Director of Medical Oncology
If you ask Shakeeb Yunus, MD, about being a doctor, he’ll talk about family — and the importance of human connection.
Dr.Yunus comes from a family of physicians and was struck early on by the power of the doctor-patient relationship. That is what drove him to study medicine and what motivates him every day.
Dr.Yunus is Director of Medical Oncology at Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospitals — members of the Lahey Health Cancer Institute. To Dr.Yunus, being part of the Institute means having access to a network of team members across a broad spectrum of services who work together to come up with the best care for each patient — because each patient is unique and so is their cancer.
“We put people at the center of everything we do, because I believe medicine is about putting people first,” says Dr.Yunus.
Dr.Yunus says fighting cancer takes a great deal of willpower and a tremendous amount of support; that’s why he encourages his patients to enlist family and friends in their journey. It’s also why he takes such great pride in the Hematology/Oncology Center at Beverly and Addison Gilbert Hospitals. Here, the staff is family — to each other and to their patients. Having a small, community practice allows the team to really get to know patients and not just see them as a number on a file. This personalized care starts at the front desk and carries throughout the practice. Everyone at the Hematology/Oncology Center is dedicated to helping patients win their battle against cancer and is with them every step of the way.
One of his biggest responsibilities is helping patients navigate their options. New treatments are available every day, and he knows it’s his job to help each patient decide what is best for them. The process can be daunting and it’s easy to become overwhelmed.
“Patients look to us for help,” Dr. Yunus says. “They need someone to believe in them. That’s why I’m here.”