S16 Ep9: A Thoracic Oncologist’s Journey from Iran to Innovation: With Girindra Raval, MD; and Hossein Borghaei, DO, MS

Feb 25, 2026

Hossein Borghaei, DO, MS, a thoracic medical oncologist and immunotherapy leader at Fox Chase Cancer Center. He shares his immigrant journey into medicine, the rise of targeted therapies and immunotherapy in lung cancer, the role of mentorship and persistence, and how AI can aid but not replace human connection in patient care.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

Teenage Journey From Tehran To Philadelphia

Hossein Borghaei left Tehran at 16, lived in Germany and Austria, then arrived in Philadelphia at 17 to study at St. Joe's University.
He relied on distant relatives, a German host family, and the Philadelphia Iranian community to rebuild life and bring his family later.

INSIGHT

Why Oncology Won Over Infectious Disease

Borghaei shifted from infectious disease interest to oncology after valuing the depth of patient relationships and the blend of clinical medicine with biology.
Residency mentors, collaborative projects, and patient intimacy during long oncology visits sealed his decision.

ANECDOTE

Mentors And Need Drew Him To Thoracic Oncology

He chose thoracic oncology due to mentorship from Corey Langer and Joe Treat, plus the large unmet need in lung cancer treatments.
He appreciated the older patient population and the collaborative thoracic oncology community that shares knowledge globally.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Cancer, Character, and Calling: The Oncologist’s Journey, hosted by Girindra Raval, MD, is a podcast highlighting how top oncologists have navigated the field over the course of their careers, the passion that drove them to enter the oncology space, and the ongoing work that will continue to transform cancer care. Each episode, Raval will sit down with a top oncologist to dive into their background, highlight their career achievements, discuss key issues still being addressed in their field, and explore their interests outside of the clinic and lab.

In this episode, Raval welcomed Hossein Borghaei, DO, MS, who is the chief of the Division of Thoracic Medical Oncology, the codirector of the Immune Monitoring Facility, the Gloria and Edmund M. Dunn Chair in Thoracic Oncology, and a professor in the Department of Hematology/Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their conversation focused on Borghaei’s personal journey into medicine and oncology, highlighting how immigration, mentorship, and scientific curiosity shaped his career and philosophy of patient care.

Reflecting on his career, Borghaei described major advances in the field of lung cancer treatment, including targeted therapies and immunotherapy, which he witnessed firsthand. He emphasized that clinical observation and collaboration have driven progress in this area of oncology and will continue to do so. He believes immunotherapy still holds untapped potential and that future breakthroughs will come through continued scientific cooperation.

Borghaei advised trainees to persist throughout their careers despite rejection, seek mentorship, and remain committed to improvement. He views artificial intelligence as a powerful tool for research and diagnostics but not a replacement for physicians, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of human connection in patient care. Throughout the interview, he stressed optimism, compassion, and lifelong learning as essential qualities for oncologists, highlighting the profound relationships formed with patients even in the most difficult moments.