Cheryl Saenz, MD

Cheryl Saenz, MD, is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist with over 20 years of experience. Her patients are typically women with known gynecologic malignancies or known to be at significant risk of developing cancers of the cervix, uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes. In caring for her patients, she performs surgery and prescribes chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

She is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine. In that role, Dr. Saenz serves as an educator, a clinician and a researcher.

She has coauthored numerous articles and book chapters, and has lectured at both local and national conferences. Dr. Saenz is a member of the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG), the largest multi-institutional organization conducting research into the treatment and prevention of gynecologic cancers. She also served on the board of directors and as the chair of the Education Committee for the Foundation for Women's Cancer (FWC). The FWC is the patient advocacy organization that was founded by and is supported by members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. It is considered to be one of the most reliable resources for patients with gynecologic cancers and sponsors many courses around the country each year for survivors of ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancers.

Dr. Saenz completed her fellowship in gynecologic oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York and her residency in reproductive medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She earned her medical degree at UC Irvine College of Medicine. Dr. Saenz is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic oncology. She speaks fluent Spanish.

She has been retained as a content expert on bills presented to the California state legislature on ovarian cancer screening and health care coverage for gynecologic cancer screening tests. She is also contracted by the Medical Board of California and serves as an expert reviewer in matters of gynecologic oncology that are under investigation by the Department of Consumer Affairs. Dr. Saenz is a recipient of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding investigators whose participation and activities promote successful clinical trials research programs. Dr. Saenz has also been elected as a top doctor in San Diego Magazine's "Physicians of Exceptional Excellence" annual survey performed in collaboration with the San Diego County Medical Society.

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For more information, see Moores Cancer Center.