Meet Dr. Masha Livhits

About Dr. Masha Livhits

Dr. Masha Livhits

Dr. Masha Livhits is an Endocrine Surgeon and Health Sciences Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at UCLA. She is the UCLA Endocrine Surgery Fellowship Director. An exceptional achiever since childhood, she attended college at the age of 12 through the highly competitive Early Entrance Program at California State University, Los Angeles. She then received her medical degree at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and was awarded the prestigious Sarnoff Foundation genetics research grant.

“Dr. Masha Livhitz is an exceptional surgeon who recently performed a hemithyroidectomy on my daughter (young adult). We chose Dr. Livhitz carefully by considering her extraordinary experience and reviews.”

Dr. Masha Livhits completed her general surgery residency training and endocrine surgery fellowship at UCLA. She is certified by the American Board of Surgery and she is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Masha Livhits has a genuine and compassionate approach to healthcare and she is committed to delivering the best possible outcome for every patient. She is the Chair of the Patient Advocacy Committee for the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, showcasing her dedication to ensuring that patient perspectives and needs are prioritized within the medical community.

Dr. Masha Livhits has published widely in the area of improving surgical outcomes and quality of care. She is dedicated to combining knowledge learned through research with her experience as a surgeon to deliver the best care to her patients. Her clinical and research interests include parathyroid disease, benign and malignant thyroid tumors, adrenal masses, and familial endocrine disorders. She has an ongoing randomized clinical trial to study molecular testing for thyroid nodules and cancer. Her research has contributed to improving diagnostic accuracy for patients with uncertain thyroid biopsy results. This allows more patients to avoid unnecessary diagnostic surgery if their molecular test result is benign, and ensures that patients with suspicious results receive the appropriate operation for their condition.

Dr. Masha Livhits helped to pioneer the technique of single incision retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy in North America, and she is one of the highest volume adrenal surgeons in the country. She is the Co-Director of the UCLA Pheochromocytoma Center of Excellence, and she is on the Medical Advisory Board for the Pheo Para Alliance. Dr. Masha Livhits has published national guidelines on adrenal disorders and adrenalectomy along with other expert endocrine surgeons.

Dr. Masha Livhits cares for patients at the Endocrine Center flagship location in Westwood, and she also has satellite clinics in Westlake Village, Calabasas, and Porter Ranch. She performs operations at UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital, UCLA Ambulatory Surgery Center, and UCLA Santa Monica Hospital.

Personal Life

Dr. Masha Livhits grew up in Los Angeles and lives with her husband, two daughters, and a beloved dog. When not taking care of her patients, she invests much of her time embracing the role of a dedicated soccer mom.