Jonathan S. Berek

Jonathan S. Berek, MD, MMS

Laurie Kraus Lacob Professor and Director

Stanford Women’s Cancer Center

Stanford Cancer Institute

Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Stanford University School of Medicine

Jonathan S. Berek, MD, MMS, helped establish, and directs, the Stanford Women’s Cancer Center, which is one of the first in the nation to combine programs in breast and gynecologic oncology. He is the Laurie Kraus Lacob Professor and the Chair of the Depratment of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford. A Stanford faculty member since 2005, he is renowned for his expertise in gynecologic oncology, surgical innovation and technique, and for his research in ovarian cancer, especially the immunology and immunotherapy of gynecologic malignancies. He is the group chair and principal investigator of the Cooperative Ovarian Cancer Group, a part of the premiere international consortium, the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG). Dr. Berek’s current research focuses on clinical trials of novel therapies and collaborations on new diagnostic and screening techniques, genetics, cancer vaccines, and ovarian cancer stem cell investigations. He is developing educational programs in effective and compassionate medical communications. His books, Berek & Hacker’s Gynecologic Oncology, and Berek & Novak’s Gynecology, are considered the leading texts in the field.

Internationally recognized in the fields of gynecologic oncology and gynecology, Dr. Berek repeatedly appears on lists of America’s Top Doctors and Cancer Specialists and in Who’s Who compilations. He received the President’s Award from the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and served as president of the International Society of Gynecologic Cancer and of the Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics and Gynecology. His many awards include the Sherman Mellinkoff Faculty Award and the Excellence in Education Award, both from the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine (University of California, Los Angeles), and six times he was the recipient of the UCLA Excellence in Teaching Award. In 2007, he was nominated for Time magazine’s Person of the Year for his work in international women’s cancer prevention and treatment. In 2010, Dr. Berek was presented the John C. Fremont Pathfinder Award by his home state, given in recognition of significant contributions to society made by a native Nebraskan.

Dr. Berek received an undergraduate degree in English literature and theatre arts, and a master of medical sciences degree in biomedical sciences from Brown University. After earning his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, he completed an internship and residency at the Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He did his fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he joined the faculty and was chair of the College of Applied Anatomy at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, the executive vice chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and the Gynecology Service, director of the UCLA Women’s Reproductive Cancer Program, and chief of staff of the UCLA Medical Center.