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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The Borstein Family Melanoma Program Presents, The 2nd Annual, Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium.

Designed for medical professionals seeking continuing medical education (CME), the Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium will be held at the Fairmont-Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica, California, April 29th, 2023.

Topics will include: Basic Dermatology, The Science and Practice of Imaging, Early and Advanced Disease Management, Non-melanoma Skin Cancers, Biomarkers for Melanoma and Other Cancers, and COVID and Cancer. Register Today!

Center for Melanoma, Skin and Soft Tissue Tumors: Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium, 2023 – At a Glance.

Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium, 2023 - Saint John's Cancer Institute

Dr. Jennifer Linehan to Receive The Harold H. Benjamin Innovation Award

The Cancer Support Community of Los Angeles honors Dr. Linehan on Thursday, May 18th, 2023, for their Gilda Gala at The New Mart in Downtown Los Angeles.

“Dr. Linehan, you have clearly made a difference in the lives of patients and families…”

–CSCLA

Learn more about this award and view the surprising letter Dr. Linehan received.

News: Jennifer Linehan, MD, 2023 Recipient of The Harold H. Benjamin Innovation Award

Dr. Jennifer Linehan to Receive Honorary Award for Compassion and Dedication in Cancer Care

How Common is Kidney Cancer?

Dr. Jennifer Linehan explains Kidney Cancer & Facts

“They won’t have any symptoms; no blood in the urine. Patients may not know that they have it.”

– Dr. Jennifer Linehan, Director of Urology Translational Research

Listen to Dr. Linehan discuss why symptoms of kidney cancer are rare and difficult to detect, and how we continue to make progress to identify kidney cancer using biomarkers.

Blog, Video (04:30): How common is Kidney Cancer? Detection and screening remain elusive

Treatment: Kidney Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Stages, and Treatment

Kidney Cancer Awareness - Saint John's Cancer Institute

IN THE NEWS: Dr. Parvin Peddi Lends Expertise to KCAL News, CBS Los Angeles.

New FDA Guidelines Announced for Dense Breasts

“…A woman with denser breast has a higher risk of breast cancer.”

– Parvin Peddi, MD

Listen to Dr. Peddi discuss breast cancer risk and the new FDA guidelines.

News, KCAL News Video (03:21): Health Watch: New FDA breast-density mammography regulations

Dr. Parvin Peddi speaks with KCAL News - FDA Dense Breast Notifications

“Dream Team” Treats Elridge Cavitt for Stage 2 Rectal Cancer

Collaborative, Multi-disciplinary Care is Transforming Lives at Saint John’s Health Center

“I had a team and their views and belief systems were as one.”

– Elridge Cavitt, Cancer Survivor

Listen to Elridge’s story and learn more about his amazing team and the support he received from another cancer patient.

Blog, Video (21:17): A “Dream Team” Treats Elridge Cavitt for Stage 2 Rectal Cancer.

Elridge Cavitt, Colorectal Cancer Surviver is Treatment by Dr. Tracey Childs

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

Betsy receives personalized care at Saint John’s Health Center having stage 3 rectal cancer.

“Dr. Childs and Dr. Fischer saved my life.”

– Betsy Smith, Cancer Survivor and Supporter

Listen to Betsy’s story and learn more about her life-changing moments.

Blog, Video (09:58): A Mother with Stage 3 Rectal Cancer discusses the ups, downs, and helping others through their diagnosis

Colorectal Cancer Awareness - Saint John's Cancer Institute

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

Open or Actively Recruiting Clinical Trials

Breast Cancer: Precision Medicine

Principal Invenstigator: Dr. Parvin Peddi: Learn more.

Melanoma Cancer: Drug Trials:

Principal Investgator: Dr. Kim Margolin: Learn more.

Neurological & Brain Cancer: Precision Medicine

Principal Investigator: Dr. Santosh Kesari: 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

The Urologic Oncology and Robotics Fellowship

3rd and 4th-year residents are encouraged to apply.

“Coming and training in Santa Monica, there is no other fellowship that will offer that.”

– Dr. Ramkishen Narayanan, Urologic Oncologist at Providence, Saint Joseph Medical Center and 2019 Urology and Urologic Oncology Fellowship graduate

Listen to Dr. Timothy Wilson discuss the one- and two-year fellowships for urology with Dr. Ramkishen Narayanan, a 2019 graduate, Dr. Philip F. Hsiao, a 2023 graduating fellow currently in the one-year urology program, and Dr. Joshua I. Gottlieb, a 2024 graduating fellow in the two-year program.

Urology Fellowship, Video (22:08): Urologic Oncology and Robotics Fellowship

Dr. Timothy Wilson and Dr. Jennifer Linehan with graduating urology fellows

Surgical Oncology Fellow, Jessica Weiss, M.D., Wins Overall Competition at This Year’s PCSA Annual Meeting.

Her abstract, COVID-19 Delay in Screening Colonoscopy Impacts Survival in an Integrated Healthcare System, wins First Place!

“This study highlights the great work of our fellows and faculty and shows how we can utilize the larger Providence Research Network to have very impactful research…”

–Dr. Trevan Fischer

Learn more.

Blog: Donald L. Morton Complex Surgical Oncology Senior Fellow, Wins Overall Competition at this year’s PCSA Annual Meeting.

Dr. Jessica Weiss - Surgical Oncology Fellow - 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

Aquablation for Enlarged Prostate Now Available

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 Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH, (Enlarged Prostate) Now available at Saint John's Health Center

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

Best Regional Hospitals - Los Angeles Metro - Recognized in 17 Types of Care - U.S. News 2022- 2023

High Performing Hospitals - Colon Cancer Surgery - US News 2022-2023 High Performing Hospitals - Lung Cancer Surgery - US News 2022-2023 High Performing Hospitals - Neurology & Neurosurgery - US News 2022-2023 High Performing Hospitals - Prostate Cancer Surgery - US News 2022-2023 High Performing Hospitals - Pulmonology & Lung Surgery - US News 2022-2023 High Performing Hospitals - Uterine Cancer Surgery - US News 2022-2023

Saint John’s Health Center – 2121 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90404 (map & directions)

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