National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt
Dr. Sherif Omar is the former Dean of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University and Secretary General of the Arab Medical Association Against Cancer. Dr. Omar’s success in building a small cancer center that integrated state-of-the-art medicine with social and educational programs addressing the needs of patients is the capstone of a career with a decidedly international flavor. He is President of the Board of Trustees of an Egyptian foundation supporting cancer research, and is a member of the Governing Council of INCTR Egypt.
Dr. Omar graduated in 1963 from Cairo University and was trained in surgical oncology in Paris, France. He studied at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in the United States and spent six months in Japan as a fellow in surgery and endoscopy. He received the World Health Organization’s Gold Medal in 1988 for his work on tobacco control. He also received the national First Class Decoration for Science and Art. A member of the Egyptian Parliament for 10 years, Dr. Omar was elected to lead the Health and Welfare Committee in 1995 that was charged with the task of cancer prevention.