Hope S. Rugo

MD

Breast oncologist
Medical Director, Cancer Infusion Services

Dr. Hope S. Rugo is a medical hematologist-oncologist who cares for patients with breast cancer. She has been part of UCSF for several decades. Before joining the breast care team in 1999, she cared for patients with blood cancers and those needing bone marrow transplantation. Drawing on her understanding of cancer biology, she entered the field of breast cancer with the goal of incorporating novel therapies into current treatments and improving the quality of care.

Rugo directs UCSF's clinical trials program in breast oncology. In her own research, she is interested in developing immunotherapies and targeted therapies to overcome treatment resistance in breast cancer. She is a principal investigator for multiple clinical trials focusing on improving care for both early- and late-stage breast cancer by combining new and standard treatments. She has also conducted studies on reducing toxic side effects of treatment, which led to the Food and Drug Administration's approval of both scalp-cooling caps that reduce hair loss from chemotherapy and a mouthwash that can lessen mouth inflammation from targeted therapies. She is an active member of the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium, Alliance Breast Committee and American Society of Clinical Oncology, and serves in leadership roles in various research groups and committees.

Rugo earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. At UCSF, she completed a residency in internal medicine, followed by a fellowship in hematology and oncology. She also completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in immunology at Stanford University.

Rugo has been recognized for excellence in patient care, education (as a teacher of medical students and doctors in training) and research. Among her honors are an award from the A.P. Giannini Foundation, which supports innovative research; a cancer investigator research award from UCSF; and recognition of her work in breast cancer research by UCSF Breast Care Center. She lectures locally, nationally and internationally on treatment and supportive care for breast cancer. She also runs the UCSF Bay Area Breast Cancer Forum, a bimonthly educational session open to breast cancer patients and their families and friends.

  • Education

    University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 1984

  • Residencies

    UCSF Medical Center, Internal Medicine, 1987

  • Fellowships

    UCSF Medical Center, Hematology and Oncology, 1990

  • Board Certifications

    Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine

    Medical Oncology, American Board of Internal Medicine

  • Academic Title

    Professor

  • Languages

    French

    Spanish

Conditions I specialize in

Where I see patients (1)

