Saiama N. Waqar, MD, MSCI

Saiama N. Waqar, MD, MSCI

Professor

Address:
Division of Oncology
Mail Stop 8056-0029-11
Washington University
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110

11th Floor Mid Campus Center (office)

Admin:
Sara Meyer
sara.m@wustl.edu

Clinical Interests
  • Non-small cell lung cancer
  • Small cell lung cancer
  • Thymic tumors
  • Carcinoid tumors
  • Mesothelioma
Research Interests
  • Personalized medicine for patients with lung cancer
Research

Dr. Waqar’s main area of clinical interest is the treatment of patients with thoracic malignancies. Her research interests include personalized medicine for patients with lung cancer, including clinical trials of molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapy.

Biosketch

Education

  • 2023-2022: Academy of Educators Program Director Bootcamp
  • 2022: Department of Medicine Leadership Training Course
  • 2019: ACGME Introductory Course for New Program Directors
  • 2015-2013: Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI), Washington University, St. Louis, MO
  • 2011-2008: Fellow, Hematology/Oncology, Barnes-Jewish Consortium/Washington University, St. Louis, MO
  • 2008-2005: Resident Physician, Internal Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Consortium/Washington University, St. Louis, MO
  • 2002-2001: Internship, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 2001-1996: MBBS, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan

Academic Positions & Employment

  • present-2024: Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Section of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • present-2023: Director of Education for Oncology
  • present-2022: Research Director for Thoracic Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2023-2019: Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Section of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2023-2019: Director, Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2019-2014: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Section of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2013-2011: Instructor in Medicine, Division of Oncology, Section of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
  • 2005-2004: Instructor, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 2004: Research Assistant, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
  • 2004-2003: Instructor, Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS), Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

University & Hospital Appointments & Committees

  • present-2023: Director of Education, Oncology
  • present-2023: Co-Chair of the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center Thoracic Oncology Disease Working Group
  • present-2023: Structured Evaluative Letters (SEL) writing committee
  • present-2021: Medical Oncology Morbidity and Mortality Committee
  • present-2021: Alumni Advisory Council (AAC), K12 Paul Calabresi Program in Oncology
  • present-2021: FWIM Fellows Outreach Subcommittee
  • present-2021: Siteman Cancer Center Lung Strategic Planning committee for 2023/2027
  • present-2021: Co-Leader, Siteman Cancer Center Thoracic Focus Group
  • present-2019: Clinical Representative to Executive Committee of the Faculty Council, Washington University in St. Louis
  • present-2019: New Cancer Building Visioning Group, Washington University in St. Louis
  • present-2018: Subject Matter Expert, EPIC Implementation Project, Washington University in St. Louis
  • present-2017: Core Member, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Oncology, Washington University in St Louis
  • present-2016: Co-Chair, Women of Oncology and Hematology, Division of Oncology, Washington University in St. Louis
  • present-2016: Solid Tumor Therapeutics Program (STTP), Developmental Therapeutics Focus Group and Thoracic Focus Group, Siteman Cancer Center
  • present-2015: Physician Champion, Oncology (Beacon) Operational Group, EPIC Implementation Project, Washington University in St. Louis
  • present-2014: Siteman Cancer Center Support Grant (CCSG), Siteman Cancer Center
  • present-2013: Washington University Internal Medicine Residency Program Interviewer
  • present-2013: Washington University Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program Interviewer
  • present-2011: Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences (ICTS), Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2020: Reviewer, Siteman Investment Program (SIP) Clinical Trial Sub-Committee
  • 2020-2019: Division of General Internal Medicine Head Search Committee Member, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2019: Washington University Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology K12 Review Committee
  • 2019-2018: M*Modal Computer Assisted Provider Documentation (CAPD) Implementation and Early Adopter Program, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2019-2014: Protocol Review and Monitoring Committee (PRMC), Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2018-2017: Provider Educator, EPIC implementation Project, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2018-2015: Ambulatory Operational Group, EPIC Implementation Project, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2017-2016: Department of Medicine Cultural Awareness and Inclusion (CAI) Faculty Task Force, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2016: Thoracic Surgeon Search Committee, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2015-2012: Clinical Quality and ICD-10 Physician Advisory Committee, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2015-2012: Physician Champion, Oncology Compass EMR Committee, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2013-2012: Physician Champion, Barnes Jewish-Hospital Committee on Preventing Falls with Injury, Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare
  • 2013-2011: Oncology Therapeutics Subcommittee of Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee, Barnes-Jewish Hospital

