Swaleh Bahamadi, MD

Christopher Pizzola, MD, located in Wilmington, NC, is a medical practice specializing in Medical Oncology and Hematology. Dr. Pizzola, a board-certified physician with years of experience, provides comprehensive care to patients, emphasizing a personalized approach to treatment. With a background in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Medical Oncology from esteemed institutions like Virginia Commonwealth University and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Dr. Pizzola offers expert medical services to individuals seeking specialized care for various health concerns. Patient reviews highlight Dr. Pizzola's exceptional bedside manner, thoroughness in explaining medical conditions, and dedication to addressing individual patient needs. The practice, part of Novant Health, operates at the Novant Health Cancer Institute - New Hanover, offering accessible and compassionate healthcare services to the community. Generated from the website content

Nearly everyone has been impacted by cancer in some way. Whether cancer has struck you, or someone you love or care about, you likely have felt the impacts of this ailment. For me, it was my father's battle with cancer that had a profound effect on not just my personal life, but my career. His fight is what led me to specialize in oncology. When I was in medical school, I recognized a pressing need to elevate women's health in medicine, leading me to the gynecologic oncology specialty. \n I am honored to serve women in our community, both as a clinician and as the medical director of the genetics program for the Novant Health Cancer Institute. Women in our community deserve leading-edge treatments and personalized care. I am dedicated to providing that to each patient at every encounter. \n Patients also benefit from my ongoing commitment to research. I have studied how to improve or lessen side effects of chemotherapy and have also studied CAR T-cell therapy. Whenever possible, I participate in clinical trials for gynecologic cancers, so my patients can take advantage of the very latest developments in the field. \n Outside of work, my family occupies most of my time. I am also an avid Philadelphia sports fan and watch games whenever I can.

Growing up in Chatham County, North Carolina, my parents worked at UNC Hospitals. My mother was an X-ray tech by day; my father a respiratory therapist by night. Hospital handoffs gave me my first exposure to the fast-paced, highly impactful world of healthcare. \n I wanted to provide excellent care to women throughout every phase of life, so being an ob-gyn was a natural fit. As I progressed through my training, I found particular joy in the operating room and in caring for women with cancer. \n A fellowship in palliative and hospice medicine was a good segue into the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology. My fellowship years shaped me into a well-rounded oncologist who always considers quality of life as I help my patients navigate tough treatments and, sometimes, tough decisions. \n While cancer treatments can be grueling, I want my patients to live life as fully as possible during treatment. I always consider the whole person in front of me as I apply evidence-based medicine to treat each patient. \n I've been honored to receive the Novant Guardian Angel Award (2024) in recognition of compassionate and empathetic care of patients with cancer and the Pope Clinical Research Award from UNC (2022) for performance of a cancer-related research project and for demonstration of excellence in clinical cancer care. \n I participate in sponsored clinical trials at the Novant Health Zimmer Cancer Institute and collaborate with UNC on investigator-initiated studies. My research focus is tailoring treatments to maximize quality of life without limiting treatment efficacy. I have also published on disparities in palliative care. \n My husband is a urologic oncologist, and we often collaborate to treat patients who require complex surgeries or need multidisciplinary care. We have three children, and we speak Spanish at home. I love being able to communicate with my Spanish-speaking patients in their native language. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, running, spending time with friends and traveling.