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Dr. Jo Chien specializes in caring for patients with breast cancer. She serves as medical director of breast medical oncology at UCSF.

In research, Chien develops new treatments for early and metastatic breast cancer. She serves as principal investigator on numerous trials focused on all breast cancer subtypes, with the goal of tailoring treatment to tumor biology and identifying which patients need more aggressive treatment (and providing targeted treatment options for these patients) and which patients can do well with less intervention.

Chien is also interested in the impact of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment on young women. She started a large registry of young women with breast cancer that serves as a resource for research and support.

Chien earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. At UCSF, she completed a fellowship in hematology and oncology and served as chief fellow before joining the faculty.

Chien has received research funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, U.S. Department of Defense, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Cancer Society and California Breast Cancer Research Program, as well as philanthropic support. She has published numerous research articles in medical journals.

  • Board Certifications

    American Board of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, 2009

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Hematology - Oncology, 2009

  • Residencies

    Massachusetts General Hospital, Internal Medicine, 2006

  • Internship

    Massachusetts General Hospital, Internal Medicine, 2004

  • Degree

    Harvard Medical School, 2003

  • Languages

    English

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.9

    Overall Experience
    171 Ratings
    About our process
    Jun 25, 2025
    Dr Chien is amazing, brilliant, kind, thoughtful, and compassionate physician! I feel privileged to be followed by her!
    Jun 25, 2025
    I am grateful for Dr Chien for her care and support she has given me over the last five years. I trust her and know I can rely on her continuing support and care. Thank you very much, Dr Chien!
    May 14, 2025
    Amy is smart, warm and thorough!
    May 07, 2025
    Dr. Chien is an amazing physician and UCSF is lucky to have her. She provides phenomenal care and always makes me feel like I'm the most important person. Even though I know she's got lots of other patients the same day. She's compassionate and caring. Pauses and hold my hand when I'm afraid, and makes me feel like I can get through anything.
    Apr 11, 2025
    Amy Jo is awesome. She's patient and kind with me. For all these years.
    Mar 27, 2025
    Usually care provider used to be relaxed and pleasant.This time care provider looked got disturbed by some unknown reason so responded strictly.certain questions got left unanswered to be handled by primary care provider.
    Mar 05, 2025
    Dr. Chien shows such care for her patients
    Feb 05, 2025
    Dr. Chien is such a kind and caring person. I've felt in good hands from day one. She listens to my concerns (and my ramblings) and has always treated me with so much respect. I am so fortunate and grateful.
    Jan 17, 2025
    There are no words good enough to say how wonderful Dr Chien is and UCSF
    Dec 19, 2024
    Dr Chien is the best of the best!
    Dec 04, 2024
    Dr Chien is amazing !!
    Nov 14, 2024
    She did not tell me what the next steps are.
    Nov 04, 2024
    I had given up on the appointment after 45 minutes of waiting on my cell phone. The provider called back, but did not even know the basics of my case. I was very disappointed.
    Nov 03, 2024
    Dr Chien and her fellow were fantastic. Knowledgeable, helpful, and kind, they engaged with the details of my care and the research in a way that was useful and empowering and gave me the insight I needed to make decisions. This is the kind of care I'd want my loved ones to have and I'm so grateful for it.
    Oct 18, 2024
    Dr Jo Chien is exceptional.
    Oct 15, 2024
    Dr. Chien was incredibly knowledgable, caring, and attentive. I received great perspective from her on a big treatment decision I have to make, and I felt she took it very seriously.
    Sep 29, 2024
    Dr Chien is always very kind and professional and extremely thorough and knowledgeable.
    Sep 19, 2024
    Our main goal was to focus on future options. The doctor wanted to stay with the same treatments. For now that's OK but we wanted to learn about more options going forward. That did not happen.
    Sep 06, 2024
    Thoughtful, considerate, deeply caring - wonderful physician!
    Jun 29, 2024
    Dr. Amy Chien provided us with excellent care
    May 24, 2024
    Extremely happy about my second opinion So caring, so informative and so thorough
    May 16, 2024
    Dr Amy Jo Chin really got to the bottom of what was going on. We've made a plan going forward. She was very helpful supportive and gave us excellent information.
    May 05, 2024
    The doctor gave me a detailed description of my diagnosis, proposed a new chemotherapy regimen, and looked for a convenient treatment for me so that I could have chemotherapy nearby. The doctor is very patient and meticulous and very professional. Thank you very much
    May 04, 2024
    Dr. Chien and her team are always the very best.
    Apr 25, 2024
    I love Dr. Chien. She could not be a more dedicated, compassionate, and brilliant clinician.
    Mar 21, 2024
    I appreciate that Dr. Chien takes time to listen and discuss any concerns, but I have come to expect an hour wait to see her.
    Mar 20, 2024
    Dr Chien has always been extremely thorough and informative in every appointment over the years I've been seeing her. I highly recommend her to others all the time!
    Mar 16, 2024
    Dr. Chien is an amazing doctor - both in terms of her beside manner and her knowledge. I feel lucky to have her as my oncologist.
    Mar 08, 2024
    I love my team at UCSF Breast Oncology clinic!
    Dec 29, 2023
    Dr Chien and her staff are amazing. I feel so lucky to be under their care.
    Oct 28, 2023
    Dr. Chien is the best! I feel lucky having her as my doctor.
    Oct 22, 2023
    Dr. Chien has been the reason I have life. She is kind and empathetic with me and I appreciate her so much.
    Oct 01, 2023
    Dr. Chien is informative and a good educator. She is also very supportive helping to make this rough treatment tolerable. Prefer that patients be scheduled with their MD for all chemo appointments rather than with the NP.
    Sep 20, 2023
    Dr Chien reviewed the literature with me and discussed risks clearly. She listened to my goals and concerns, and she explained next steps and timelines. Dr Chien is knowledgeable, kind, and thorough.
    Aug 31, 2023
    Outstanding clinician I thoroughly trust her judgment and appreciate all her support.
    Decorative Caduceus

    Portable Scalp Cooling System (PSCS) to Prevent Hair Loss for Breast Cancer Patients (Cooler He...

    The percentage of participants with Grade 1 hair loss (defined by the NCI CTCAE as <50% of normal for that individual that is not obvious from a distance but only on close inspection) with supported photographs of the scalp taken ...

    Recruiting

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