Coming to America Gave His Family a Fresh Start 

When he was 14 years old and living in Kosovo in 1990, Dukagjin “Duke” Blakaj, MD, PhD, and his family were in a dangerous spot. Ethnic tensions were rising and the country seemed destined for civil war. 

Dr. Blakaj’s parents, both physicians, decided to move the family to Connecticut. Eight years later, fighting erupted between ethnic Albanian separatist forces and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The conflict ended in 1999 following a NATO bombing campaign, but only after Yugoslav forces killed between 8,000 and 10,000 Kosovo Albanians and displaced approximately one million others. 

“Kosovo was in a tough place,” Dr. Blakaj said. “We immigrated due to the situation and unrest.” 

Now the vice chair and director of clinical operations at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James Cancer Hospital, Dr. Blakaj said he’s pleased that immigrants can find new lives in America and make positive impacts. 

“I take an immigrant mentality and pass it forward,” he said. “I try to teach my kids to do that as well. I feel so happy to be in this country, to be in this position. I feel fortunate to contribute in a positive way to my patients’ lives.” 

One of the ways he gives back is by serving as an ABR volunteer. He’s part of the committee that develops head and neck cancer cases for the Radiation Oncology Certifying Oral Exam. 

The work ties closely to his everyday duties, which include instructing residents. 

“I’ve been fortunate to train in the head and neck and the (central nervous system) world, and I love to teach,” he said. “Volunteering is another way to give back to a field that’s been very good to me. 

Like other volunteers, Dr. Blakaj gives and receives. Whether a meeting is in person or on a video call, he enjoys meeting colleagues and learning how others on his committee work. 

“I enjoy the collaboration, the camaraderie, even the opportunity for potential collaboration,” he said. “Not just clinically, but in terms of research and then having folks who can say, ‘Duke is not a bad guy. You should talk to Duke.’” 

Staying physically fit is also a priority. Before he starts his workday, Dr. Blakaj climbs on his Peloton to get prepared for what’s ahead. Every summer, his cycling takes on a new dimension as he prepares for Pelotonia, a cancer research fundraising event put on by his hospital that has raised more than $339 million since 2009. 

Participants ride on virtual courses that range from 17 to 200 miles. Dr. Blakaj chooses the 100-mile trek in one day. 

He said he’s seen improvements in his fitness, going from averaging 13 mph to 16 mph in his years of taking part in the event. 

“It’s an incredible cause,” he said. “It’s a ride, not a race. I just want to be better than last year.” 

Dr. Blakaj celebrates his Kosovo roots by helping operate an Albanian language school in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a practice he carries over to his home life; he said he encourages his three children to learn other languages. He practices what he preaches, using “rudimentary Spanish” to communicate with patients who speak the language when they come to see him. 

“Knowing more than one language and appreciating other cultures just makes you a better doctor because not everybody who comes to your clinic is the same,” he said. “I love practicing (Spanish) with my patients. They get to correct me.” 

Making time to volunteer despite a busy work and home life is a priority. Dr. Blakaj believes that his patients benefit from the time he spends with his ABR committee. 

“Volunteering is a way to give back to a field that’s been very good to you,” he said. “When you look at the experience you’re gaining, you sometimes get more than you give.”