Meet Ritu Salani MD MBA
Newsletter Summer 2020
Meet Ritu Salani, MD, MBA, the Newly Named Division Director for Gynecologic Oncology
UCLA OBGYN is pleased to announce , has joined the Department as Director of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Salani comes to UCLA from The Ohio State University where she was a Professor and Fellowship Director at The Ohio State University. She completed medical school at the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, followed by residency at Emory University and fellowship at Johns Hopkins University.
Ritu Salani, MD, MBA, Professor, UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology
Dr. Salani’s clinical and research interests include novel therapeutics for cervical cancer and survivorship care for women with gynecologic malignancies. Her expertise in clinical therapeutic research will serve as a strong foundation to build an enhanced portfolio of clinical trials for UCLA Health patients. Dr. Salani is Principal Investigator on two large national studies in cervical cancer, evaluating the role of immunotherapy in combination with radiation as well as novel agents (TIGIT inhibitor and PARP inhibitors) to improve outcomes in women with advanced cervical cancer. She is also actively involved in industry partnerships as well as national co-operative groups.
Recognizing the need for earlier intervention as a strategy to optimize cancer prevention and care, she uses her new position to focus on expanding UCLA’s outreach efforts and care into more underserved areas through Los Angeles County.
Dr. Salani is an active member of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, where she serves as the Chair of the Education Committee. With her ongoing commitment to education, she hopes to work with the Department to improve and expand our education and professional development programs.
When considering the move to UCLA, Dr. Salani said “I was very fortunate to have great partners and strong support at Ohio State, but recognized that UCLA would provide me with the opportunity to make an even greater impact in our field. Joining this world class faculty and working with such respected leaders as Dr. Krakow and Dr. Karlan, I hope to add my support to the strong portfolio of care, research and training we offer at UCLA. Helping improve the quality and delivery of care to women in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas was a great attraction for me." Dr. Salani will see patients in our Westwood clinic.