CCK Physicians Dr. Shaker Dakhil and Dr. Pavan Reddy have been selected as 2020 Excellence in Health – Cancer Care honorees. This selection has been awarded by the the Wichita Business Journal (WBJ) and focuses on medical professionals who have distinguished themselves as leaders, teachers, and experts in the field of Oncology; individuals who have had a broad and positive impact on treatment of cancer in the Wichita area. The Excellence in Health Care is a new series brought to the public by WBJ and aims to spotlight outstanding professionals. Well-established, the WBJ is the industry leader in covering business news from local, regional and national perspectives reaching more than 13 million readers.
The Cancer Center of Kansas is so proud to have such well-deserving, committed physicians as part of our team. Both whom have been with the Cancer Center of Kansas for most of their careers, Dr. Dakhil with four decades of service and Dr. Reddy with over two. Like all of our CCK physicians, they are committed to our mission of making available the most innovative, personalized and quality care throughout the state of Kansas keeping care close to home for patients by traveling weekly to CCK treatment centers throughout the state.
Honorees will be recognized at a banquet in the coming months. For more information regarding this award, the honorees or to view the eligibility requirements, visit Wichita Business Journals Excellence in Health Care – Cancer Care.
View their selection profiles featured in the WBJ newspaper, below.
Why/How did you choose a career in health care? Ever since I was a child, my parents referred to me as Dr. Shaker hoping a career in medicine would be part of my future. With their positive influence, I decided to pursue the medical field and in doing so I fell in love with it.
What is your greatest professional achievement? Working on the discovery of the port-a-cath, which is now commonly used in cancer care.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? The ever-changing health care regulations.
What was the best career decision you ever made? Coming to Wichita to join the Cancer Center of Kansas was the best career decision I’ve ever made. This environment allowed me to expand the delivery of cancer care to the vast majority of the state of Kansas. It is incredibly rewarding to take the treatment to the patient instead of making them come to us.
Who was your most important mentor? Dr. Sam Kouri, as he instilled in me the sense and importance of balancing between family and hard work.
What is the best advice they gave you? Dr. Kouri once told me, “Consider your family events as patient appointments. Put them on your schedule. Always prioritize them.” Taking his advice allowed me to truly be involved in my kids’ lives and family events while balancing my career successfully.
What is the best advice you would give to someone considering a career in health care? Always do the right thing, regardless of what any one else thinks.
Are you involved in the community? If so, how? I am very active in the community through philanthropy and participation in events of the same. To name a few, my family and I support several local children’s charities, such as the Wichita Children’s Home, educational institutions and churches. We have also donated a food truck to the Lord’s Diner and continue to support its work to feed the hungry. Finally, I am a founder of the Wichita Cancer Foundation, a non-profit that provides insurance premium assistance for cancer patients in Kansas. The Cancer Center of Kansas is active as well in annual support and participation in events held by the Victory in the Valley, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the American Cancer Society and other cancer support organizations, as we believe they are important offerings for our patients.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Besides attending and hosting family events, I enjoy playing cards.
How did the pandemic impact your job? A lot of logistics had to be created and or changed; and these are constantly evolving. We are always focusing on balancing the safety of our patients and staff while still providing quality care.
Why/How did you choose a career in health care? I always enjoyed interacting with people and was good at science in school. In high school, our class attended a local medical school fair, where I saw animal and human models depicting the wonders of the body. That made a big impression on me- it may have been the moment when i decided to pursue medicine as a career.
What is your greatest professional achievement? Earning the trust of my patients and their family.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your career? Trying to balance time spent with my patients versus time spent on (required) paperwork.
What was the best career decision you ever made? Choosing hematology/oncology as a career and returning to Wichita to practice medicine.
Who was your most important mentor? Dr. Carol Fabian, my fellowship director.
What is the best advice they gave you? Never stop learning.
What is the best advice you would give to someone considering a career in health care? If you are a team player, willing to work hard and are committed, it’s a rewarding career
Are you involved in the community? If so, how? Yes, I enjoy working with cancer prevention related programs.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I enjoy spending time with my family, stargazing, and visiting national parks.
How did the pandemic impact your job? It took a little time getting used to new attires/masks at work and appointments over the web, but I am getting more comfortable with the new reality.
