Dr. Desiree Hao

Biography

Dr. Hao completed her MD at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. She underwent Internal Medicine residency training in Calgary, followed by Medical Oncology training at the University of Ottawa. Dr. Hao then participated in a Clinical Research Fellowship focusing on cancer drug development at the Institute for Drug Development in San Antonio, Texas. Following her fellowship, she joined the Tom Baker Cancer Centre at the University of Calgary, where she works within the Thoracic and Head & Neck Oncology Programs. As a Professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, Dr. Hao is actively engaged in teaching and mentorship at various educational levels. Among her achievements, she received the Luminary Award for Teaching from the Department of Oncology at the University of Calgary in 2019 and was nominated for the University’s 2021 Glenda MacQueen Distinguished Leadership Award. Dr. Hao has a longstanding commitment to professional engagement and service, evidenced by her role as a member of the Health Research Ethics Board in Alberta and the Cancer Committee. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (2019-present) and is involved with several committees at the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Dr. Hao has previously held leadership positions within the Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists, where she served as President and continues to contribute as a Past President and Chair of the Human Resources Committee.

Research Interests