UCLA physician-scientist honored for advancing the field of oncology

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Dr. Beth Karlan (Photo by Joshua Sudock/UCLA Health)
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Dr. Beth Karlan, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and director of cancer populations at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, has been inducted into the 2019 class of Giants of Cancer Care in gynecologic malignancies by OncLive for her contributions to cancer research and clinical practice.

The recognition is bestowed annually by the oncology publication on respected health care professionals who are advancing the field of oncology through groundbreaking and innovative contributions in cancer treatment, diagnosis, and research.

Giants of Cancer Care honors 15 leading researchers and educators who are nominated by the oncology community. The finalists are then selected by an elite seven-member advisory board of world-renowned oncologists.

“It’s an honor to receive this recognition,” said Karlan, who is also the vice chair of women’s health research. “For me, this award celebrates all the physicians and scientists who are working tirelessly to find better ways to prevent and eradicate deadly cancers.”

Karlan is widely renowned for her work in hereditary cancers and molecular drivers of ovarian cancer. She has identified subtyped-specific biomarkers for early detection, prognostication and personalized therapies. She is also active in studying inherited cancer risks due to genes like BRCA to better understand ovarian cancer etiology, improve prevention strategies and identify novel targets for prevention and treatment.

Karlan is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine and has extramural funding from the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health, and National Cancer Institute, and is an American Cancer Society Clinical Research Professor.

She is the author of over 360 articles including recent publications in JAMA Oncology and Cell.  As an educator, she has contributed to the clinical and research training of numerous gynecologic oncologists. And as a clinician, she is known for her compassion and skill in providing cutting-edge care for women with cancer.

Past cancer center physicians who received the honor include Dr. Patricia Ganz, director of cancer prevention and control research at the cancer center and a distinguished professor in the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and Dr. Antoni Ribas, professor of medicine and director of the tumor immunology program at the cancer center.