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Dr. Omar Ahmad seeing a patient

With an older brother involved in the medical field and a passion for biology throughout high school, Omar Ahmad, MD, knew medicine was a good calling for him. After practicing for more than 10 years in the field of oncology and hematology and hearing the satisfaction his patients have in the care he provides them, he is all the more sure that he followed the right calling.

“I thoroughly enjoy the science of oncology, how cancer evolves and the pathogenesis of cancer, but I also enjoy the patient care side of the practice,” said Ahmad, who is board certified in internal medicine, hematology and oncology. “My patients seem to be satisfied in the care they receive from me, and I find that to be very rewarding.”

Ahmad received his medical degree from Dow Medical College at the University of Karachi in Pakistan and completed an internship in medicine and surgery at the Civil Hospital there. He went on to complete a medical internship and a residency in internal medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in Farmington. He then went to work for a clinic in southwestern Virginia, where he practiced internal medicine and some pediatrics for two years before completing a fellowship in hematology and oncology at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis.

Ahmad came to Jackson in 2000 and went into practice at the Cancer Care Center. In 2007, he went into private practice with the opening of Hematology and Oncology Associates located in North Jackson. He treats all forms of cancer and has a special interest in the basic science of oncology and the pathology of tumors. His clinic includes an infusion center and lab and utilizes an electronic medical record system. All chemotherapy medications used in treatment are mixed at the clinic.

“Although I knew a lot of people in Memphis,” said Ahmad, “I really liked the size of Jackson and felt it was a good choice that would work well for me both as a physician and as a father to my two children.”

Although Ahmad’s practice treats all types of cancers, he primarily sees breast, colon, prostate and lung cancer patients. Over the past 11 years, he has seen the biggest advancements in the number of drugs that have been developed to treat cancer. “When I was in my fellowship, we had very few drugs we could use to treat cancer,” said Ahmad. “Today, we can be very confident in treating patients due to the tremendous advancements that have been made in the field and in the medications we can use. Patient survival rates are improving, and they are able to tolerate chemotherapy much better than in the past.”

In the past few years, Ahmad has begun to encourage patients to supplement their diets with vitamins and minerals that research has shown may help them better tolerate chemotherapy treatment. The results have been encouraging, and he even expanded his recommendation for patients to continue taking them regardless of whether they are in treatment.



“I like to stay abreast of developments and treatments for cancer and I am always looking for ways to help patients be more tolerant of treatment,” said Ahmad. “We started using mineral and vitamin supplements several years ago and found the results to be encouraging. We used supplements that patients tend to tolerate well and that research has shown patients are typically deficient in due to their diets. Even after chemotherapy is finished, I recommend they maintain the use of some supplements.”

“Although the use of vitamin and mineral supplements is not a common practice, it is being used by some Cancer Treatment Centers of America as another way to help patients,” said Ahmad, who, due to the positive outcomes he has experienced among his patient population, plans to continue his research and treating patients with vitamins and mineral supplements.

Although being a sole practioner often keeps Ahmad at the clinic until early in the evening, he also sees patients at both Jackson hospitals, averaging 10 to 15 inpatient visits daily. “The growth my practice has seen since I opened it has been steady and above what I expected,” said Ahmad. “I pride myself on the care I give to my patients, but I also make time for my children.”

As a father to two teens who attend University School of Jackson, Zaid, a freshman and Maryam, an eighth grader, Ahmad is kept busy on the home front as well as at the office. Spending time with his children is important to Ahmad. The family enjoys trips to Pickwick Lake for a day on their boat, hanging out and traveling, mostly throughout Europe. Now that the children are teens, they do not get to travel as much as when the kids were younger.

Ahmad is an avid visitor to the gym and enjoys a good game of racquetball. He is also active with the Islamic Center of Jackson and enjoys reading books on Islam and religion.

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