Cancer Survivor Doctor Hikes Scottish Highlands for Research

Ten years after conquering Hodgkin lymphoma, Dr. Urvi Shah is lacing up her hiking boots to help others beat blood cancer.

The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center physician will trek through Scotland's rugged highlands alongside more than 20 fellow women doctors. Their mission is raising funds for the HealthTree Foundation, an organization transforming how blood cancer patients navigate their diagnosis and treatment.

Shah knows firsthand what that support means. As a cancer survivor, she benefited directly from the research breakthroughs that saved her life. Now she's dedicating her career as a physician-scientist to advancing that same research for future patients.

The multi-day hike supports HealthTree Foundation's innovative work building software platforms that help blood cancer patients understand their diseases better. These tools make it easier for patients to find the right care and contribute to lifesaving research studies without the usual hassle.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of this fundraising trek reaches far beyond the Scottish highlands. A portion of the money raised will fund scholarships for international myeloma physicians to attend major oncology conferences. That investment in the next generation of scientists means more brilliant minds working on cancer cures worldwide.

HealthTree Foundation has built programs that connect patients with cutting-edge clinical trials and research opportunities they might never have found on their own. For people facing a blood cancer diagnosis, that connection could mean access to tomorrow's treatments today.

Shah's journey from patient to physician-scientist shows how research progress creates a powerful cycle. The treatments that saved her life sparked a commitment to save others, which will fund the next wave of breakthroughs.

Every step through those Scottish hills represents another patient who might get the same second chance Shah received a decade ago.