Susana Ortiz-Urda

MD PhD MBA

Co-director, Melanoma Center
Dermatologist and melanoma specialist

Dr. Susana Ortiz-Urda is a dermatologist and melanoma specialist who serves as co-director of the UCSF Melanoma Center. She cares for patients with early and advanced melanoma.

Ortiz-Urda’s lab works with human models of epithelial neoplasia and melanoma. She studies cancer signaling at a genetic sequencing level to identify novel transcripts, their functions and the factors that promote resistance to drugs or cancer progression. She hopes her findings may point to key biomarkers or new targets for treating melanoma.

Ortiz-Urda earned her medical degree and doctorate at the University of Vienna. She completed a residency in dermatology and a postdoctoral fellowship in epithelial biology at Stanford University, followed by a cutaneous oncology fellowship at UCSF. She earned her master of business administration degree at New York University.

Ortiz-Urda is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, Austrian Society of Dermatology and Venereology, and Dermatology Foundation. She has received several honors, including the Kardinal-Innitzer Award for Outstanding Science in Dermatology and the Unilever Award from the Austrian Society of Dermatology and Venereology.

Learn more about Ortiz-Urda's research: http://cancer.ucsf.edu/research/ortiz-lab.

  • Education

    University of Vienna School of Medicine, 1998

  • Residencies

    UCSF Medical Center, Dermatology, 2010

    Stanford Medical Center, Dermatology, 2010

  • Board Certifications

    Dermatology, American Board of Dermatology

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

  • Languages

    German

    Spanish

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (2)

