Hematologist / Oncologist Joins Adventist Health Sonora Cancer Center

Sonora, CA – Adventist Health Sonora welcomes Yousef Khelfa, M.D., doctor of hematology and oncology and fellow of the American College of Physicians. He arrives here after having completed the Marshall University School of Medicine’s Hematology/Oncology fellowship program at the Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center at Cabell Huntington Hospital in West Virginia.

Dr. Khelfa earned his medical degree from Al-Quds University Medical School in Jerusalem before completing his residency at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Paterson, New Jersey. In addition, he has had surgical intensive care unit training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York and observational training at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. It was then that Dr. Khelfa would seek a path of greater focus on cancer and its encompassing treatments, as it is a disease that for him hits close to home. “I had an uncle who passed away after getting colon cancer as well as some friends who died of melanoma, lung and pancreatic cancer. It’s such a terrible disease and I decided I wanted to help people fight it.” Part of that fight is working closely with patients which is something Dr. Khelfa is passionate about when it comes to providing care. “Listening to patients is where it starts for me. Listening with your whole body and not being distracted. By doing that we gain trust in one another and from there we can find a path to treatment together.”

When not at work, Dr. Khelfa cherishes his time with his wife, two sons and daughter. “Family time is number one for me, whatever we’re doing. Whether we’re hiking, playing soccer with the boys or basketball with my daughter. It means everything.”

Dr. Khelfa adds that he’s excited about his move to Sonora. “With the new Health Pavilion coming and new facilities for providing cancer care, I am honored and glad to be here,” he says. “Also, I’m a small town guy, I don’t need the big city. And everyone I’ve met here in Sonora has been wonderful to me and my family. I look forward to serving this community.”

For more information about Dr. Khelfa, please call 209-536-5155.