Dr. Atlal Abusanad

Medical Oncologist; Associate Professor

Dr. Atlal Abusanad is a trailblazing Saudi medical oncologist based in Jeddah, recognized as the first Saudi female Full Professor of Medical Oncology in the Kingdom. She is a globally recognized leader in clinical breast oncology, personalized medicine, and patient advocacy.

Current Roles & Positions
• Head of Breast Cancer Unit: Leads the specialized Breast Cancer Unit at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH).
• Academic Professor: Serves as a Full Professor of Medical Oncology within the Faculty of Medicine at King Abdulaziz University (KAU) in Jeddah.
• Global Leadership: Selected as the first representative from the Gulf region for the prestigious Leadership Development Program by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
• Board Memberships: Serves on the board of the Gulf Cancer Society and is a member of the scientific committee for the Zahra Breast Cancer Association.

Education & Clinical Training
• Medical Degree: Graduated from King Abdulaziz University.
• Residency: Completed her Internal Medicine residency training at the University of British Columbia in Canada.
• Fellowships: Completed dual fellowships in Medical Oncology and as a Clinician-Investigator at McGill University, Canada.
• Master’s Degree: Earned an MSc in Experimental Medicine from McGill University, with a specific focus on molecular oncology and breast cancer.
• Board Certifications: Double board-certified, holding certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (FRCPC).
Patient Advocacy & Research FocusNajia Support Community: Dr. Abusanad is the founder of Najia, an online advocacy and support community built specifically to empower breast cancer patients and survivors.
Narrative Medicine & Writing: She is a frequent contributor to the ASCO Connection blog and a TEDx speaker, writing extensively on cancer survivorship, patient empowerment, and the unique challenges faced by mothers practicing medicine.
Primary Research: Her scientific publications span clinical breast trials, molecular markers in tumor development, and tracking oncologist well-being and burnout prevention.