Dr. Rakkar is originally from Jalandhar, a major city of the state of Punjab in the northwestern part of India. He came to Phoenix to join Palo Verde Hematology Oncology in November 2001.
Dr. Rakkar had a brilliant academic career in India. He was a National Merit Scholar and the top High School graduate of the state of Punjab in 1981. He was also the top Pre-Medical student of the state in 1983.
Dr. Rakkar graduated with a MBBS degree from Medical College, Amrilsar, India in December 1987. He was named Best Medical Graduate of the University out of one hundred fifty students. He also graduated with Distinctions in 11 out of 12 subjects and was awarded 12 gold medals.
He then completed and graduated top of his class at his Internal Medicine residency at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Dr. Rakkar came to the United States in June 1993. He completed his Internal Medicine training at SUNY Stony Brook in New York, and became diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1995. He joined the National Cancer Institute and National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland as Clinical Associate of the Medicine Branch in 1995. He completed his Fellowship in Medical Oncology at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland in 1998, and became board certified as a Diplomat in Medical Oncology in 1997.
During his three year stay at the National Cancer Institute, Dr. Rakkar did original research into gene therapy treatment options for breast cancer and published a number of articles in various reputed journals. He was an associate investigator on a number of ongoing breast cancer clinical research protocols at the NCI.
His first practice was in Terre Haute, Indiana from 1998 to 2001 until deciding to move to Arizona.
He is married to Navjot, who is an Internal Medicine Physician with her practice in Sun City West. He has two daughters, Meher and Mannat .
Dr. Rakkar enjoys many activities. He was a member of his college field hockey and volleyball teams. He has trekked extensively in the Himalayan Mountains of North India and continues to do so at all available opportunities. He also likes to garden.
Dr. Rakkar is also the Principal Investigator for a number of clinical trials that are currently available at Palo Verde Hematology Oncology.
His other credits include:
Dr. Rakkar has been published in such journals as: Cancer Research, The Journal Of the National Cancer Institute, and Gene Therapy.
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