    My reviews

    4.9

    Overall Experience
    373 Ratings
    About our process
    Feb 28, 2023
    I appreciate my doctor her knowledge and personal care. She is excellent.
    Jan 31, 2023
    Dr Ortiz is the best
    Jan 25, 2023
    I was delighted to meet with Dr. Ortiz. She's an excellent physician.
    Jan 25, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz is so wonderful. I am blessed to be under her care.
    Dec 23, 2022
    Always so caring and explains everything
    Dec 20, 2022
    Dr. Ortiz is absolutely best! I trust her knowledge and experience and know that I receive the best possible modern care for my skin problems. She explains and answers questions clear and respectful. Her kindness and compassion make me feel safe and well taken care of. Love my doctor and wish her many successful years practicing medicine the way she does it.
    Dec 13, 2022
    Dr Ortiz is why I put up with the other sub-standard service but I would prefer to avoid it.
    Nov 10, 2022
    She is a great doctor. She takes the time to listen and she explains wonderfully.
    Nov 10, 2022
    This growth was first spotted in spring 2021. It would have been better if it was treated then or during the two appointments prior to this one.
    Nov 03, 2022
    Both Dr. Ortiz and the fellow working under her advice were outstanding. I continue to be grateful for the superb care that I have been receiving from Dr. Ortiz and her team. UCSF is lucky to have her!
    Nov 01, 2022
    Dr Ortiz is wonderful. She listens carefully and is very kind.
    Oct 25, 2022
    Dr Ortiz is clearly the best doctor I've ever had. Very professional very easy to understand medical issues very polite. Always upbeat.
    Oct 20, 2022
    Excellent Care. Dr. Ortiz is the best!
    Oct 11, 2022
    This was the worst interaction I have ever had with Dr. Ortiz and her team. After waiting over 90 minutes to see her she barely even did a full scan. The entire visit was 4 minutes long. It was not a thorough scan.
    Oct 05, 2022
    I felt that my care provider was caring listened to my concerns and took appropriate action.
    Sep 27, 2022
    Dr is great. Office and staff severely lacking.
    Sep 21, 2022
    Knowledgeable and friendly
    Sep 21, 2022
    I really like Dr. Ortiz. She is an excellent doctor that I feel comfortable to refer people to. I am confident in her abilities. She listens well does what she needs to do in my annual checkup and recommends reasonable options when I mention things outside of her area of expertise.
    Sep 15, 2022
    Love Dr. Ortiz! She's awesome.
    Sep 06, 2022
    Fantastic provider. Great bedside manner makes you feel at ease.
    Aug 24, 2022
    This was a follow up to remove additional basal cell tissue
    Aug 24, 2022
    I feel in very confident hands and well looked after with Doctor Ortiz
    Aug 02, 2022
    I am a loyal and devoted patient. I have been seeing her for more than a decade
    Jul 19, 2022
    Dr. Ortiz is an exceptional physician and a smart caring warm person. I am so grateful to be her patient.
    May 18, 2022
    The doctor seemed to be in a hurry to finish
    May 10, 2022
    She's very very good. Just the scheduling etc needs to improve and because of that I may be hesitant to recommend the Dr/facility
    May 05, 2022
    Excellent
    Apr 26, 2022
    Provider always gives great care!
    Mar 15, 2022
    Dr. Ortiz is truly exceptional. One of the best and most qualified physicians I have ever met. I am a medical professional myself - and I took notes on how well she listened her kind demeanor and her clear and direct answers. She is a major asset to her department and the medical center. A master clinician
    Mar 15, 2022
    Resident not as experienced as he seemed confident
    Mar 01, 2022
    She is a phenomenal doctor. Caring kind extremely skilled and collaborative.
    Feb 16, 2022
    Dr Ortiz is clear concise and concerned
    Jan 25, 2022
    Several items listed as "discussed" in my visit summary were not actually discussed such as possible side effects from upcoming surgery.
    Jan 11, 2022
    Dr. Ortiz is fabulous! She is very thorough in her examinations of my skin explains what she is observing and doing along the way and has the perfect combination of professionalism and personality. I could not be happier with the care that I receive from her.
    Jan 11, 2022
    Excellent experience
    Dec 15, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz is great in every respect. Her manner sets me completely at ease and gives me confidence in her command of my needs.
    Dec 11, 2021
    I felt like Dr. Was hyper and felt rushed. Was like a whirlwind
    Dec 08, 2021
    Very clear and concise explanations.
    Dec 01, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz always takes the time to be sure any concerns are addressed as well as connecting on a personal level to see how I'm doing in general. Much appreciated
    Nov 30, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz is the absolutely best!
    Nov 30, 2021
    I found Dr Ortiz to be excellent.
    Nov 17, 2021
    She was great a pleasure to work with!
    Nov 09, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz is a wonderful person and a caring competent physician.
    Oct 27, 2021
    She is an amazing Doctor.
    Oct 20, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz-Urda is the best dermatologist I have seen in my life. She clearly is extremely qualified likes what she does is personable and was thorough in her exam. And she explains everything that she is doing along the way. I am grateful to be in her care.
    Oct 20, 2021
    I have been a patient of the Melanoma clinic since 2008. I have seen this doctor regularly for the past decade. I have always been pleased with her service.
    Oct 20, 2021
    My experience with Dr. Maria Susana Ortiz Urda was fantastic. I loved her bedside manner the way she communicated and most importantly how she made me feel extremely welcome. I loved the inclusiveness which lead to a really positive experience.
    Oct 05, 2021
    Every one was great!
    Oct 05, 2021
    Dr Ortiz is excellent. A great clinician. And very personable. I feel very well looked after given that I have a history of cancer and depend on her judgement to keep me safe.
    Oct 03, 2021
    I like the doc and she is very able but she seems to be in a great hurry and cannot provide much attention. As a result I tend to ask fewer questions than I want and she seems to float in and out of the room. It all seems far too fast. Is this "modern medicine"? Most of my docs are older and provide more time more detailed explanations and what seems to be better care. I feel no connection to Dr. Ortiz.
    Sep 29, 2021
    Dr Ortiz is the best and seemingly the most well educated/knowledgeable dermatologist Ive seen In the past 30 years. Her Infectious smile and positive attitude carry over Into all aspects of my visits. She always makes me feel as If Im the most Important patient of her day and that my health is her top priority. She never makes me feel rushed and always takes whatever time is necessary to fully answer all of my questions. She's an excellent communicator and explains things in a manner that is easy to understand and treats me like I'm someone who she truly respects and genuinely cares about. She exemplifies the meaning of treating others how you would like to be treated. She's as good as they come!
    Sep 26, 2021
    Dr Ortiz is one of my favorite doctors a delightful person and she made me forget about my 1-1/2 hour wait!
    Sep 22, 2021
    Superb in every way
    Sep 15, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz is the best!!
    Jul 21, 2021
    Flawless
    Jul 21, 2021
    I like this provider a lot and feel very confident of her ability but I think she is scheduled too tightly. She was 25 minutes late to my appointment and only saw me for about five minutes.
    Jun 02, 2021
    My experience was very good and I will recommend your provider to anyone.
    May 25, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz is a first rate provider and person. I am blessed by her care.
    May 23, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz is delightful personal and went above and beyond in answering my questions and concerns. A very happy experience!
    May 13, 2021
    I adore Dr. Ortiz. she's phenomenal. she eases my worries greatly when I see her and always listens to me and takes her time with me. I just wish getting my next appt with her was easier. It used to be that appts three months out were available it's anxiety provoking to have to wait for a call back with an appt date/time. as a mom living in Sonoma and as a per diem nurse I need my appt time ASAP. it also helps ease anxiety about something as scary as possible melanoma (I've had two removed within the past year).
    May 12, 2021
    Dr. Ortiz Urda was excellent in explaining her assessment of my risks and follow up for melanoma she was friendly and positive and well dressed
    May 10, 2021
    excellent staff and process
    Apr 25, 2021
    she has a delightful manner of blending professional competence obvious love for her work and an authentic capacity for connection. There's even a sense of light and joy in the exam room all whilst hunting for abnormal skin lesions. I always trust that if she found something of concern she would communicate that with care and options. Gratitude and appreciation for her care!

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