Our People

Older Adult Cancer Care Program: Our People

Older Adult Cancer Clinic

 

Leadership Core

Melisa Wong

Melisa L. Wong, MD, MAS 

OACC Program Lead, Medical Oncology Lead
Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
Dr. Wong is a thoracic medical oncologist who cares for patients with lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies with a special focus on caring for older adults. Dr. Wong and her research team study the impact of lung cancer treatment on functional status and quality of life in older adults. In addition, Dr. Wong collaborates closely with geriatrician and palliative medicine physician Dr. Natalie Young to provide personalized care for older adults with lung cancer. 

Older Adult Cancer Clinic

Rebecca L. Olin, MD, MSCE
OACC Program Hematology Lead
Associate Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
Dr. Olin is a hematologist who specializes in bone marrow transplantation in older adults. She serves as the Medical Director for Inpatient Malignant Hematology.  Her clinical expertise encompasses treating acute leukemia, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disorders, and aplastic anemia. Dr. Olin's research focuses on understanding how best to treat blood cancers in older adults, including studies of novel therapies in older adults with leukemia and the effects of functional status on bone marrow transplant outcomes.  

 

 

Li-Wen Huang UCSF

Li-Wen Huang, MD
OACC Program Hematology Co-Lead 
Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
Dr. Huang is an Assistant Professor in Hematology/Oncology based at the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Her research focuses on understanding the interactions between cancer, cancer therapy, and geriatric syndromes such as cognitive impairment. Dr. Huang’s goal is to improve the care of older adults with cancer and cognitive impairment.

 

Kelly Schoenbeck UCSF

Kelly Schoenbeck, MD
OACC Program Hematology Co-Lead 
Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine
Dr. Schoenbeck is an Assistant Professor in Hematology/Oncology based at the San Francisco VA Health Care System. Clinically, she treats patients with malignant and non-malignant hematologic conditions. Dr. Shoenbeck’s research focuses on the study of health-related quality of life in older adults with chronic hematologic malignancies utilizing patient-reported outcomes.

Melisa Wong

Emily Finlayson, MD, MS, FACS
OACC Program Surgery Lead
Professor and Vice Chair for Faculty and Development, Department of Surgery 
Dr. Finlayson is a colorectal surgeon and Director of the UCSF Center for Surgery in Older Adults (CSOA). Her clinical areas of expertise include colon and rectal cancer, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, with a focus on minimally invasive surgical techniques. Her research program includes population-based analyses, clinical trials, and qualitative research on surgical outcomes focused on frail older adults. 

 

young

Natalie C. Young, MD
OACC Program Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Lead
Assistant Professor, UCSF Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine
Dr. Natalie Young is a dually trained geriatrics and palliative medicine physician and clinician educator. Her clinical interests include geriatric assessment for older adults with cancer, palliative care through the UCSF Symptom Management Service, home-based palliative care and primary care, and transitional care for older adults. As a clinician educator, Dr. Young aims to improve geriatrics education throughout the UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center including trainees, physicians, nurses, and other allied health providers. 

 

Lauren Boreta UCSF

Lauren Boreta, MD
OACC Program Radiation Oncology Lead 
Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology 
Dr. Boreta is a radiation oncologist with a clinical interest in the use of radiation for palliation of symptoms from advanced/metastatic cancers, as well as treatment of central nervous system malignancies. She has expertise in modern radiation therapy techniques including stereotactic radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Dr. Boreta’s research interests include the utilization and efficacy of palliative radiation, cancer-care disparities, and optimizing management of brain metastases. She serves as the Director of the Palliative Radiation program at UCSF, Chair of the departmental DEI committee,  and as an Assistant Residency Program Director.

Mimi Lo, PharmD, BCPS, BCOP
OACC Program Pharmacy Co-Lead 
Assistant Professor, UCSF School of Pharmacy 
Dr. Lo is a hematology/oncology and bone marrow transplantation clinical pharmacist at UCSF. She specializes in malignant hematologic diseases, bone marrow transplantation, and immune effector cell therapy. Dr. Lo’s areas of research interest include treatment outcomes in adult malignant hematology patients and geriatric oncology. 
 

Phuong Cham Nguyen, PharmD, BCOP, BCIDP
OACC Program Pharmacy Co-Lead
Staff Pharmacist, UCSF Pharmacy
Dr. Nguyen is a clinical oncology pharmacist who cares for patients with cancer. She is dual-board certified in oncology and infectious diseases. She is passionate about improving the quality of care for older adults with cancer and previously served as the President for the Orange County Society of Health System Pharmacists.

Members

Hematology/Oncology:

  • Jerry Lee, MD, MPhil, MS
    Clinical Fellow, Division of Hematology/Oncology

  • Howard Lee, MD
    Clinical Fellow, Division of Hematology/Oncology 

  • Meera Ragavan, MD, MPH
    Clinical Fellow, Division of Hematology/Oncology

  • Carling Ursem, MD
    Assistant Professor, Division of Hematology/Oncology, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System

Geriatrics/Palliative Medicine:

Radiation Oncology:

Surgery:

  • Assistant Professor, Urology
    Goldberg-Benioff Endowed Professorship in Cancer Biology

Gynecologic Oncology: 

  • Lee-May Chen, MD
    Professor and Division Director, Gynecologic Oncology 
    John A. Kerner Distinguished Professor in Gynecologic Oncology
     
  • Stephanie Cham, MD
    Instructor, Women’s Reproductive Health Research Scholar, Gynecologic Oncology

Gastroenterology:

Nursing:

  • Sharyn Boissevain Chen, RN
    Transplant Coordinator, Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant
  • Amanda Ernzer, RN
    Nurse, Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant
  • Claire Flatley, RN
    Nurse, Thoracic Oncology and Sarcoma
  • Cami Lenett, RN, MS
    Nurse Manager, Hematology/Bone Marrow Transplant
Pharmacy:
  • Son Ho, PharmD, BCOP
    Clinical Pharmacist, Oncology
    Assistant Professor, UCSF School of Pharmacy
  • Joon Hwang, PharmD
    Clinical Pharmacist, Oncology
     
  • Rebecca Young, PharmD, BCOP
    Clinical Pharmacist, Hematologic Malignancies/BMT
    Assistant Professor, UCSF School of Pharmacy

Social Work: 

Physical Therapy:

  • Maurine (Laura) Coco, PT, MSPT
    Physical Therapist, UCSF Health
  • Elizabeth Eckels, PT, DPT, GCS
    Physical Therapist, UCSF Health
  • Michelle Oberst, PT, DPT, CEEAA
    Physical Therapist, UCSF Health

Psycho-oncology:

Cancer Center:

  • Chris Pollak
    Director of Operations Strategy, Cancer Services Practice Manager, Symptom Management Service