The following is reprinted from the August 29 issue of the Holden Highlights newsletter.

Laila Babar, MBBS, attended Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. She is currently a third-year Hematology Oncology fellow at the University of Iowa.

Laila’s cousin died of cancer the year she was born, and she saw first-hand how long-lasting and devastating the effects of cancer can be, not just on patients but also on their families. She had wanted to stay away from it as a career, but as hard as she tried, she couldn’t stay away from the field of oncology in medical school. She always ended up at the cancer center and, ultimately, accepted that she belonged there. She had a passion for helping others deal with cancer and navigating the unknown landscape of new drugs, ongoing trials, and internet misinformation.

Iowa was a great fit for Laila to further her training. She wanted to train at a place with strong research ties that was also a good clinical facility. During the interview process, Laila felt at ease and that she would fit in nicely. In her eyes Iowa is a hidden gem, and she is grateful to get to experience it.

In her free time, Laila loves to explore Iowa’s farm-to-table scene. She has a group of foodie friends that eat out at least once per week. When she’s not outside, Laila likes curling up on the sofa with a romance novel or singing along to Taylor Swift or old Pakistani/Indian songs.