Translating Innovative Science into Compassionate, Patient-Centric Care

Saint John’s Cancer Institute is renowned for advancing therapeutics, translational science, and establishing standards of care. We foster robust fellowship programs, implement and initiate clinical trials, and collaborate with academic and industry partners worldwide.

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Innovation Starts Here

Saint John’s Cancer Institute (SJCI) is a pioneer in drug discovery, therapeutics, clinical trials, and research. SJCI established the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy under the late Dr. Donald L. Morton, which has become the standard of lymph node care for melanoma and breast cancer worldwide.

Today, our patients continue to have access to innovative treatments, therapeutics, and trials. We are at the forefront of understanding the biology of cancer as well as expanding treatment for under-served communities.

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Thyroid Cancer Awareness

Listen to Thyroid & Endocrine Experts Melanie Goldfarb, MD, Rose Lin, MD, and Sarah Rettinger, MD, as they reveal common practices and the more nuanced scenarios when it comes to thyroid cancer and hypothyroidism.

“If you have bad Hashimoto’s disease, it’s better to take out the thyroid and let the replacement hormone therapy do its job better than a “not so functioning” thyroid gland.”

– Melanie Goldfarb, MD, Director, Center for Endocrine Tumors and Disorders

Listen to the experts answer the questions they are getting from patients.

Blog, Video (13:08): Your Journey With Thyroid Cancer; A Thyroid Surgeon and An Endocrinologist Expound

Thyroid-Experts-Saint-Johns-Melanie-Goldfarb-Rose-Lin-Sarah-Rettinger-MD

Webinar: Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Join Drs. Timothy Wilson, Jennifer Linehan, Mehran Movassaghi, and James Porter for this highly informative live webinar on October 3rd, 2023 at 6:00 PM hosted by Providence Health.

“At Providence, Saint John’s, we are continuously innovating with new technologies that expand treatment options and improve quality of life for men. Please join us Tuesday October 3rd for a live webinar on Focal Therapy.”

– Timothy Wilson, MD, Director of Urology and Urologic Oncology Research Program

Register for this event hosted by Providence and Focal One.

Events: Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer

Focal Therapy for Prostate Cancer - Saint John's Cancer Institute - Event October 3rd 2023

Your Healthy Dose Podcast: What You Should Know About Prostate Cancer

Saint John’s Urologists, Dr. Movassaghi and Dr. Wilson Address the Concerns of Men

“If someone has an elevated PSA, 10 years ago the recommendation was go get a biopsy, which is invasive…Now the recommendation is more [tests].”

– Mehran Movassaghi, MD

“If [cancer] is diagnosed, we have so many more options.”

– Timothy Wilson, MD

Listen to Doctor’s Mehran Movassaghi, Director of Pacific Men’s Health, and Timothy Wilson, Chair of Urology and Urologic Oncology, and Director of Urology and Urologic Oncology Research Program hosted by Saint John’s Health Center Foundation’s, Your Healthy Dose.

News & Podcast Video (28:06): Your Healthy Dose Podcast: Urologists Dr. Movassaghi and Dr. Wilson lend their expertise on Prostate Cancer

What you should know about prostate cancer - Podcast

Aquablation for Enlarged Prostate is Making a Difference for Men

Dr. Mehran Movassaghi, Director of Men’s Health at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, explains how this minimally invasive procedure works to alleviate male incontinence.

“With Aquablation, we no longer need to compromise for either the longevity of the procedure or the fact that patients will have negative sexual outcomes after surgery…”

– Mehran Movassaghi, MD

Learn more about Aquablation Therapy and the AQUABEAM® ROBOTIC SYSTEM by Procept BioRobotics.

Treatment, Video (03:10): Aquablation: Robotic Therapy for BPH (Enlarged Prostate)

Aquablation for enlarged prostate - BPH

Multi-cancer Early Detection (MCED) Testing

Providence is offering Multi-cancer Early Detection (MCED) testing to empower providers and the public with a blood test that can detect a shared cancer signal across 50+ types of cancer through a simple blood draw.

“Providence is committed to collaborations that provide individuals with the best evidence-based care including advancements like early cancer screenings that can improve patient outcomes.”

