Sisters Ride Side by Side

Zahraa AlHilli, MD, MBA, and Mariam AlHilli, MD, MS, are trailblazing surgical oncologists, researchers and advocates for women’s health. They are also sisters. That bond has been a powerful force throughout their lives together, driving them to reach new heights in medicine.

Born and raised in Bahrain, they both pursued their medical education at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. That shared foundation launched two impressive careers that ultimately brought them to Cleveland Clinic.

“We’ve overlapped a lot in our careers so far, and we’re so lucky that we do the same thing,” says Dr. Zahraa AlHilli, a breast surgeon who serves as Interim Director of the Breast Center and Co-Director of the Comprehensive Breast Program. “A lot of times, we bounce ideas off each other. It’s fun to have that partner all the time who is not only your sister, but also your best friend. It’s quite a special bond.”

Together, they have been active supporters of VeloSano Bike to Cure, Cleveland Clinic’s global fundraising movement for cancer research. In 2024, Dr. Mariam AlHilli was awarded a VeloSano Pilot Grant to advance ovarian cancer care by exploring the link between cancer recurrence and low muscle mass. Dr. Zahraa AlHilli secured a grant this year to study how probiotics might benefit patients with breast cancer.

“Riding in Bike to Cure is an opportunity for us to really advocate for our patients and the community that we care for,” says Dr. Mariam AlHilli, a staff physician and gynecologic oncology surgeon in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Institute. “VeloSano supports innovative research from bench to bedside that is able to benefit patients on multiple levels, from breakthrough discoveries in the lab to clinical trials, interventions and supportive care afterwards.”

Cancer care is constantly evolving, and the landscape today looks very different from what it did even 10 years ago. The AlHillis play active roles in national societies that steer the development of management guidelines, new research and clinical trials, helping to shape the future of women’s health.

“Highlighting women and the challenges they face, along with how we treat and prevent disease, is really important,” says Dr. Zahraa AlHilli. “We have a great multidisciplinary cancer program here at Cleveland Clinic. It covers the full breadth — from prevention; screening and management of benign conditions; caring for high-risk women with gene mutations and women with cancer; and supporting survivorship.”

They each embody what is possible when expertise meets empathy and when science is driven by purpose. And as sisters, their honest, no-nonsense support makes all the difference.

“Having someone who’s not only a friend but a sister can also be your biggest supporter and critic at the same time,” says Dr. Zahraa AlHilli. “But that’s how you learn to get better, right? We’re both really pushing to advance the science and outcomes behind women’s health.”