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Jo Chien

MD

Breast oncologist
Medical Director, Breast Medical Oncology

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.

  • Education

    Harvard School of Medicine, 2003

  • Residencies

    Massachusetts General Hospital, Internal Medicine, 2006

  • Fellowships

    UCSF, Hematology, 2009

  • Board Certifications

    Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Professor

  • Languages

    Mandarin

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.9

    Overall Experience
    230 Ratings
    About our process
    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.
    Aug 09, 2023
    Women physicians are so much better than men for issues pertaining to women's health
    Aug 06, 2023
    She seems empathetic but she doesn't provide me critical information about my condition. I'm aPhysician and I feel like I have to research everything on my own or request repeatedly for information or tests/studies to help with my diagnoses, prognosis, and treatment decisions.
    Jul 26, 2023
    My card at UCSF has been outstanding
    Jul 14, 2023
    Dr Chien is wonderful. After I was given a poor prognosis (3 years) by another oncologist, Dr Chien reiterated that my cancer was treatable and I should expect several years of good quality life. She, in effect, gave me my life back.
    Jul 05, 2023
    Doctor Chien was amazing! Thank you for seeing me
    Jun 21, 2023
    I find my oncologist to be we'll rounded- from her bedside manner to her explanations of my current condition. I find her to be empathetic as well.
    Jun 09, 2023
    The care I have received at UCSF has been absolutely amazing!!!
    Jun 04, 2023
    Dr Chien is the best!!!
    Jun 03, 2023
    Dr. Chien explained everything clearly, listened to my questions, and I felt she was really partnering with me in this process. I have complete confidence in her decisions for me.
    May 04, 2023
    Dr. Chien is so knowledgeable and so caring
    Apr 22, 2023
    Dr. Chien is awesome. Very supportive, caring, and answers every question we have. I don't know what I would do without her.
    Apr 20, 2023
    Dr. Chien is an excellent practitioner.
    Apr 20, 2023
    Awesome hospital!
    Apr 12, 2023
    I feel very lucky to have this collegial facility available to me. I know I'm getting the best possible care
    Apr 01, 2023
    Dr. Chien listened to me for a looooooooong time and let me ask all of my questions before we moved forward. I really appreciated that because she help me shut down any unnecessary fears, and let me focus on things I should focus on. She also expressed gratitude and joy for where I have ended up in my journey, and that meant a lot to me, too. I was able to really absorb that gratitude on a new level since it came from my doctor. I really appreciate her!
    Mar 23, 2023
    She's compassionate, efficient, warm and articulate. Everything great.
    Mar 16, 2023
    I continue to be impressed by Jo Chien. I brought questions about my current symptoms and we talked about future options and risks. She was familiar with current and relevant research and discussed it with me. She remembered concerns I raised in previous visits and asked about my family's wellbeing. Thank you for continuing to care for me!
    Feb 02, 2023
    Dr. Chien needs more help getting to her appointments on time as infusion is scheduled for me after her appointment. Infusion seems to run 1 to 2 and a half hours late each visit as well. Both departments need help staying on time. Thank you.
    Jan 29, 2023
    When you refer to the care provider - are you talking about the doctor who was helping Dr. Chien? I saw her for most of my appointment. Dr. Chien was delayed. I did not spend much time with her.
    Jan 21, 2023
    Dr Chien listened to me and also gave me a good prognosis, wespecially coming after the poor one given to me by my first oncologist. She, in effect, gave me my life back.
    Jan 14, 2023
    AVS has no information. Given the name of a cream to use but no record of what it is and told it would be in the after visit summary. Also needed details on dosage of suggested calcium tablets.
    Jan 11, 2023
    Dr. Jo Chein was awesome!!!! Extremely knowledgeable and caring. Best combination!
    Nov 17, 2022
    Dr. Chien is a gem
    Nov 05, 2022
    I have already recommended the provider several times.
    Nov 02, 2022
    Dr. Chien is great but since she is so willing to take time with each patient, she runs behind in her schedule. I was contacted 45 minutes after my scheduled appointment to let me know that she was running behind. I would have found it beneficial to know how many minutes she was running behind at the start of my scheduled appointment time, and then to receive an update maybe every 15 minutes?
    Oct 05, 2022
    I'm so thrilled Dr Chien is my doctor.
    Oct 05, 2022
    I ask a lot of questions sometimes I feel they are not directly answered
    Sep 17, 2022
    All of staff are always very a tenniive friendly and nice to me. It is an absolute delight to go to UCSF with cancer clinic for treatment
    Sep 17, 2022
    Dr. Chien is the best. I trust her completely and what more can I ask for? Nothing.
    Sep 08, 2022
    The care of Dr. Chien and her team gave to the patients are excellent. I can trust their decision and felt at ease
    Aug 19, 2022
    Dr. Chien has been amazing for my entire cancer journey. She listens, she is aware of my feelings and concerns, she is willing to discuss options and I cannot imagine what my cancer journey would have been like without her as my doctor.
    Aug 18, 2022
    My time with the provider has never felt rushed even though I know things are often running behind schedule.
    Jul 21, 2022
    Dr Chien is always kind. Up to date on everything. Spends as much time as needed. I'm so lucky to have her.
    Jul 13, 2022
    Wish doctor had gone over recommendations with NP prior to my confusing contradictory visit

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