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Originally published October 1, 2025
Last updated October 1, 2025
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He applies his combined expertise in immunology and surgery to design a unique plan of care for each patient. He treats patients at Keck Hospital of USC, USC Norris Cancer Hospital and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. Here’s what you won’t find on his resume.
“I loved playing baseball and wanted to be a professional player when I was a kid. I’m very happy to be in LA now because I can go see Dodgers games.”
“Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and hiking with my wife. It’s a great way for us to recharge and experience new places together. It’s hard to pick one favorite place, but some of my favorites include France, Italy and Spain. I’ve loved the mix of history, food and culture in Southern Europe ever since I went backpacking there in my twenties.”
“One thing people are surprised to learn is that I was a competitive rower in college. This experience taught me about teamwork, perseverance and the value of small successes.”
“Keck Medicine stands out in the specialty of oncology not only for offering standard-of-care treatments at the highest quality but also for providing cutting-edge therapies and a wide variety of clinical studies available for cancer patients at all stages.
As a surgeon, I appreciate the opportunity to work with outstanding physician colleagues, mid-level providers, nurses and administrative assistants to provide the best possible care for my cancer patients. I like the multidisciplinary nature of oncology care where medical, surgical and radiation oncologists; geneticists; pathologists; and radiologists get together, review testing results and develop the best and less-invasive strategies for cancer patients. I feel rewarded when I see a good clinical outcome in which I, as a surgical oncologist, played a part.”
“As a scientist, I am deeply grateful that Keck Medicine and the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center provide the support, resources and opportunity to conduct clinical trials. I am currently involved in research and clinical trials on immuno-oncology.
In fact, I was drawn to this field because of the promise of immunotherapy. Unlike traditional cancer treatments that directly attack the tumor, immunotherapy strengthens the body’s own immune system to recognize and fight cancer. What inspires me most is that it can also create an ‘immune memory’ that helps protect patients from the cancer coming back.”
“The most impactful advancement in the field has been the rise of immunotherapy. When I began working in cancer immunology and immunotherapy research in 2000, few could have imagined that immunotherapy would one day be used to treat patients. However, over the past 20 years, this vision has become a reality. For certain cancers, immunotherapy has not only become a standard of care but also a first-line treatment. Remarkably, we have even seen patients with stage IV cancer cured with immunotherapy.
I am inspired by the opportunity to keep learning and improving as a surgeon-scientist. The role of surgery has shifted in the era of effective immunotherapy, moving from a primary, standalone treatment to an important part of a multimodal approach. Rather than being the first and only step, surgery is now often integrated with immunotherapy to maximize the therapeutic response, reduce the risk of recurrence and, in some cases, determine whether surgery is even necessary.”
“I would like to see a cure for cancer become a reality in my lifetime. With the progress of treatments like immunotherapy, I feel hopeful that we are moving closer to that goal and look forward to seeing more effective treatments that can increase the chances of a cure.”
