Clinical Innovations
Advancing Gynecologic Oncology through AI, Robotics, Academic Partnership, and Refined Innovation
Advancing Gynecologic Oncology through AI, Robotics, Academic Partnership, and Refined Innovation
UC San Diego’s Gynecologic Oncology Program in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences is a trailblazing nucleus of clinical and scientific advancements where personalized patient care is provided by our expert multispecialty team at the Moores Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Pioneering Gynecologic Oncology Division Director, Michael McHale, MD and Moores Cancer Center and Clinical Trials Office and Fellowship Director, Ramez Eskander, MD, spearhead pivotal research discoveries with new AI tools and robotic instruments to offer improved evidence-backed therapies, mechanisms, and surgical management to treat patients suffering from cancerous and noncancerous conditions of the female reproductive system. Ongoing clinical trials in the division advance tailored treatments and a personalized care journey for patients with unique tumors.
Our Gynecologic Oncology leadership team:
Michael McHale, M.D.
Division Director, Gynecologic Oncology
Ramez Eskander, M.D.
Program Director, Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship
Strength in Partnerships
With a legacy of revolutionizing the future of surgery, gynecologic oncology, and medical education, our Gyn Oncology Fellowship Program accelerates innovation and academic partnership across the University of California UC-5 (UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UCLA, UCSF, and UC Davis) Schools of Medicine. Led largely by UC San Diego and UCLA, the UC-5 holds an annual consortium (now thriving in it’s 3rd year) for Gyn Oncology fellows. A didactic program, fellow presentations, case discussions with faculty data distillation, collaborative research initiatives, and a half-day surgical lab lesson at the Center for the Future of Surgery round out the think tank plus training experience under Dr. McHale’s and Dr. Eskander's leadership.
Treatment Innovations
The Gyn Oncology Program stays abreast of skilled training on the latest surgical and medical technologies and techniques to diagnose and safely deliver optimum outcomes to patients with complex gynecological cancers. Recently, Dr. McHale co-published findings on “prophylactic multivessel selective embolization (MVSE) as a safe procedure that reduces operative blood loss and transfusion requirements compared to those of internal iliac artery occlusion balloon (IIABO) placement in patients undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS)” and garnered the prestigious Cure Prize to develop MRI techniques to detect miniscule tumors.
In addition to surgical innovation, Dr. McHale’s current Gyn Oncology research focus at UCSD in conjunction with our Gyn Oncology labs compares effectiveness of combination drug treatments for women with Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive, Resistant or -Refractory Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer (COCOS). Cediranib and Olaparib vs. single-agent Cediranib or Olaparib and Standard Platinum-Based Chemotherapy are studied alongside other phase II/III clinical drug studies and risk-reduction strategies for cancer prevention and progression, maintenance, and survival mechanisms.
Thank you to our Gyn Oncologists, Drs. Michael McHale, Pratibha Binder, Ramez Eskander, Steven Plaxe, and Cheryl Saenz, for breakthrough clinical expertise! Explore further into UC San Diego Health's Gynecologic Cancer Program.