Shaker R. Dakhil, MD, FACP
Medical Oncologist / HematologistBorn in Lebanon, Dr. Dakhil obtained his medical degree in 1975 from St. Joseph University School of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon. Dr. Dakhil completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and served a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of Michigan. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology. Dr. Dakhil entered private practice in Wichita in 1981 when he joined the Cancer Center of Kansas, and since 2000 when he became the President, Dr. Dakhil has provided overall leadership to the center. He is a clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita. He is very dedicated to clinical research and for many years has served as the Principal Investigator of the Wichita NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP), a National Cancer Institute sponsored research program now Cancer Research of Kansas.
During his fellowship at the University of Michigan, Dr. Dakhil was part of a three-physician team which developed the first implantable central venous catheter (eventually known as port-a-cath), which is now commonly used in cancer care and treatment. He has participated in research on an implantable pump system for delivery of chemotherapy directly to the liver, and introduced this treatment modality to Wichita.
Dr. Dakhil is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, as well as a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, the Southwest Oncology Group, the North Central Cancer Treatment Group and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project. He has served as President of the Medical Society of Sedgwick County (1997) and as Past President of staff at Ascension Via Christi Hospital St. Francis. His service of patients went beyond just care and treatment when Dr. Dakhil founded the Wichita Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization which provides financial assistance for cancer patients. His vision came in response to seeing so many patients who have life circumstances which affect their ability to pay their health insurance premiums to ensure they receive the treatment they need.
Dr. Dakhil’s extensive career serving his community was recognized in 2014 when he was honored with the Healthcare Heroes Lifetime Achievement Award by the Wichita Business Journal. In addition, Castle Connolly has named Dr. Dakhil over several years one of America’s Top Cancer Doctors as published in Newsweek Magazine and has ranked him in the top 1% of oncologists in the nation over several years as published in the U.S. News & World Report. In 2020 Dr. Dakhil was recognized as an individual who has distinguished himself as a leader, teacher and expert in Cancer Care in Wichita and surrounding communities, receiving the Excellence in Health Care – Cancer Care honor by the Wichita Business Journal. As a true leader at the Cancer Center of Kansas, Dr. Dakhil’s deep passion for his patients, high standard of excellence in care and commitment to service and our mission is evidenced throughout the center. Again in 2020, Dr. Dakhil was selected as a member of the first class of Executives of the Year awarded by WBJ as well.