Waqas Azhar, MD

Dr. Wasqas Azhar was born in Multan, Pakistan, where he completed his early education. He feels fortunate to have joined one of the prestigious institutions in South Asia for his medical school training at King Edward Medical University. After graduation, Dr. Azhar decided to move to the USA to train in a highly skilled and multi-ethnic environment, where he had the opportunity to learn under the supervision of faculty at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.

Initially, Dr. Azhar moved to Springfield, Illinois, for visa purposes but later realized he had fallen in love with the town. He worked as a hospitalist at Springfield Clinic, where he had the opportunity to serve the Central Illinois population at Springfield Memorial Hospital and HSHS St. John’s Hospital. During the COVID pandemic, he cared for patients and was deeply moved by the passion and enthusiasm of the medical community, as well as the support provided by the local community. Working on the oncology floor and caring for these patients made him realize that he wanted to pursue a career in the field of hematology and oncology.

Dr. Azhar joined SIU School of Medicine and completed his fellowship training in Hematology and Oncology there, where he had the opportunity to learn about various hematological and oncologic disorders from highly experienced faculty. He also trained at Barnes-Jewish Hospital to learn how to care for bone marrow transplant patients. After completing his training, Dr. Azhar decided to join SIU School of Medicine. He enjoys teaching medical students, residents, and fellows, and he realized that SIU School of Medicine is a great platform not only to teach future generations but also to participate in clinical research and care for patients.

Dr. Azhar has created many memories in Springfield. He got married and now has two kids who keep him busy after work hours. He enjoys biking, hiking, and playing cricket. He is also learning to fly planes and hopes to become a successful pilot as well.