Ahmad Halwani,
MD
Languages Spoken: English
Dr. Halwani specializes in the treatment of blood related cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia. His main clinical operation is at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute Clinic 2B. He also sees patients at the George E. Wahlen Veteran's Medical Center.
For questions regarding Dr. Halwani's practice, our clinical programs or for help identifying the right Hematology specialist for you or for your family member, please feel free to contact our Clinical Care Specialist/New Patient Coordinator at www.huntsmancancer.org or (801) 585-6906.
Clinical Locations
Huntsman Cancer Hospital
Clinic 2C/BMT, Hematology-Malignant801-585-2626
Specialties
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Internal Medicine
-
Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
| Academic Divisions | Hematology/BMT |
| Board Certification | American Board of Allergy & Immunology American Board of Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Medical Oncology) |
| Cancer Center Programs | Experimental Therapeutics |
Patient Rating
The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to care provider related questions on our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey.
Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.
Likelihood of recommending care provider
4.9/ 5
Care provider spoke using clear language
4.8/ 5
Care provider's explanation of condition/problem
4.8/ 5
My confidence in care provider
4.9/ 5
Care provider's effort to include me in decisions
4.7/ 5
Wait time at clinic
4.0/ 5
Time care provider spent with me
4.7/ 5
Care provider's concern for questions & worries
4.7/ 5
Care provider's friendliness and courtesy
4.8/ 5
Patient Comments
Patient comments are gathered from our Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survery and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.
UofU Patient
February 19, 2018
Dr. Halwani has a great bedside manor. He truly made me feel better just knowing he was on my team.
UofU Patient
January 08, 2018
Dr. Halwani is so personable and reassuring and he is obviously an expert in his field. In addition, he made me feel like I was his only patient. He was extremely patient and engaging. I feel fortunate to have him as my doctor.
UofU Patient
December 19, 2017
No doubt that he helped create the best outcome. Two years without detectable disease after treatment for Stage 4 Lymphoma ending chemo November 2015.
UofU Patient
September 29, 2017
Dr Halwani is fantastic. He has been just there for us over the past 4 years. When we have not met with him, Renee has also been fantastic. Everyone has provided the best care we could ask for.
UofU Patient
September 05, 2017
over all good experience.
UofU Patient
June 19, 2017
Best place in the world if you have cancer. I have never been in such a wonderful place. Love my doctor and everyone who has helped me there, just a awesome place.
UofU Patient
March 22, 2017
Dr. Halwani is wonderful. He is Friendly and I feel he cares about my health.
UofU Patient
February 12, 2017
Very pleased with Dr. Halwani. I am totally comfortable with his care.
UofU Patient
February 06, 2017
Dr. Halwani was great! My husband and I both enjoyed him and he was willing to answer all our questions and explain everything about this disease to us. He is kind of quirky, which we also both loved. You can tell he is super smart and passionate about his work. This was an excellent experience and we were both pleased with our choice to drive 6 hours so he could see my husband. I think my husband is in great hands with him and we are looking forward to the future. He then went out of his way to get my husband in to see Dr. Wada for another biopsy the same day knowing we had to get home within a day or two. Amazing!
UofU Patient
February 06, 2017
excellent
UofU Patient
December 14, 2016
Dr Halwani is absolutely amazing! He is totally devoted to saving lives of people with lymphoma. He was always very positive, humble and truly enjoyable to work with. We look forward to our appointments.
UofU Patient
November 12, 2016
great
UofU Patient
October 10, 2016
Dr. Hawani has a WONDERFUL bedside manner! He and his assistant Natalie assist me to better understand about the what, why, when and how about my condition and the treatments they administer.
UofU Patient
October 08, 2016
Good experience.
UofU Patient
October 03, 2016
Dr. Ahmad Halwani is very friendly and caring. He is very thorough during his visit with me. I appreciate his bedside manner. EXCELLENT physician!
UofU Patient
August 22, 2016
Dr. was very informative and seemed concern about my health
UofU Patient
July 31, 2016
Dr. Halwani was great. I was surprised and delighted he spent as much time as he did with me. it was also great to have the pharmacist in the room whom helped explain the medicines. Both were very professional yet I had the feeling they cared a lot about my situation and were there to HELP be through my ordeal with CLL.
UofU Patient
July 25, 2016
Completely satisfied.
