Biography
Sophia Hernandez, M.D. is a general surgery resident with the UCSF Department of Surgery. She
is completing her dedicated research years as a T32 Surgical Oncology Research Fellow in the
Maker lab where she is developing novel immunotherapies and delivery systems for the
treatment of colorectal liver metastasis. She completed her undergraduate studies at California
State University, Fullerton where she earned a degree in Biological Science. She continued her
education at UCSF, where she obtained her medical degree and a Master of Advanced Studies
(MAS) in Clinical Research with a focus on Data Science.
Dr. Hernandez has a strong foundation in translational research, data science, and clinical
research. As an undergraduate, she was awarded the California Institute for Regenerative
Medicine (CIRM) Bridges to Stem Cell Research Award where she utilized CRISPR/Cas9
technology to differentiate human embryonic stem cells. During her medical training, she was
awarded the UCSF Summer Explore Scholar Grant to study fetal immune cell activation in
preterm labor under the mentorship of Dr. Tippi Mackenzie. Additionally, as a medical student
she obtained NIH funding as a TL-1 Medical Student Research Fellow to develop a predictive
model to evaluate the malignant potential of pancreatic cystic neoplasms using radiomic
features and cyst fluid analytes under the mentorship of Dr. Kimberly Kirkwood.
Dr. Hernandez aims to integrate her surgical training with her passion for translational research
and clinical trials as an academic surgical oncologist.
Education
| Institution | Degree | Dept or School | End Date | 
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, San Francisco | MD | 06/2021 | |
| California State University, Fullerton | BS | Cell and Developmental Biology | 06/2015 | 
| University of California, San Francisco | MAS | Data Science | 06/2015 | 
Awards & Honors
| Award | Conferred By | Date | 
|---|---|---|
| T32 Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship | UCSF | 2024/2026 | 
| TL1 Medical Student Research Fellowship | UCSF | 2019/2020 | 
| California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Bridges to Stem Cell Research Scholar | 2013/2014 | |
| CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology Presidents' Commission Scholar | CSUF | 2012 | 
Publications
- Impact of coronary artery stenting on perioperative mortality and complications in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy.| | PubMed PubMed
- Increasing the use of language-concordant discharge instructions in general surgery: A resident-led quality improvement initiative.| | PubMed PubMed
- Implementation, evaluation, and modification of a near-peer learning group in graduate surgical education.| | PubMed PubMed
- Accurate Identification of Mucinous Pancreatic Cystic Lesions Using Small-Volume Analytes.| | PubMed PubMed
- The Association of Limited English Proficiency With Morbidity and Mortality After Trauma.| | PubMed PubMed
- Association of Race/Ethnicity With Substance Use Testing After Trauma: A Cross-Sectional Study.| | PubMed PubMed
- Third year medical student knowledge gaps after a virtual surgical rotation.| | PubMed PubMed
- Comparison of advanced techniques for local excision of rectal lesions: a case series.| | PubMed PubMed
- Screening for Primary Aldosteronism is Underutilized in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.| | PubMed PubMed
- Advocating for a New Residency Application Process: A Student Perspective.| | PubMed PubMed
- Bursting the Hidden Curriculum Bubble: A Surgical Near-Peer Mentorship Pilot Program for URM Medical Students.| | PubMed PubMed
- Evidence-based Guidelines on the Use of Virtual Surgical Education Pertaining to the Domains of Cognition and Curriculum, Psychomotor Skills Training, and Faculty Development and Mentorship.| | PubMed PubMed
- Surviving traumatic injury, only to die of acute drug poisoning: Should trauma centers be a path for intervention?| | PubMed PubMed
- Paying it forward: A pilot program for near-peer support for medical students during the surgery clerkship.| | PubMed PubMed
- Patient Perceptions on Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Low-acuity Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic.| | PubMed PubMed
- Where Do We Go From Here? Assessing Medical Students' Surgery Clerkship Preparedness During COVID-19.| | PubMed PubMed
- Near-Peer Learning During the Surgical Clerkship: A Way to Facilitate Learning After a 15-Month Preclinical Curriculum.| | PubMed PubMed
- Surgery Clerkship Curriculum Changes at an Academic Institution during the COVID-19 Pandemic.| | PubMed PubMed
- In vivo blunt-end cloning through CRISPR/Cas9-facilitated non-homologous end-joining.| | PubMed PubMed
- Manganese (Mn) oxidation increases intracellular Mn in Pseudomonas putida GB-1.| | PubMed PubMed
 
    