Medical Oncology Physicians

At Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center’s Medical Oncology Department, our team of four full-time, board-certified medical oncologists and three certified family nurse practitioners delivers exceptional, compassionate care.

PHYSICIANS

Tariq Nazir, MD
Sajjad Malick, MD
Kenneth Manning, MD
Avinash Pasam, MD
Jessica Blalock, NP
Vicki Richardson, NP
Kathy Jones, PA-C
Logan Mock, PA-C
Claire Simmons-Valenzuela, PA-C

Tariq Nazir, MD
Dr. Nazir joined Cape Fear Valley Health in summer 2014. Before joining Cape Fear Valley, he worked at The Blood and Cancer Clinic of Fayetteville.

Dr. Nazir graduated from Sind Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed a residency at University of Illinois at Chicago in Illinois. He completed fellowship training in oncology, hematology and bone marrow transplant at the University of Pittsburg in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Nazir is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists and the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Nazir is a Board Certified Medical Oncologist. He is also board certified in Internal Medicine.

After completing his residency and fellowship in the United States, Dr. Nazir practiced oncology in Kentucky for six years before moving to Fayetteville with his wife and two children. He has been a resident of Fayetteville since 2004.

Since 2005, Dr. Nazir has been the principal investigator on pharmaceutical-sponsored clinical trials on multiple myeloma, colon cancer, lung cancer and anemia at the Blood and Cancer Clinic.
Dr. Nazir has presented several oncology presentations to students of the Methodist University Physician Assistant Program. Several students from the program also did their externship rotations under his supervision at the Blood and Cancer Center.

While Dr. Nazir may be new to Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center patients, he is a familiar face to physicians of the cancer center through his participation in the weekly Cancer Conferences over the years.

For more information click here

Sajjad A. Malick, MD
A native of Pakistan, Dr. Malick received his medical degree from Dow Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan in 1987. He completed an internship in Medicine and Surgery at Civil Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan in 1989.

An Internal Medicine Residency in Chicago brought Dr. Malick to the United States in 1990. He completed his residency at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Ill. in 1993.

Following his residency, Dr. Malick immediately began a fellowhip in Hematology and Oncology at the University of Maryland Cancer Center in Baltimore, Md. During his fellowship he took an active part in clinical trials and research protocols in the treatment of metastatic colon cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, head and neck cancer and leukemia. He completed his fellowship in 1996.

Dr. Malick received specialty board certification from the American Board of Internal Medicine in 1995, subspecialty board certification in medical oncology in 1999 and subspecialty board certification in hematology in 2001.

Prior to joining Dr. Bakri in the Medical Oncology Department of the Cancer Center in August 1999, Dr. Malick was a hospitalist and consultant at Barnwell County Hospital and Palmetto Internal Medicine and Subspecialty Associates in Barnwell, S.C. from 1997 to 1999.

Dr. Malick is an active participant in weekly Cancer Conferences at the Cancer Center. He is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the North Carolina Medical Society.
Dr. Malick and his wife have a daughter and a son.

For more information click here

Kenneth R. Manning, MD
A native of Portsmouth, Virginia, Dr. Manning graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. in 1983. In 1987 he earned his medical degree from Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Va.

Dr. Manning completed a residency in Internal Medicine at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem in 1990 and a Fellowship in Medical Oncology and Hematology at the Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in 1992.

Dr. Manning previously practiced in Suffolk, Va. and Tulsa, Okla., where he was affiliated with Oklahoma Oncology, Inc. While in Tulsa, Dr. Manning also served as Clinical Assistant Professor with the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine in Tulsa, principal investigator for the Tulsa, Oklahoma CCOP, and past president of the Oklahoma Society of Clinical Oncology.

Dr. Manning’s memberships include the American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the North Carolina Medical Society. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.

For more information click here

Avinash Pasam, MD
Dr. Pasam specializes in Medical Oncology and Hematology, with a specialty preference for solid tumors like colon, gastro-esophageal, lung, breast, prostate and other cancers. As the Associate Medical Director of Health Pavilion North Cancer Center, you can find Dr. Pasam mostdays at the HPN Cancer Center.