UofU Patient
June 12, 2016
There was not a lot of useful information about my condition.
UofU Patient
May 30, 2016
I had more confidence in the nurse practitioner than Dr. Halwani. My answers above are based on him. He was nice but I need someone who is going to be my "quarterback" over the next few years and I need someone I can feel like I can talk to. I am a Physician Assistant myself, and I want to know all my options up front.
UofU Patient
April 19, 2016
Dr. Hawani is amazing! so kind and caring about what is going on with you!!! He talks so you can understand he is awesome!!
UofU Patient
March 21, 2016
I was completely out at ease
UofU Patient
March 20, 2016
MD texted on cell phone multiple times during visit. While he acknowledged it, seems to me after waiting so long to see him, undivided attention is a courtesy.
UofU Patient
January 24, 2016
Good
UofU Patient
January 07, 2016
Dr. Halwani is an outstanding oncologist who is on the cutting edge of his specialty and who treated me with the greatest respect.
UofU Patient
November 23, 2015
all good
UofU Patient
November 10, 2015
Both Renee and Dr. Halwani were great.
UofU Patient
October 26, 2015
DR. HALWANI EXPLAINS TREATMENTS, MEDICATIONS, FOLLOWUPS VERY WELL HE'S VERY DETAILED IN EXPLAINING THINGS AND HE ALSO HAS COURTNEY THAT WILL GO OVER EVERYTHING AT THE END. IN MAKING DECISIONS ON TREATMENT DR. HALWANI EXPLAINED THE TREATMENT USED AND ANSWERED ALL OF OUR QUESTIONS I DEFINTELY INCLUDED US IN THE TREATMENT AS FOR MAKING A DECISION I THINK IF IT'S TRUSTING IN OUR DR. THEN YES WE MADE THE "DECISION"
UofU Patient
August 11, 2015
We felt from the very beginning that we were in the hands of the best care possible. Everyone was helpful, friendly, competent, professional and caring.
UofU Patient
May 04, 2015
They should all be commended for their friendliness & caring & helping me to understand what is going on.
UofU Patient
May 02, 2015
I was very impressed by Dr. Halwani and his knowledge, and how nice and informative he was. I appreciated the time that was spent with him, in hoping that he can diagnose my situation.
UofU Patient
November 22, 2014
Dr. Halwani is such a caring and knowledgable Oncologist. As always, he is very thorough in discussing all aspects of my husband's condition. We trust him completely.
UofU Patient
November 18, 2014
My doctor was awesome, he was very kind and really explained everything to me, and answered all of my questions.
UofU Patient
October 12, 2014
My care could not have been better.
UofU Patient
September 23, 2014
Thank you all for being so concerned for me and helping get started on treatment. You have helped me immensely!
UofU Patient
August 08, 2014
The DR was assed a lot of appropriate questions to help determine what was going on & he seemed to really care about my health
UofU Patient
August 04, 2014
I love Dr. Halwani he is very caring and gives me all the time I need. And Renee' she makes sure I'm doing what I need to do to take care of myself, I feel their concern for me.
UofU Patient
August 03, 2014
dr Halwani is amazing!
UofU Patient
July 17, 2014
Everyone was amazing. Dr. Halwani is amazing!!
UofU Patient
May 25, 2014
Everyone but especially Dr. Halwani treated my in an amazing manner on this visit. I was moved to tears by the time and attention he gave to me!
UofU Patient
March 23, 2014
This has to be the best experience I have ever had at any medical facility.
UofU Patient
March 01, 2014
All of my experiences have been exceptional.
UofU Patient
February 21, 2014
The blood results took a week to find out. That was longer than I was told but other than that worrying waiting time all was super!
UofU Patient
February 02, 2014
I was very satisfied with the. care and consideration I received.
UofU Patient
January 20, 2014
Fantastic people
UofU Patient
January 17, 2014
My whole experience was uplifting and reassuring. Dr. Halwani was amazing.
UofU Patient
November 27, 2013
I don't feel I relate well with his communication style. I feel someone more personable would be a better fit for me. he explains himself well but I feel he is missing the personality.
