Salman Fazal, MD, a hematologist and stem cell transplant specialist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Harrisburg, has been named a 2026 Castle Connolly Top Doctor, marking his third consecutive year receiving this prestigious distinction. Only 7 percent of licensed physicians nationwide are selected annually for this honor, which is based on peer nominations and a rigorous review by Castle Connolly's physician-led research team.
Dr. Fazal brings over 16 years of experience to his role at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He specializes in treating complex blood cancers, including myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), lymphomas, and multiple myeloma, with a particular focus on high-risk and relapsed cases.
His expertise encompasses hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, cellular therapies such as CAR-T, bispecific antibodies, and innovative targeted treatments. Dr. Fazal leads the bispecific therapy program in Central Pennsylvania, offering patients options when conventional treatments have failed.
Previously, Dr. Fazal served as Director of the Cell Transplantation Program at Allegheny Health Network, where he led allogeneic transplant and cellular therapy programs for nearly a decade. He notably turned around a transplant program with subpar survival rates, performing nearly 200 allogeneic transplants and achieving benchmark survival outcomes. He also established a dedicated long-term follow-up clinic for transplant patients, providing access to clinical trials for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). His leadership ensured successful FACT accreditation inspections over nine years.
To improve patient access, Dr. Fazal's practice offers both in-person and telemedicine consultations, accommodating diverse patient needs.
Dr. Fazal's medical journey began at King Edward Medical College in Pakistan. He completed his internal medicine residency at Rosalind Franklin University/Chicago Medical School and Griffin Hospital, a Yale affiliate, and his hematology/oncology fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital, where he served as Chief Fellow. He is board-certified in internal medicine, hematology, and medical oncology.
An educator at heart, Dr. Fazal was named Teaching Faculty of the Year by the Hematology Oncology Fellowship at Allegheny Health Network for 2018–2019. He has held assistant professorships at Temple University and Drexel University and has been a principal investigator on numerous clinical trials. His research has appeared in leading journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, Blood, and the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Beyond clinical and academic roles, Dr. Fazal was honored as an "MPN Hero" in 2025 and serves as a medical advisor and board member for the Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
The Castle Connolly Top Doctor selection process relies on peer nominations and a physician-led research team that evaluates candidates based on medical education, training, hospital appointments, and disciplinary history. Doctors cannot pay for this recognition, ensuring its integrity.
Dr. Fazal's consistent recognition reflects his commitment to advancing cancer care through innovation and compassionate practice. As he puts it, "Expertise matters, but compassion is what truly defines care."