– Ora K. Gordon, MD, Regional Medical Director of Providence’s Clinical Genetics & Genomics Program

Providers are encouraged to request a test kit for eligible patients. See list of detectable cancers.

News: Providence Offers Multi-cancer Early Detection (MCED) Testing

providence-genomics-saint-johns-galleri-multi-cancer-early-detection

Living with Melanoma

The Borstein Family Foundation Melanoma Program cordially invites you to a FREE public conference designed for patients and their families. Listen to experts on melanoma and get answers to your questions.

“This will be a great opportunity for patients and their families to listen to an outstanding panel of doctors, including experts from UCLA, Moffitt Cancer Center, Sutter Health, City of Hope, and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

– Richard Essner, MD

Learn more and register for this event held October 23rd, 2023. You can attend in-person or livestream it on YouTube!

Event: Living with Melanoma: Melanoma Conference, Fall 2023

Living with Melanoma Conference October 28th, 2023

The UV Avengers of Saint John’s to Walk LA Miles for Melanoma 5K on October 7th, 2023

The Melanoma Research Foundation Promotes Awareness for Melanoma with their Fundraising Walk at Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

“Join the fight, light the path: Melanoma Awareness Fundraising Walk – Together we can make a difference.

– UV Avengers of Saint John’s

Learn more and register for this event managed by the Melanoma Research Foundation.

Event: The UV Avengers of Saint John’s Walk October 7th for the LA Miles For Melanoma 5k

UV Avengers of Saint John’s Walk October 7th

Open or Actively Recruiting Clinical Trials

Brain Cancer and Solid Tumors Clinical Trials

Principal Invenstigator: Dr. Akanksha Sharma: Learn more.

Breast Cancer: Precision Medicine

Principal Invenstigator: Dr. Parvin Peddi: Learn more.

Melanoma Cancer: Drug Trials:

Principal Investgator: Dr. Kim Margolin: Learn more.

Prostate Cancer: White Button Mushroom

Principal Invenstigator: Dr. Przemyslaw Twardowski: Learn more.

Current Trials

Search using key terms or filter by Centers of Excellence or by Lead Doctor. Learn more.

Saint John's Cancer Institute - Featured Clinical Trials

Why Are Clinical Trials Important?

Doctors, Kim Margolin, Przemyslaw Twardowski, Leland Foshag, Parvin Peddi, Santosh Kesari, and Emma Chacon, RN, Discuss the Impact of Clinical Trials and Advancement of Medical Science.

“This is how we’ve made stride after stride against all cancers, and how we’ve made a lot of cancers from being completely incurable to now curable.”

– Parvin Peddi, MD

Learn more and listen to some of the principal investigators at Saint John’s Cancer Institute.

Blog, Video (16:45): International Clinical Trials Day: Hear from the experts in cutting-edge research

Dr. Parvin Peddi - Director of Breast Medical Oncology at Margie Petersen Breast Cancer Center, and Principal Investigator for several clinical trials

FREE BREAST WORKSHOP: Register Today!

Cancer Support Community South Bay and Parvin Peddi, MD provide recent advances in breast cancer and a Q&A session focusing on chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and screening.

“I invite you to submit your questions in advance for this event. We will be discussing breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.”

– Parvin Peddi, MD

Learn more and submit your questions by Wednesday, October 11th, 2023. Submitted questions will be answered first.

Events: Join Parvin Peddi, M.D. as she provides a brief update on the most recent advances in breast cancer along with a Q&A session.

Breast Cancer Update and Q&A Session

Care Excellence with a 5-star Rating

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that Providence Saint John’s Health Center has earned a 5-star rating for providing quality and safe care to our community.

“This change highlighted the importance of a plan’s ability to provide members with continuous positive experiences, in addition to offering quality patient care that meets or exceeds industry standards.”

– ProvidenceHealthPlan.com

Learn more about the significance of the CMS, 5-star rating.

News: Providence Saint John’s Health Center Earns CMS 5-star Quality and Safety Rating

Saint Johns Heath Center Santa Monica CA

Saint John’s: A Legacy of Care Excellence

30 Major Healthcare Awards for 2022 and 2023

“All of these achievements reflect the outstanding care our caregivers and physicians provide to our patients each and every day, …providing leading-edge, award-winning care in a compassionate, community hospital setting. I am honored to share that this commitment to excellence has continued in our 80th year.”

