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Susana Ortiz-Urda
4.9 out of 5 (317)
Susana Ortiz-Urda

Susana Ortiz-Urda, MD, PhD

Dermatology

Co-director, Melanoma Center

Melanoma & Skin Cancer Center
1825 Fourth Street, Third Floor,
San Francisco, CA 94158
+1 more location
(415) 353-9900
4.9 out of 5 (317)
Virtual visits available
4.9 out of 5 (317)
Virtual visits available
Melanoma & Skin Cancer Center
1825 Fourth Street, Third Floor,
San Francisco, CA 94158
+1 more location
(415) 353-9900

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.

  • Board Certifications

    American Board of Dermatology, Dermatology, 2010

  • Residencies

    Stanford University Medical Center-GME, Dermatology, 2010

  • Internship

    Brooklyn Hospital Center, Internal Medicine, 2007

  • Degree

    University of Vienna, 1998

  • Languages

    English

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (2)

    My reviews

    4.9

    Overall Experience
    317 Ratings
    About our process
    Mar 24, 2025
    My provider was amazing! I was nervous about my appointment but she was incredibly kind and professional. I really appreciate how thoughtfully she walked through my care options.
    Mar 22, 2025
    I love Dr Ortiz!!!!! Been with her since the beginning of having melanoma.
    Mar 22, 2025
    She is the best!
    Mar 18, 2025
    I am very happy to have Dr. Ortiz as my melanoma specialist. She is knowable , friendly and caring.
    Mar 08, 2025
    I have been a patient of Dr Ortiz for over ten years. From beginning to present time, she has always answered my questions, and treated me with respect and kindness. I am eternally grateful that I have Dr Ortiz as my physician for the treatment of melanoma.
    Mar 06, 2025
    I like Dr Ortiz- thorough- tells you what is to happen. I feel she cares
    Feb 18, 2025
    Good experience
    Feb 17, 2025
    I'm recommending the doctor to my wife
    Feb 07, 2025
    Dr. Ortiz is an excellent health care provider.
    Feb 06, 2025
    Superb!!
    Feb 03, 2025
    Susana Ortiz-Urda is an AMAZING physician, She knows my hx well, has a few follow up questions but is quickly evaluating all my skin areas completely and professionally, took some photos of issues she wants to follow. I trust her so much and have a great deal of confidence in her skills and abilities
    Feb 01, 2025
    Excellent evaluation. Also compassionate when discussing my Neurological issues.
    Jan 28, 2025
    Dr. Ortiz is simply the best
    Jan 27, 2025
    Excellent Dr
    Jan 25, 2025
    Dr Ortiz is fabulous.
    Jan 20, 2025
    Dr. Ortiz was easy to establish rapport with. She answered all of my questions and gave me treatment options with pros and cons. I felt that she was open to my concerns and helped make the right treatment decisions. She was great.
    Jan 20, 2025
    Dr Ortiz is the best. She was on time, very professional but also very kind to listen to my descriptions of my skin issues. She thoroughly examined and treated all my skin issues while also explaining what she was doing and if any treatment might hurt. I never felt rushed. The entire time with Dr Ortiz was reassuring about my treatment.
    Jan 16, 2025
    It is a four hour drive from where I live and for the quality of treatment it is well worth it. Dr. Ortiz is amazing
    Dec 17, 2024
    Great visit
    Dec 13, 2024
    It's always a pleasure to meet with Dr. Ortiz.
    Nov 27, 2024
    Efficient, friendly
    Nov 25, 2024
    Fantastic staff - everyone was courteous, professional, and kind.
    Nov 23, 2024
    All patients should be lucky enough to have a doctor like Susana Ortiz
    Nov 19, 2024
    Good
    Nov 15, 2024
    Dr Ortiz is easy to talk with and she explains as she goes
    Nov 09, 2024
    Very knowledgeable and thourough. Explained everything issue in depth and options given.
    Nov 07, 2024
    Dr. Ortiz is fantastic.
    Nov 04, 2024
    Dr Urda was very clear about my follow up care responsibilities.
    Nov 04, 2024
    Just a checkup so most of this irrelevant but I appreciate Dr Ortiz friendliness and professionalism combined. Her nurse was very good I should have scored higher just minimal interaction
    Nov 02, 2024
    Excellent bedside manners. Caring
    Oct 31, 2024
    Excellent care from Dr. Ortiz.
    Oct 26, 2024
    Dr Ortiz is the best!
    Oct 17, 2024
    Dr. Ortiz is excellent
    Oct 15, 2024
    Incredibly clear, patient, supportive, and professional. Never a bad experience in over 8 years as a patient.
    Oct 15, 2024
    Dr Ortiz is the best. Efficient and thorough.
    Oct 15, 2024
    Superb care!!!
    Oct 13, 2024
    Dr. Ortiz offered some additional advice and guidance for a family member who now has cancer. That was much appreciate. Above and beyond!
    Oct 03, 2024
    Dr. Ortiz was so great, especially with these last two visits. She was kind, and listened attentively.
    Sep 24, 2024
    They don't have any more numbers if not I would give them a 10 instead of 5
    Sep 21, 2024
    My doctor was very good l. She listened, did a thorough exam, explained what treatment options were and moved through everything expeditiously.
    Sep 19, 2024
    Very thorough and friendly explanation. Treatment relatively painless.
    Sep 18, 2024
    Dr Ortiz was wonderful. She was polite, very thorough, and easy to understand in regards to my medical issues. She was careful as she examined me and explained what she encountered and what the treatment was to be. And I never felt rushed.
