Ehab Atallah

 

Find out our motivation behind the CutTING Cancer Golf Outing & learn about how cancer affects everyone involved.

Dr. Ehab Atallah

Hello I’m Ehab Atallah

I am a hematologist/oncologist and I specialize in the treatment of leukemia. I have the honor and privilege of taking care of AC and working with him on curing his leukemia.

By way of background, I completed my medical school in Cairo, Egypt, then completed training in clinical oncology in Cairo University. Realizing that I wanted to learn a lot more and be part of research curing leukemia I moved to the US in the year 2000. After completing residency and two fellowships, I moved to Wisconsin with my family in 2007. I am currently the Section Head of Hematological Malignancies at the Medical College of Wisconsin.

 

My Story

As a leukemia physician, I have several goals when I see patients with leukemia. My first and foremost goal is to help my patients. This help may be in the form of working towards a cure, but occasionally the goal of cure is not attainable and we shift our focus to comfort. My second is working towards finding a cure for all patients with leukemia. This is achieved by laboratory research which then leads to clinical research. Through research, over the last five years, more than six drugs have been FDA approved for the treatment of acute leukemia with marked improvements in complete remission rates and some improvement in survival. My third goal is to have clinical trials available for patients in Wisconsin so they can receive world class care without having to travel.

AC is currently on a clinical trial with the goal of improving the cure rate for patients with newly diagnosed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. His courage and resilience as he goes through all this continues to amaze me. I am impressed not only by him, but also by his amazing and caring family. His parents have been by his side from the first day of treatment and continue to provide wonderful support.

As I take care of patients with leukemia, I see every day what the human spirit is capable of even during extreme stress. Treatment of acute leukemia involves months of chemotherapy, a lot of side effects and possibly a need for yet another procedure, a stem cell transplantation. I always wonder what goes through the minds of my patients and their families as they go through all this. I can only imagine how stressful it is to think about the next chemotherapy, the side effects, the results of each bone marrow biopsy. . . how will the next lumbar puncture go, how will the next marrow go? What should I do to keep safe from COVID or any other infection? When is my next transfusion? When can I get back to work or school? Will I be cured of this? When will I stop seeing Dr. Atallah (hopefully soon)? Yet AC and his family, like many other patients, are able to somehow find the strength to endure everything their disease—and modern medicine—throw at them.

My goal and hope is that through research here at MCW, as well as nationally and internationally, all patients with leukemia will achieve a cure with fewer side effects and better quality of life.

Thank you for reading this and partnering with us in curing leukemia.

Ehab Atallah

Ehab Atallah