Morhaf Al Achkar, MD, Ph.D. (1983-) was born in Aleppo-Syria and migrated to the United States in 2006 after finishing medical school. He also obtained a Ph.D. in Education from Indiana University. Currently, he is a practicing family physician and a faculty member at the University of Washington.

In 2016, Morhaf was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. Since then, his research has focused on the experience of patients living with lung cancer. His writing is based on interviews he did with 39 patients who live, like him, with incurable cancers. He explores how these patients find meaning, cope, and build resilience.