Dr. Pasam received his medical degree (MBBS) from Osmania Medical College in India and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. He took his studies even further at Louisiana State University by completing a fellowship in MedicalOncology and Hematology

In his free time, Dr. Pasam likes to spend time traveling, exploring new places, experimenting with cooking and spending time with his twin daughters

Jessica Blalock, MSN, RN, OCN, AGPCNP-BC
Jessica Blalock is a certified Nurse Practitioner in the Medical Oncology Department at Cape Fear Valley Health Pavilion North Cancer Center. She was raised in Winston-Salem, NC.

Jessica graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor's of Science in Exercise and Sport Science in May 2017. AfteR graduation, she worked as a Surgical Oncology nurse at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. While working as a cancer nurse on the floor, she pursued and obtained certification as an Oncology Certified Nurse and participated as a representative for the WFBMC Professional Governance Council, working on the Patient and Family Relations Board.

Jessica obtained her Master's of Science in Nursing graduating with a degree as an Adult-Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Oncology in May 2021 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During this time, she was inducted in the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and earned a Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education.

She is a Board Certified Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-BC) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She also remains a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA), American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), the North Carolina Nursing Association (NCNA), and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

 

Vicki Richardson, NP
Vicki Richardson is a Certified Nurse Practitioner in the Medical Oncology Department at the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center. She works with Dr. Sajjad Malick, assessing and treating cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and routine follow-up appointments.

Vicki was born and raised in North Carolina, hailing from Rockingham. Prior to her nursing career, she worked with Cumberland County Mental Health at the Roxie Avenue Center, a mental health facility, where co-workers encouraged her to return to school in pursuit of a nursing degree.

Vicki earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina in 2004. She was awarded the Duke Medical School Faculty Wives Scholarship and the Emmy Lou Tompkins Scholarship. Following graduation, Vicki worked on the Long-Term Care unit at the VA Medical Center in Fayetteville, North Carolina where she became increasingly more intrigued and motivated to continue her work with the geriatric population. While working with Alzheimer’s patients and witnessing the struggle of her own family as her father suffered and died from this disease, she developed the desire to learn more and provide greater care for those who suffer this cruel disease.

Vicki returned to Duke University receiving the John A. Hartford Foundation Scholarship becoming a Geriatric Advanced Practice Nursing Scholar. Vicki was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing and Nurse Practitioner Degree specializing in the field of geriatrics. She is Board Certified as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). She is a member of the National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners and the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the North Carolina Nursing Association. She is also a member of the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

 

Kathy Jones, PA-C
Kathy Jones is a Physician Assistant in the Medical Oncology Department at the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center and the Lead Advanced Practice Provider (APP) for our Cancer Center service line.

Kathy was born in Akron, Ohio. Prior to coming to the Cancer Center, she was physician assistant in a private pediatric clinic and also worked part-time in Cape Fear Valley’s Emergency Department.

Kathy received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Education from Fayetteville State University and her Master’s Degree in Education Counseling from Campbell University. After spending more than twelve years in the public and private education system, Kathy decided to go back to school to attain her dream working in the medical profession. She received her Master’s Degree in Medical Science from Methodist University in 2009.

Logan Mock, PA-C
Logan Mock is a Certified Physician Assistant in Medical Oncology (Board certified PA-C from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA.)

Logan received his Bachelor's of Exercise Science from Brigham Young University and his Master's of Physician Assistant Studies from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in Utah. Prior to PA school, Logan had a medical background in phlebotomy.

Born and raised in South Carolina, Logan missed the people of the south and wanted to come back to his roots. Logan joined Cape Fear Valley Health in 2020.

After losing a father and a child to cancer, as well as his wife battling leukemia, he is no stranger to how cancer affects all aspects of people's lives. Logan loves to be part of the team working to conquer the emperor of all maladies.

Claire Simmons-Valenzuela, PA-C
Claire is a certified Physician Assistant in the Medical Oncology Department at the Cape Fear Valley Cancer Center.

Claire was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences from the University of Central Florida in 2006. She had a background in Laboratory Medicine working mostly in Hematology and Blood Bank for several years prior to starting PA school. She graduated with her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies in 2010 from Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC.

Prior to joining the Cancer Center, she worked as a PA in a local Pediatric clinic for many years, as well as practicing in Pulmonology and Pain Management for several years prior to that.

Cancer Stories