– Michael Ricks, CEO, Saint John’s Health Cancer and Institute

Healthgrades awards include the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award (top 10% in the nation), Five-Star Ratings for Total Knee Replacement, Total Hip Replacement, as well as Treatment of Stroke, COPD, Pneumonia, Bowel Obstruction, and Sepsis. Several surgical awards for cancer were recognized by U.S. NEWS & World Report.

About Us, Awards: Saint John’s Health Center Awards

Saint Johns Health Center Awards

A New Treatment That Was Worth the Wait

Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation Shrinks 5.5 cm Tumor Over 90 Percent After Treatment.

“[Dr. Goldfarb] Your optimism and enthusiasm made me feel comfortable at a time of significant stress for me, and what can I say, your work is pretty good, and I’m living proof.”

– Scott Millward

Learn more about Scott’s decision to wait for a particular treatment and his unexpected outcome.

Blog, Video (9:30): Thyroid Radiofrequency Ablation Shrinks Benign Nodule Over 90 Percent After Treatment

Scott Millward - Treated at Saint John's Health Center

Peer-reviewed Research Studies at Saint John’s Cancer Institute

A Culmination of Expertise in the Fields of Oncology: 2022 Academic Year

“…Our oncology clinicians and scientists strive unwaveringly to contribute knowledge focused on improving the standard of care for our cancer patients today, and collaborations with other institutes for innovative translational and clinical medicine. Cure of cancer is the hallmark of this institution.”

– Dr. Neil Martin, Medical Director, Saint John’s Cancer Institute, and Neurosurgeon.

Learn more and download the Saint John’s Cancer Institute Research Spotlight, 2022.

Blog, PDF: Peer-Reviewed Research Studies at Saint John’s Cancer Institute

A Legacy of Research Excellence

Donald L. Morton, Surgical Oncologist best known for developing sentinel lymph node evaluation

“He was ahead of his peers in anticipating the genetics era of cancer research, for decades he carefully maintained archival specimen resource for correlative translational studies.”

– Laura Morton Rowe, Chief Human Resources Officer, Saint John’s Health Center

Learn more about the Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship.

OVERVIEW & VIDEO (18:43): Learn more about the Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship.

Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship - Saint John's Cancer Institute

Fellowship Programs

Breast Surgical Oncology
Surgical Oncology
Neurosurgery
Translational Molecular Medicine
Urology

Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship

The Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute provides a diverse and comprehensive exposure to the multidisciplinary aspects of breast cancer care and benign breast disease over a one-year time period with a potential second year for continuation of clinical or basic science research.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS FELLOWSHIP

Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship

With a longstanding history of excellence in multidisciplinary cancer care and research, the Saint John’s Cancer Institute continues its legacy in surgical oncology through the Donald L. Morton Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship.

Learn more about this fellowship

Neurosurgical Fellowship

This training program focuses on endonasal endoscopic and keyhole surgical approaches, neuro-endoscopy, pituitary tumor management and multimodality neuro-oncology treatments.

Learn more about this fellowship

Postdoctoral Lab-Based Translational Molecular Medicine Fellowship

As pioneers in translational studies on “liquid biopsies” involving circulating tumor cells in multiple types of solid tumors, the fellowship program also consists of studying epigenetic mechanisms regulating solid tumor as well as pharmacogenomics and immunogenomic based prediction of response to therapy.

Learn more about this fellowship

Urologic Oncology Fellowship

Providing world class, multidisciplinary training in genitourinary malignancies and urologic oncology research with innovative and cutting edge technology.

Learn more about this fellowship
Breast Oncology Fellowship - Saint John's Cancer Institute
Donal L Morton - Saint Johns Cancer Institute
neuroscience fellowship
translational molecular medicine
davinci Xi surgical robot

Saint John's Health Center
Saint John's Health Center Foundation
Pacific Neuroscience Institute
Associate of Breast and Prostate and Prostate Cancer Studies