Andrei Goga, MD, PhD
Medical Oncologist

Dr. Andrei Goga completed his joint M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles in 1997. During that period he became interested in understanding the biology that causes normal cell growth to become uncontrolled in the setting of cancer. For his Ph.D. he conducted basic scientific research on leukemia and lymphoma. His findings were published in scientific journals such as Cell and Science. He received the Emil Bogen Prize at UCLA, awarded for the most outstanding research conducted by a graduating medical student.

He next moved to San Francisco, where he was recruited into the UCSF Molecular Medicine Training Program, which focuses on bridging the disciplines of basic science and clinical medicine. He completed his Internal Medicine residency training and Medical Oncology training at UCSF.

Dr. Goga has since continued his basic research activities working jointly with Dr. David Morgan and Nobel Laureate Dr. J. Michael Bishop at UCSF. His focus is on understanding basic growth control mechanisms of normal and tumor cells.

Among his clinical research interests are developing new therapeutic strategies against breast cancer. His motivation for pursuing basic research is fueled by the patients that he sees in clinic. “Treating patients with breast cancer is by far my most rewarding experience. The hope of discovering new treatments which can directly impact patient’s lives is what drives me.”

When not in clinic or conducting research, Dr. Goga enjoys hiking around the bay area with his family, visiting museums and cooking.