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Kimberly Martin
770-400-6563
kimberly.martin@coh.org
ATLANTA — City of Hope® Cancer Center Atlanta today announced Shady Eldaif, M.D., director of thoracic oncology, has been appointed to the American Lung Association’s Georgia Leadership Board. Eldaif, alongside the twelve other members of the board and the Lung Association, will play a crucial role in developing and elevating the Lung Association’s lifesaving efforts, advocating for improved lung health and increasing resources to fund lung programs and services.
An Atlanta native and highly experienced thoracic surgeon who has performed more than 1,600 complex robotic surgeries to date, Eldaif believes in combining compassion with expertise to improve patients’ lives and treatment outcomes. A physician-scholar, he has published multiple articles in leading medical journals and has presented on topics such as cardiovascular health and innovative thoracic surgical techniques at conferences around the country. As Director of Thoracic Oncology for City of Hope Atlanta, Eldaif oversees a team of thoracic cancer specialists and is dedicated to expanding their Lung Cancer Center, all while treating patients with cancers affecting the esophagus and chest.
“My biggest driver behind joining the board is to eliminate barriers to exceptional health care to patients, specifically for cancer care,” said Eldaif. “Modern, successful solutions for lung disease and prevention are rapidly developing, and Georgians deserve to have equitable access to resources and treatment.”
“Promoting improved lung health, early detection interventions and accessible, leading-edge lung cancer treatment is a crucial mission for City of Hope, and a personal passion for Dr. Eldaif as a leading lung specialist,” said Jonathan Watkins, president of City of Hope Atlanta. “By joining the board for the American Lung Association, Dr. Eldaif demonstrates that his passion extends beyond the walls of our cancer center and into the community itself. We anticipate incredible developments as a result of his contributions to the Georgia Leadership Board.”
The American Lung Association's mission is to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. To that end, the organization’s strategy focuses on defeating lung cancer, championing clean air, improving quality of life for those with lung disease and creating a tobacco-free future. The Georgia Leadership Board, consisting of now thirteen local Georgia leaders in lung health, provides governance, development and oversight for the initiatives and progress towards achieving these goals.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Eldaif to our Georgia Leadership Board. His experiences and insights will be critical to advancing our impact in the Atlanta community and across Georgia,” said Dr. Jannifer Harper, chair of the Lung Association’s Georgia Leadership Board. “Together, our Leadership Board is working to create a future world free of lung cancer and lung disease.”
City of Hope is one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., with a Los Angeles National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center ranked as a top 5 facility by U.S. News & World Report at its center. Combined with their recent national expansion to Arizona, Illinois and Georgia, City of Hope’s national clinical network makes leading-edge research and treatment available to more patients and families.
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About City of Hope City of Hope's mission is to make hope a reality for all touched by cancer and diabetes. Founded in 1913, City of Hope has grown into one of the largest and most advanced cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., and one of the leading research centers for diabetes and other life-threatening illnesses. City of Hope research has been the basis for numerous breakthrough cancer medicines, as well as human synthetic insulin and monoclonal antibodies. With an independent, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center that is ranked top 5 in the nation for cancer care by U.S. News & World Report at its core, City of Hope’s uniquely integrated model spans cancer care, research and development, academics and training, and a broad philanthropy program that powers its work. City of Hope’s growing national system includes its Los Angeles campus, a network of clinical care locations across Southern California, a new cancer center in Orange County, California, and cancer treatment centers and outpatient facilities in the Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix areas. City of Hope’s affiliated group of organizations includes Translational Genomics Research Institute and AccessHopeTM. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, X, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.