Alumnus Hardeep Phull Returns to Tucson as 36th Annual UBRP Conference Keynote Speaker
UBRP and BRAVO! alumnus Dr. Hardeep Phull will serve as the keynote speaker for the 36th Annual UBRP Conference.
We are excited to welcome UBRP and BRAVO! alumnus Dr. Hardeep Phull as our keynote speaker for the 36th Annual UBRP Conference, to be held on January 25, 2025! Dr. Phull's talk is entitled "The Journey of Science, Medicine, and Life: Get Out of Your Own Way!"
Hardeep's passion for cancer care began at the University of Arizona, where he laid his foundations while volunteering at the VA hospital where his mother was an oncology nurse. While working in a Plant Sciences lab with Dr. David Galbraith and Dr. Mike Deyholos, the highlight of his undergrad experience was a culturally fulfilling research fellowship abroad in Poland, funded by the NIH and the BRAVO! program. He then spent 3 years in a Urology lab at University Medical Center (now known as Banner) before he was humbled to be selected by a prestigious Physician-Scientist program at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM).
At CCLCM, he received world class scholarship and mentorship, and came "full circle" in his interest and talents for Oncology. Following medical school, Dr. Phull pursued a unique Physician Scientist training program at Scripps as a KL2 funded Clinical Scholar, where he also obtained a Master Degree in Clinical Investigation while working on novel CAR-T cell therapies. He culminated his education with a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of California San Diego (UCSD), where he reignited his greater passion and purpose for patient care and education, and was selected as the Chief Fellow.
Dr. Phull often humbly reflects with colleagues and mentees about his first publication ever on his CV, from the 13th Annual UBRP Conference in 2002.
His clinical expertise as a community oncologist in San Diego extends to a wide variety of hematologic and oncologic disorders, and he constantly strives to contribute to the field with over 22 peer-reviewed publications, 37 scientific abstract and oral presentations, 83 editorial pieces, 48 media appearances, and multiple awards including first-place finishes at 3 national scientific poster competitions. Currently, Dr. Phull is the Director of the Oncology and Infusion program at Palomar Health (PH) in San Diego and a Board Member of the Palomar Health Foundation (PHF). He also serves as Alumni Specialty Director at CCLCM and as a Clinical Instructor at UCSD.
Dr. Phull views his ongoing journey as a series of unbelievable experiences that have enabled him to appreciate different values, cultures, and viewpoints while establishing a track record of excellence across multiple institutions. He remains committed and highly involved in education, mentorship, leadership, and advocacy in the San Diego community, frequently referenced on social media, television, newspapers, and podcasts related to these interests. This has allowed him to fulfill his initial calling to be a compassionate and caring clinician, advocating for deeply-rooted principles of empathy, humility, dignity, and empowerment towards patients and colleagues. In his free time, he enjoys piloting planes, sailing, writing, sports, movies, travel, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.