Shafqat Akhtar, MD

	Joined Aug, 1999 Department: Oncology [Map] Title: Physician Degree: MD Interests: Reading, Tennis Languages: Urdu, Punjabi Physician Homepage
Bio After graduating from medical school and completing an Internal Medicine residency on the East Coast, I enrolled in the Oncology fellowship training program at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. It was during my fellowship training that I did a rotation at one of the Kaiser Permanente facilities and was struck with the beauty and benefits of an integrated health care system. The system worked seamlessly. This rotation also afforded me the opportunity to get to know the Kaiser Permanente physicians and see how satisfied they were with their career choice. I was especially impressed with the liberty with which these physicians operated, without interference from administrators and other insurance regulators. It was therefore so easy to make decisions in the best interest of Kaiser Permanente members, unshackled by other influences. Kaiser Permanente became a natural choice for me, and so after completing the fellowship, I joined Kaiser Santa Rosa. I have been at the Santa Rosa facility since 1999 and have been Chief of Oncology since 2001. Our department is staffed with able and compassionate staff members who place the interests of our members above anything else. I am happy to be part of the team and consider it a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated group of people.
My Medical Specialty
More details about my specialty: I have been interested in tumor biology all along and during my Internal Medicine training, I realized that among all specialties, Medical Oncology was the only discipline to which I was drawn. This led to further training (a fellowship) at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. My specialty interests and affiliations within my field: I am mostly interested in solid tumors but am also trained and board certified in Hematology. Current projects or research: I am an active participant in the Oncology Clinical Trials program and am a member of the clinical trials steering board that discusses new and existing trials and selects national and industry sponsored trials that fit our members' needs the best. Great health resources that I refer to: I consult a multitude of sources including Oncology, Hematology and other medical journals, text books, meetings and seminars to stay up-to-date on the current developments in each respective field.
Interests
I consider myself a voracious reader and would read anything non-fiction. I have absolutely no taste for fiction except for some classic literature. I have found, however, that fiction works best as a hypnotic for me. I, therefore, never need any sleep aids. I love tennis as a sport and since I am beyond any hope of a professional sports career, I play with a local tennis team and participate in the USTA Northern California tennis leagues. I am still working on that elusive topspin serve which some day will kick away from my opponent's back hand, leaving him bewildered. Currently reading: Anything non-fiction My favorite book or author: God Against the Gods by Jonathan Kirsch
Family & Friends
People in my life: Here are some pictures of my extended family.
	Pet Photos: BergamascoMaria3dogs bergamasco calend1
Travel
One of my recent trips: I have traveled in Asia, Europe and North America. I have learned how vast and varied the world is, but that it is still bound by the common thread of humanity. I plan to travel to Africa and South America when I get a chance.
Other Links & Photos
People living with cancer