Jehanzeb Riaz, M.D., a medical oncologist with OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center at Hillcrest, practices medical oncology (cancer care) and has been in health care since 2004. “My goal is to empower cancer patients with the knowledge they need to make the best decisions for themselves,” he said. “I focus on helping people understand their disease, challenges and treatment options to maximize their chance to beat the cancer, prolong survival and improve quality of life.”

Dr. Riaz chose to focus on medical oncology because it requires creative thinking and planning to create the right treatment plan for each person. “It is very important that the patient is treated respectfully and ultimately, is given a feeling of empowerment. I provide that by listening and responding to their questions and making them feel at ease,” he said. “One of the best feelings that I have had in my clinical experience has been when a patient or family member expresses their gratitude for taking the time to listen to their questions.”

Dr. Riaz treats all common cancers such as breast, lung, colon, prostate, kidney, bladder, head and neck, brain tumors, melanoma and other skin cancers, thyroid, sarcomas, lymphomas and multiple myeloma.

When teaching patients how to get healthy, Dr. Riaz suggests taking small steps towards a goal. “Little actions in our daily life amount to big benefits down the road,” he said. “Eating healthy, daily exercise and refraining from toxins like tobacco will not only keep you healthy in general, but also protect you from cancer.”

He is fluent in Hindi and Urdu. When he is away from the office, Dr. Riaz enjoys creating educational videos for patients, reading books, exercising and spending time with his two sons.