    Sep 10, 2024
    All my experiences with Dr Ortiz and her care team have been excellent. Dr Ortiz takes the time to listen to my concerns and she explains everything thoroughly. She has excellent bedside manners and I would recommend her to anyone. I always leave knowing that I received the best care. I appreciate Dr Ortiz and her team for always being kind and supportive.
    Aug 13, 2024
    Dr. Ortiz's practice always professional but also very personal. I never feel like I'm being rushed.
    Jun 18, 2024
    Excellent
    May 15, 2024
    Both resident and attending were approachable and attentive. Waited about 20 min to see them but then very efficient/
    May 14, 2024
    Could not be betterJust the best
    May 14, 2024
    Very pleased with Dr Ortiz and staff
    May 03, 2024
    This is a FIRST CLASS operation Susanna and her team are truly exceptional. She Susanna is a welcome experience in todays world of medicine. Brilliant and in pursuit of solutions to complex melanoma problems
    Apr 11, 2024
    Dr Ortiz is the best! I'm a nurse so I'm in the know! Feel lucky to be a patient of hers.
    Apr 09, 2024
    Dr. Ortiz and her resident physician and medical student were caring, knowledgeable, and helpful. I appreciate their expertise.
    Apr 09, 2024
    Dr Ortiz is amazing
    Mar 13, 2024
    Dr. Ortiz is an excellent physician and she took very good care of me
    Mar 12, 2024
    Dr. Ortiz is excellent.
    Mar 12, 2024
    Dr Ortiz is absolutely wonderful. She is caring and always remembers me.
    Mar 12, 2024
    Excellent provider with fast, friendly - polite and highly professional skills.
    Mar 08, 2024
    Excellent
    Dec 19, 2023
    Dr Ortiz is the best.
    Nov 30, 2023
    I've been seeing Dr Ortiz for almost 10 years now - she is the best!
    Nov 28, 2023
    Dr Ortiz is a caring concerned physician. I feel cared for in every way during my appointment
    Nov 16, 2023
    I have already told several people about my positive experience with Dr Ortiz
    Nov 15, 2023
    I am very happy with my care
    Nov 07, 2023
    Dr Ortiz is the best melanoma Derm I've ever encountered. I come from over 1000 miles away to see her- worth it every time. She listened ti all questions. Has empathic answers. Really advocates for me. Just the best. Outstanding!
    Nov 02, 2023
    I would recommend her, but because of where UCSF is, I would warn people of the difficulties parking, etc.
    Nov 02, 2023
    Excellent
    Oct 24, 2023
    Dr Ortiz was very professional, very thorough, easy to understand as she explained what she found, and efficient in exam of my skin issues. I wish all doctors had her bedside manner.
    Oct 19, 2023
    She's the best. Found a way to squeeze me into a very busy day bc I had a troubling mole that needed to be looked at. Was efficient and explained what was happening, why she felt it was benign.
    Sep 28, 2023
    Dr Ortiz is an excellent, caring physician
    Sep 28, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz is outstanding! I can't say enough good things about her, and I feel fortunate to have her as my dermatologist following my melanoma diagnosis and treatment at UCSF.
    Sep 28, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz is amazing at explaining each step of any procedure and is. Very caring and compassionate. No dumb questions in her book and I love that. Highly recommend her !
    Sep 26, 2023
    Dr Ortiz is the best!!! She takes the time to answer all questions and clearly cares about me.
    Sep 26, 2023
    Dr. Ruiz is excellent in knowledge and personality
    Aug 31, 2023
    Exam here was expert & comprehensive....
    Aug 29, 2023
    I am grateful and impressed with Dr Ortiz. She gave me a thorough examination. HOWEVER, I came to UCSF with the impression I was going to have a scan by machine. I was told the machine was fine but there was a freeze on hiring someone to run the machine That was very disappointing as my hope was to be tracked every three months for melanoma by a state of the art piece of equipment. As I said, her examination was extremely thorough& I trust her.
    Aug 22, 2023
    The new doctor who saw me before Dr. Ortiz (can't remember her name) was wonderful.
    Jul 26, 2023
    Please contact me concerning this appointment. I have some serious concerns about my experience and whether legally required actions were taken.
    Jul 23, 2023
    I so appreciate Dr. Ortiz' skill, experience, research and her caring attitude. She is irreplaceable!
    Jul 14, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz is simply amazing.
    Jul 11, 2023
    Always appreciate Dr Ortiz's input!
    Jun 16, 2023
    Amazing dr! Shows concern and care!
    Jun 08, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz is excellent.
    Jun 06, 2023
    I believe Dr Ortiz is a God send. I have recommended her to many. She is caring, friendly, empathetic, and I trust her with my life. She is the best!!!
    May 30, 2023
    So impressed with Dr Ortiz. I feel lucky to be in her care
    May 30, 2023
    I give a lot of money to UCSF and I go to UCSF for first rate care. I'm happy to allow a first year resident examine me and sit in but I expect my care to be given primarily by a top expert in the field, not by a beginner.

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