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SABRINA MCCLURE
Nour Daboul , M . D .
It was 2012 when Dr . Nour Daboul traveled from her home country of Syria to America for the first time , alone , with no family in the states . Today , Daboul serves as assistant professor of gastrointestinal oncology and co-director of the Clinical Trial Research Unit for Hematology / Oncology at the West Virginia University ( WVU ) Cancer Institute in Morgantown , WV .
Daboul ’ s long journey that brought her to the WVU School of Medicine started with a rotation at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston , TX , after earning her medical degree at the University of Tishreen in Syria . Soon thereafter , she moved to Michigan to work as a research assistant at Wayne State University .
Her next move , nearly a year later , was to Pennsylvania where she lived for six years . It was there Daboul completed her residency with Temple University at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center and a hematology / oncology fellowship through the Allegheny Health Network .
After that , she moved to West Virginia to join the WVU School of Medicine and WVU Cancer Institute . The cancer institute provides primary , secondary and tertiary care services to a large population of patients in West Virginia and surrounding states .
“ I have patients from West Virginia and Maryland as well as Pennsylvania who drive four to five hours to receive treatments ,” she says .
Daboul joined the WVU Cancer Institute to provide the best care possible to patients .
“ My purpose in life is to provide compassionate care to cancer patients , with emphasis on quality of life , advancing medical knowledge and fostering hope through innovative treatments and research ,” she says .
There are many unanswered questions in the field of oncology and Daboul is always thinking about ways to prevent unnecessary deaths .
“ That is why I joined the clinical trial unit . We are bringing clinical trial opportunities and trial medications to the people of West Virginia ,” she says .
At WVU , Daboul is an assistant professor teaching medical students , residents and hematology / oncology fellows . She is also the co-director of the Clinical Trial Research Unit in conjunction with treating cancer patients . She gives credit to her medical team for working diligently and tirelessly to help patients and says they make work more enjoyable .
“ I love to serve through teaching and through my clinical work ,” she says .
Her favorite part of the day is when she delivers positive results to patients . She works every day to improve their lives in some way .
“ I want to strengthen our peripheral sites both on clinical and research fronts so we can serve all West Virginians and save every life from unnecessary death or suffering ,” says Daboul .
She hopes to work in the research trial world even more in the future .
The most important lesson Daboul has learned throughout her career is that a patient-centered approach is vital when it comes to cancer treatment .
“ Informed patients are better prepared to deal with the fear that comes with a cancer diagnosis and the complications treatments can cause . Informed patients are more likely to believe in preventative medicine , which ensures early detection , better outcomes and the responsible use of health care resources ,” she says .
When not working , Daboul volunteers her time helping international medical graduates with their applications for residency and preparing them for interviews . She assists and oversees other physicians with complex medical cases in the oncology field as well .
Daboul says her mother , Nada , is her hero and role model and that she instilled in her a strong work ethic , which is why she has been able to achieve so much in her life .
“ My mother has always inspired me with her work ethic and unwavering patience , and I credit her for all my achievements ,” she says .
In her free time , Daboul enjoys swimming , biking , walking and spending time with her husband , Fadi , and her two sons , Akram and Adam . She loves the mountains of West Virginia and all the nature the beautiful state has to offer .
“ I love spending time at Coopers Rock State Forest as well as Mason-Dixon Historical Park trails ,” Daboul says . •
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE