Laura J. Esserman

MD MBA

Director, Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center

Dr. Laura Esserman, a nationally known breast surgeon, directs the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center at the Mount Zion campus. Her work is devoted to developing new, more effective ways to care for and empower breast cancer patients during treatment. She tailors treatments for individual patients using biology, personal preference and constant feedback regarding outcomes of care.

Esserman earned her undergraduate degree at Harvard University and completed her medical and surgical training at Stanford University. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in breast oncology at Stanford and later earned a master's degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She joined UCSF Medical Center in 1993.

  • Education

    Stanford University, 1983

  • Residencies

    Stanford University, General Surgery, 1991

  • Board Certifications

    Surgery, American Board of Surgery

  • Academic Title

    Professor

  • Languages

    Spanish

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.8

    Overall Experience
    93 Ratings
    About our process
    Dec 29, 2022
    Dr. Esserman and her entire staff are EXCELLENT
    Dec 17, 2022
    Dr Esserman shows compassionconcern ability to listen hold a hand and was worth the wait needs support to shorten her day and give her relief
    Nov 08, 2022
    She eased my concerns immediately. She was/is extremely friendly approachable competent and confident with her diagnosis. I look forward to working with her to make her job easier and my health prognosis positive. UCSF has some very good clinicians and I'm lucky to have the opportunity to use them.
    Oct 23, 2022
    Im extremely grateful for the excellent care!
    Oct 21, 2022
    The waiting is truly unbearable at this point- has gotten worse in last 2 years! I am confident she has received feedback but still puts too many patients in her daily Appts to handle reasonably!
    Oct 13, 2022
    Dr. Esserman is excellent. She took the time to answer my many questions and is clearly so knowledgable a leader among leaders in field. I feel fortunate to be receiving treatment as part of her DCIS trial.
    Sep 08, 2022
    Dr Esserman and team are top notch!
    Sep 01, 2022
    I adore Dr. Esserman. She is an amazing person and exceptional physician.
    Aug 31, 2022
    Dr. Esserman is a superstar.
    Aug 25, 2022
    Dr Esserman is the best doctor I've ever had - I'm so glad I found her and I do send her referrals whenever possible.
    May 05, 2022
    Dr. Esserman is the reason I do not need a mastectomy.
    May 03, 2022
    She's absolutely outstanding and well worth waiting for. I'm Very grateful for her excellent care!
    May 02, 2022
    Dr. Esserman is who all doctors should strive to be like. She cares about her patients and takes a personalized approach vs one size fits all. I appreciate this so much.
    Mar 20, 2022
    Dr. Esserman had recommended that I go back on Raloxifene which helps both with prevention of breast cancer and bone health (I have osteopenia).
    Feb 12, 2022
    The doctor is very smart and probably one of the very best in her specialty but you have to be ready to spend the entire afternoon waiting and not everyone can do that
    Jan 27, 2022
    Dr. Esserman is such a positive doctor and always gives me hope.
    Dec 03, 2021
    Dr Esserman is the best! Hard to understand how the scheduling cannot be figured out! Next time thinking about showing up 2 hours later & being in time!( joking but 1/2 serious)!
    Nov 04, 2021
    She told me to come back for follow up but then I never actually got any instructions about how to schedule that or anything. Or a phone number. So I guess in a couple months I will try to call and see. I almost thought maybe I was supposed to check in with someone before I left and I didn't do that?
    Sep 21, 2021
    Her knowledge in the field and confidence put me at ease and in return gave me confidence and courage.
    Sep 18, 2021
    I am fortunate to have Dr Esserman as my doctor. She is a gift.
    Sep 18, 2021
    Excellent care from all
    Sep 14, 2021
    Dr. Esserman is most caring and knowledgeable doctor I ever encountered
    Aug 25, 2021
    The notes written up by the intern (not Dr. Esserman) do not have correct (factual) information about my medications. The notes say I have been taking tamoxifen for 5 years. I took tamoxifen for 3 years and exemestane for the past 2 years. I wrote back to the clinic so they change the record but they haven't done this yet.
    Jun 25, 2021
    Love Dr. Esserman!!
    May 21, 2021
    I mostly feel that I was not treated with respect. After waiting 2 and 1/2 hours the doctor and colleague did not introduce themselves to me an my partner went directly to the computer to access the note taker. As a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient who has had no real coordinator for my case and who was given very different information about my situation by test results and meeting with nurse I didn't feel that my situation was handled with the respect and compassion by this doctor. The information she gave was a lot to digest. She seemed knowledgeable.
    May 11, 2021
    Dr. Esserman explains everything you want to know. Happy with her explanations and her manner.
    Apr 08, 2021
    Dr. Esserman is the most caring physician. She is the best.

    Selected research

    Decorative Caduceus

    Phase IIB Trial of Bazedoxifene Plus Conjugated Estrogens

    Change in fibroglandular volume assessed on 3-D digital mammogram by Volpara software.

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Women Informed to Screen Depending on Measures of Risk (Wisdom Study)

    Proportion of cancers diagnosed at Stage IIB or higher

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    I-SPY COVID-19 TRIAL: An Adaptive Platform Trial for Critically Ill Patients

    Time to achieve durable change in COVID-19 to ordinal level 4 or less for at least 48 hours

    Recruiting

    Decorative Caduceus

    Pembrolizumab in High-risk Ductal Carcinoma in Situ (DCIS)

    To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and recommended dose for subsequent expansion cohort, of intralesionally administered pembrolizumab in patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast.

    Recruiting

    My work

    Doctors debate whether to stop calling low-risk tumors 'cancer'

    Contact me

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