UofU Patient
July 29, 2013
Most of the information I received during my visit was from the nurse practitioner. They're loaded with clinical information and I usually spend the bulk of my time with them. The doctor basically looks at my labs and wonders when I'll be classified CLL or when I'll need drugs and medical procedures. There are no suggestions on how to sustain my current quality of life during this waiting period. In particular, there's no discussion on the effect of diet. Why are they not versed on that topic? I guess my belief is that a primary goal of the providers is to get as many of us into treatment and to then keep us there for as long as possible, and to profit to the maximum extent.
UofU Patient
June 24, 2013
I ask many questions and they are always great about discussing them with me. The problem is that I probably ask to many questions, so I actually feel sorry for your people, but they are always great with me.
UofU Patient
May 07, 2013
Everyone is very knowledgeable
UofU Patient
April 01, 2013
Very positive and made us feel at ease
UofU Patient
January 09, 2013
I am very pleased to be under the care of Dr. Halwani. I feel very confident about his expertise regarding my condition.
UofU Patient
December 24, 2012
did not recommend treatment just said wait
UofU Patient
December 24, 2012
The improvement over my past oncologist at a different facility is very comforting.
UofU Patient
December 02, 2012
Very good care. But concerned that we had came in for a 2nd opinion and I guess we were not clear on the past visit because we were under the impression we needed to get a biopsy to start chemo treatment and was informed we did not need the chemo just yet and don't know if the bone marrow biopsy was really needed. And again I believe this comes back to the schedulers communicating with the Doctors.
UofU Patient
June 15, 2012
I am pleased with all the staff. they seem to be happy and easy to work with.
UofU Patient
May 11, 2012
I'm serious about the marks, not only very good, but at times pleasant
Ahmad S. Halwani, M.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hematology and Hematologic Malignancies, Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Halwani also has an appointment at the George E. Whalen Salt Lake City Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, where he started a Leukemia-Lymphoma clinic, the Salt Lake City VA's first subspecialty oncology clinic. Specializing in the treatment of blood related cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia, his main clinical operation is at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute Clinic 2B. He is an investigator at the Huntsman Cancer Institute and a member of the Experimental Therapeutics program.
Dr. Halwani's research interests include immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies, as well as understanding the interactions between the immune system and cancer. Immunotherapy for treatment of cancer is a rapidly expanding field. Novel antibodies target various cancer associated antigens. In addition, new immunomodulators target the microenvironment around the cancer cells. As the understanding of regulatory immune mechanisms evolves, T-cell costimulation inhibition is an exciting new modality that has shown exciting results in treatment of multiple cancers. As a clinical and translational investigator, Dr. Halwani’s research focuses on design and implementation of clinical trials that bring recent advances in immunotherapy from bench to bedside. He is principle investigator on a number of clinical trials that focus on treatment of hematologic malignancies with immune therapies, including novel antibodies with augmented mechanisms of action, antibody-drug conjugates, and T-cell costimulation inhibitors. His clincal trial portfolio ranges the entire spectrum of clinical trials, from phase I to randomized phase III trials.
He received his B.S. in Biology, with High Distinction, from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, followed by his medical degree also at the American University of Beirut. Dr. Halwani next completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, then two consecutive Fellowships, also at Iowa: in Allergy and Immunology and then in Medical Oncology. Dr. Halwani is board certified in Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, and in Allergy and Immunology.
Academic Locations
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801-585-2626
Board Certification and Academic Information
| Academic Departments | Internal Medicine
-
Assistant Professor (Clinical) |
| Academic Divisions | Hematology/BMT |
| Board Certification | American Board of Allergy & Immunology American Board of Internal Medicine American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Medical Oncology) |
| Cancer Center Programs | Experimental Therapeutics |
Education History
| Fellowship | University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Medical Oncology Fellow |
| Fellowship | University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Allergy and Immunology Fellow |
| Residency | University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Internal Medicine Resident |
| Professional Medical | American University of Beirut Medicine M.D. |
| Undergraduate | American University of Beirut Biology with High Distinction B.S. |
| Graduate Training | University of Utah Clinical Investigation M.S.C.I |
Publications - Journal Articles
Journal Article
- Nelson SD, Lu CC, Teng CC, Leng J, Cannon GW, He T, Zeng Q, Halwani A, Sauer B (2015). The use of natural language processing of infusion notes to identify outpatient infusions. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf, 24(1), 86-92.