Board Certification

  • 2011: American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
  • 2008: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

Honors & Awards

  • 2023: Castle Connolly Top Doctor
  • 2023: American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) Inspire Award
  • 2023: Inducted into Academy of Educators, Washington University School of Medicine
  • 2022-2021: Castle Connolly Top Doctor
  • 2021: Nominated for Powered by Hope-Champion Award
  • 2021: Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
  • 2021: Honor Roll Award, Washington University School of Medicine Academy of Educators
  • 2020-2019: Best Doctors in America
  • 2018, 2015: Highest Patient Satisfaction Award, Washington University School of Medicine
  • 2016: AAMC Early Career Women Faculty Professional Development Seminar
  • 2015-2013: Paul Calabresi Career Development Award for Clinical Oncology
  • 2015-2013: Siteman Cancer Center Shared Resources Award for detection and enumeration of genomic mutations in cfDNA from cancer patients
  • 2009: American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Merit Award
  • 2007: 3rd Prize in residents’ poster competition, American College of Physicians (ACP)
  • 2005: Mentors in Medicine Award, Internal Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis
  • 2002: Best Intern Award, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 2001: Merit Award in Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 2001-1999: Begum Shafiqa Zia-ul Haq merit scholarship, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 2001-1996: Dean’s List, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
  • 1999: Xth Star Awards 1999, in the field of Education, awarded by South Asia Publications

Editorial Responsibilities

  • 2024: Associate Editor for ASCO Self-Evaluation Program (SEP)
  • 2023: Associate Editor for ASCO Self-Evaluation Program (SEP)
  • 2009: Assistant Editor, DeVita, Hellman & Rosenberg’s “Cancer, Principles & Practice of Oncology Review”, 2nd Edition. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

National Scientific Panels

  • present-2020: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
    Member NCCN Small Cell Lung Cancer Panel
  • present-2017: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)
    Associate Editor – ASCO (2023 & 2024)
    Peer Reviewer – ASCO Self Evaluation Program (SEP) (2022 & 2023)
    Member, ASCO Question Writing Group (2021)
    Planning Committee ASCO Program Directors Retreat (2020)
    Member, Quiz Builder Reviewer (2020)
    Member, ASCO eLearning Question Writing Group (2020)
    Member, American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Oncology Training Programs (OTP) Committee (2019-2022)
    Review Panelist, ASCO University Personalized Learning Dashboard (PDL) (2017)
  • present-2016: Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)
    National Sub-study Chair for S1400 K study of ABBV-399
    Lung-MAP Champion representing NRG Oncology
    Member, Lung-MAP Drug Selection Committee (present-2022)
    Sub-study chair for S1900E
  • present-2015: Thoracic Clinical Trials Working Group (CTWG) Member, Hoosier Cancer Research Network (HCRN)
    Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) member (2022-2019)
  • present-2013: Lung Committee Member, NRG Oncology Cooperative Group/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)
    Medical Oncology National Co-chair for NRG-LU002
    NRG Oncology Champion for Lung-MAP
    Member, Lung eligibility standardization project 2022
  • present-2012: Lung Cancer Mutation Consortium (LCMC) member
    Site PI for LCMC2, LCMC3 and LCMC4
  • present-2011: International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)
    Career Development and Fellowship Committee member (2025-2023)
    Track Chair “Small Cell Lung Cancer” for 2024 WCLC Conference
    North American Conference on Lung Cancer program committee (2022)

Professional Societies & Organizations

  • present-2023: Member, Academy of Educators, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
  • present-2021: Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine
  • present-2020: Missouri Oncology Society
  • present-2020: Member, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) – Small Cell Lung Cancer Panel
  • present-2019: Forum for Women in Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis
  • present-2017: Group on Women in Medicine and Science, AAMC
  • present-2016: American Association of Medical Colleges
  • present-2011: International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer
  • present-2011: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
  • present-2008: American Society of Clinical Oncology