Six months to live. That’s what one patient was told by two well respected medical institutions. She had watched her sister and her mother endure chemotherapy and they didn’t survive. Why should she pursue the same medical treatment?  Her breast cancer had spread to her lymph nodes. Treatment had been delayed. Fear had taken hold. That’s before she met Dr. Madiha Naseem, the only female board-certified oncologist and hematologist in Kern County.  

 

When she walked into her office, Dr. Naseem saw something others had missed.  She saw a patient who needed time, patience, and someone willing to truly listen. 

 

Instead of pushing treatment, she built trust. She listened. She walked the patient through every step of the process and slowly helped her overcome the fear that had been standing between her and lifesaving care. 

 

Today, the woman is cancer-free. 

 

“She’s able to attend her daughter’s graduation now,” Dr. Naseem says. “Her family is very grateful.” 

 

For Dr. Naseem, moments like this are why she chose oncology in the first place. “Medicine really is an art, and oncology is even more of an art,” she explains. “We have our scientific tools and guidelines, but it’s really about how we connect with patients, how we build trust, and how we guide them through their cancer journey.” 

 

It was in Toronto, Canada, that Dr. Naseem began her path in medicine. As an undergraduate, she studied physiology and Near and Middle Eastern literature at the University of Toronto.  

 

While still a teenager, she began working in breast cancer research at the university, an experience that would shape the rest of her career. 

 

“I met strong women who were trailblazers and pioneers in breast cancer research,” she recalls. “Seeing how lives could be touched in the world of cancer care was incredibly inspiring.” 

 

She soon realized she wanted to bridge the gap between research and patient care. 

 

After earning her medical degree at the University of Toronto, she pursued training in the United States, completing research at USC before continuing her residency and fellowship at Harbor-UCLA. Along the way, she developed a passion for oncology and for serving patients who might otherwise struggle to access care. 

 

Dr. Naseem always wanted to serve the underserved. Years ago, Dr. Naseem watched her grandmother battle pancreatic cancer in rural India. Accessing treatment meant traveling long distances to major cities, which was an exhausting and costly challenge for the family. 

That experience stayed with her. 

 

“I’ve always had an inclination to serve underserved areas,” she explains. “Going through cancer shouldn’t be harder just because of where you live.” 

 

In Bakersfield, she now treats many patients from rural communities who might otherwise lack access to high-quality oncology care. 

 

Her next goal? Expanding access to clinical trials so patients can receive cutting-edge treatment without traveling hours away. “That’s the next step,” she says. 

 

While medicine fills much of her life, Dr. Naseem’s greatest support system waits at home. She met her husband, Khesraw Mansoory, during medical school after a chance meeting at a friend’s wedding. Khesraw is from Southern California.  

 

“I told him it would never be serious and that I would never move,” she laughs. Today, the couple is happily married and raising energetic twin boys. 

 

Khesraw works in finance and runs a consulting business with a flexible schedule, which was essential as Dr. Naseem navigated medical school, residency, fellowship, and the demands of oncology. “He’s been there through it all,” she says. “He’s my rock.” 

 

Dr. Naseem encourages women to pursue their dreams just as she has. “It’s important to have supportive role models,” she emphasizes, “which I have been fortunate to have. I’m happy to help anyone who may need that support.” Currently, she serves as a board member for a nonprofit organization called Women in Cancer and hosts events to support female physicians as they fight barriers in medicine and advance in leadership. 

 

The couple’s sons, Aryaan and Ali, are three and a half years old and already bursting with personality.  Aryaan, the older twin by two minutes, is adventurous and emotional, always looking out for his younger brother. Ali is more focused and quietly determined. Both boys love swimming, sports, monster trucks, and playing outside. 

 

“They’re very active,” Dr. Naseem says with a smile. The boys take taekwondo, enjoy playground adventures, and have already begun pretending their stuffies are patients, clearly inspired by their mother. “They know that I go to work to help people,” she says. 

 

The family moved to the Seven Oaks community in September 2024 and quickly fell in love with the neighborhood. “I love that there are kids riding their bikes outside,” Dr. Naseem says. “It’s such a great environment for families.” 

 

Halloween celebrations, nearby playgrounds, and neighborhood favorites like local cafés and dessert spots have made the transition even sweeter. 

 

When they’re not working or in preschool, the family stays busy with swimming lessons, sports, and travel adventures, from beach trips to visits with grandparents. Let’s just say there is always something on the calendar, which makes it fun to get away. 

 

“We’re a traveling family,” she says. “If we have the opportunity, we pack our bags and go.” 

 

Ask Dr. Naseem how many hours she works each week, and she laughs. “That’s hard to say,” she admits. 

 

Her responsibilities at Adventist Health Bakersfield AIS Cancer Center span both hospital and clinic patients, though oncology rarely follows a predictable schedule. Patient calls from the hospital, evolving treatment plans, and research conferences often fill evenings and weekends. 

  

Still, she wouldn’t change a thing. “I absolutely love what I do,” she says. “It’s not a job for me.” 

 

For Dr. Madiha Naseem, saving lives isn’t just part of the workday. It’s her true passion.