- Ansell SM, Lesokhin AM, Borrello I, Halwani A, Scott EC, Gutierrez M, Schuster SJ, Millenson MM, Cattry D, Freeman GJ, Rodig SJ, Chapuy B, Ligon AH, Zhu L, Grosso JF, Kim SY, Timmerman JM, Shipp MA, Armand P (2015). PD-1 blockade with nivolumab in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma. N Engl J Med, 372(4), 311-9.
- Ontiveros EP, Halwani A, Stunz LL, Kamberos N, Olivier AK, Janz S, Bishop GA (2014). A new model of LMP1-MYC interaction in B cell lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma, 55(12), 2917-23.
- Han SS, Tompkins VS, Son DJ, Kamberos NL, Stunz LL, Halwani A, Bishop GA, Janz S (2013). Piperlongumine inhibits LMP1/MYC-dependent mouse B-lymphoma cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 436(4), 660-5.
- Ayyad SE, Al-Footy KO, Alarif WM, Sobahi TR, Bassaif SA, Makki MS, Asiri AM, Al Halwani AY, Badria AF, Badria FA (2011). Bioactive C15 acetogenins from the red alga Laurencia obtusa. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 59(10), 1294-8.
- Halwani AS, Link BK (2011). Chemotherapy and antibody combinations for relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther, 11(3), 443-55.
- Racila E, Link BK, Weng WK, Witzig TE, Ansell S, Maurer MJ, Huang J, Dahle C, Halwani A, Levy R, Weiner GJ (2008). A polymorphism in the complement component C1qA correlates with prolonged response following rituximab therapy of follicular lymphoma. Clin Cancer Res, 14(20), 6697-703.
Abstract
- Lesokhin A, Gutierrez M, Halwani A, Ansell SM, Armand P, Borrello I, Segota ZE, Cohen AD, Talpaz M, Cattry D, Turner T, Mezes M, Hartman C, Gupta A, Kim SY, Wigginton JM, Timmerman JM (01012014). A Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study Evaluating the Effects of Nivolumab (anti-PD-1; BMS-936558) in Patients with Select Relapsed or Refractory Hematologic Malignancies [Abstract]. J Clinical Oncology American Society of Clinicial Oncology annual meeting.
- Kim YH, Bagot M, Eradat HA, Carson KR, Greer JP, Kim EJ, Kuzel T, Hughey LC, Poligone B, Lansigan F, Zinzani PL, Grandinetti LM, Procu P, Shustov AR, Korman NJ, Halwani A, Sokol L, Duvic M (01012014). Phase 3 study of anti-CCR4 monoclonal antibody mogamulizumab vs vorinostat in relapsed or refractory cutaneous t-cell lymphoma (CTCL) [Abstract]. J Clinical Oncology American Society of Clinicial Oncology annual meeting.
- Halwani A, Stunz S, Hu L, Janz S, Bishop G (2010). A new mouse lymphoma model, the iMycEµ-LMP1 transgenic mouse, suggests collaboration of LMP1 and Myc in lymphomagenesis. Poster Presentation; University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, Institute for Clinical and Translational Science and VA Health System Research Week [Abstract].
- Halwani A, Ballas Z (2009). Progression of Selective IgM Deficiency to Common Variable Immunodeficiency. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Poster Presentation, AAAAI annual meeting [Abstract]. 123(2, Supplement 1), S89.
-
Halwani A, Ballas Z (2008).
Delayed Recovery of T Cell Response Post Cyclosporin Therapy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Poster Presentation, AAAAI annual meeting.
[Abstract]. 121(2, Supplement 1), S87. - Halwani A (2008). Eczematous Rash, Elevated IgE & Recurrent Infections. Presented at the Clinical Immunology Society Primary Immunodeficiency Summer School [Abstract].
- Halwani A, Gingrich R (2005). An Unusual Tonsillitis. American College of Physicians, Iowa Chapter, Associates Clinical Vignette Competition [Abstract].
Poster
- Halwani A, AbuHejleh T, Deutsch J, Engelman E, Swift J, Hohl R, Hamarneh I, Smith B, Milhem M (October 26-29, 2011). A Pilot Study Targeting Angiogenesis Using Bevacizumab Combined With Chemotherapy And A Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor (Valproic Acid) in Advanced Sarcomas. Poster session presented at Connective Tissue Oncology Society, Chicago, IL.
Global Impact
Education History
| Professional Medical | American University of Beirut Medicine M.D. |
| Undergraduate | American University of Beirut Biology with High Distinction B.S. |