    My reviews

    4.9

    Overall Experience
    210 Ratings
    About our process
    Sep 27, 2024
    I am so thankful that I am part of this study with Dr Rugo.
    Aug 28, 2024
    Dr. Rugo is an excellent scientist. She cares about her patients but her communication skills are poor. I get anxiety every time I have to see her due her way of explaining things to me which in this visit was the worst. She makes me feel worse than when I came in to see her.
    Aug 09, 2024
    Dr Rugo is excellent in all dimensions.
    Aug 08, 2024
    I am confident that Dr Rugo provided me with the best guidance for my treatment. She is a top leader in Breast Cancer field!! She is also an excellent communicator. My partner and I both left our meeting with her (and her wonderful team) with a feeling of relief that comes from better understanding. Dr Rugo is able to take her patients along in her thought processes in a way provides information with clarity, relevance and meaning. She knows how to talk to talk to patients!! I really appreciate the way that her passion about what she does comes through in her communication- Her team does a great job as well.
    Aug 07, 2024
    Dr. Rugo is the best of the whole world, always attentive to questions, always given the best treatments, always removing concerns on my family questions, always ahead of cancer, always ahead of all for my best interest, she is incredible, her passion for the cure of cancer is so evident, so natural for her that it transmits such a powerful feeling in the patient, I said I am in the best hands!!
    Jun 26, 2024
    I am very blessed and honor to have Dr. Rugo she is the very best to all she does. We the cancer patients Are her first priority. In all she does.
    Jun 14, 2024
    Best and most concerned Dr. I ever had. Friendly, make me feel comfortable and clearly explain all my concerns. Professional and knowledgeable.
    Jun 13, 2024
    I consider Dr Hope Rugo the very best doctor in the USA for breast cancer! I'm lucky she is
    Jun 04, 2024
    Dr. Rugo contacted my ER team on a weekend, then again as they through out my stay at hospital parnasus she contacted on her holidays the care team at the hospital!! I could not ask for a better mighty Dr. There is none like her ever!!! I had been around for 62 years I know/
    Jun 01, 2024
    I have already recommended Dr Rugo because I believe she is a patient's best chance of surviving longer and with less pain. I think she is talented in reading people well enough to know how much to tell them to enhance their treatment without scaring them unduly. It's a wonderful gift.
    May 04, 2024
    I was very happy to be in her care
    Apr 30, 2024
    Dr Rugo was very supportive and helpful.
    Apr 25, 2024
    Great experience with Dr Rugo and all of her team
    Apr 20, 2024
    Dr. Rugo is wonderful. I feel very confident under her care, and the assistance of Jessica Knapp, Nurse Practitioner. There is sometimes a wait to see her, but that's because she never rushes a patient, or lets a concern be unaddressed. She is worth waiting for!
    Apr 13, 2024
    The best!
    Apr 10, 2024
    Dr. Rugo is the best, kind, knowledgeable, she is my only hope to extend my life. I am for ever grateful to her.
    Mar 29, 2024
    I had an amazing experience, I especially appreciated that the provider responded to my concern by looking up some research online. This is an outstanding physician!
    Mar 21, 2024
    I would give my care provider a HIGHER score if it was possible. She's GREAT
    Mar 08, 2024
    Amazing presence and knowledge
    Mar 07, 2024
    Thank you for the positive experience
    Jan 09, 2024
    Dr. Rugo is the best. I always leave my appointments with her feeling good, no matter what the news was.
    Jan 05, 2024
    I'll never stop singing Dr. Rugo's praises. Despite her rigorous teaching and clinical schedules, she manages to deliver a workable treatment plan every time I start to believe my time might be up. In her own unique style, she manages to be impressively rational in her treatment approach without stinting on the nurturing part of the doctor/patient relationship. I simply cannot imagine a better oncology provider than Dr. Rugo.
    Dec 22, 2023
    Hope Rugo is simply amazing. So knowledgeable and with such a genuine bedside manner. I am grateful to be in her care
    Dec 18, 2023
    Dr Rugo has always showed concern for myself and my treatment. She is very thorough in explaining my treatment and what's next.
    Nov 29, 2023
    Dr. Rugo is an excellent clinician. I am confident that I am receiving excellent care from her and her team.
    Nov 23, 2023
    Love Dr Rugo!
    Nov 04, 2023
    I adore Dr.Rugo and feel so fortunate to have her as my oncologist. She is at the forefront of research, is committed to her patients and I trust her to make decisions that are best for my health and well being. I also really like her as a human being :)
    Nov 04, 2023
    To a person, the radiology team displayed nothing but kindness, expertise, and great patience.
    Oct 27, 2023
    Dr. Rugo is one of the few medical professionals who is both professional and caring focusing on you as a person, not a statistic. I had consulted her for a second opinion concerning endocrine therapy. She listened carefully to my concerns and suggested a course of treatment that I could live with.
    Oct 11, 2023
    Dr. Rugo is awesome. Her knowledge and energy keep me grounded and positive.
    Oct 05, 2023
    Excellent visit
    Oct 05, 2023
    Dr.Rugo has been an excellent care provider. I am very happy to be her patient.
    Sep 27, 2023
    The best!
    Sep 07, 2023
    It was clear that the provider was running behind and was frustrated.
    Sep 06, 2023
    She's fantastic, one of a kind
    Aug 27, 2023
    We changed treatments, and I wished that we had had more of a discussion beforehand, so that I could've been better mentally prepared.
    Aug 24, 2023
    There is no finer Breast Oncologist than Dr. Hope Rugo! I feel privileged to be her patient!
    Aug 24, 2023
    Dr Rugo reviewed results of my CTs and showed slides indicating changes. I appreciate her information and her explanations. She was comprehensive and easy to understand.
    Jul 21, 2023
    Dr. Rugo is so exceptional, and I feel incredibly honored to be in her care.
    Jul 19, 2023
    Dr Rugo had a way of answering concerns that is clear, informative and reassuring. I feel extremely fortunate to have her oversee my care!
    Jun 14, 2023
    Dr. Hope Rugo is the BEST !!!
    Jun 14, 2023
    All the care providers were excellent.
    Jun 07, 2023
    Great visit
    Jun 05, 2023
    Dr. Rugo is amazing. I do not live in the Bay Area anymore, but will continue under her care until I am in survivorship.
    May 26, 2023
    It was my first visit w/ the MD and one hour felt a bit hurried.
    May 19, 2023
    Dr. Rugo was exceptional in her knowledge and ability to address my concerns which were complex and nuanced.
    Apr 23, 2023
    Dr Rugo is the most knowledgable person in regards to my cancer.
    Apr 14, 2023
    Dr. Rugo is a brilliant and caring doctor.
    Mar 30, 2023
    Dr Rugo is very thorough, polite, and concerned. She makes sure all follow up appointments are in order. She provides excellent clear information about the patients condition and her examination findings.
    Mar 22, 2023
    Dr. Rugo was an excellent communicator as always.
    Mar 16, 2023
    Greetings every way!
    Mar 01, 2023
    Very good
    Feb 18, 2023
    I am lucky to have Dr Rugo in my corner and I refer many people with metastatic breast cancer to her for a second opinion
    Feb 17, 2023
    Based upon my experience, "Excellent" would be more descriptive than "Very Good"
    Feb 16, 2023
    Sometimes the dialogue went faster than I was able to keep up with. For me it was new ground (due to poor care and Communication by a previous provider) even though my diagnosis was not.
    Feb 02, 2023
    Dr. Rugo is so professional. I really feel she listens and wants the best for her patients. I am so thankful to have her for an oncologist. I always feel better after my clinic visit.
    Feb 01, 2023
    Dr Rugo is fantastic! She is brilliant and listens carefully to my input. I feel so blessed to have her as my oncologist.
    Jan 16, 2023
    My only complaint is with scheduling an appointment. I had difficulty getting through to the scheduler. I had to wait quite awhile for a follow up appointment after having a biopsy. The long wait and lack of communication made me anxious. I just would have appreciated a follow up call or message on MyChart letting me know they are working on scheduling an appointment. This was over the busy holiday, so I'm sure this could have contributed, but it does seem to take some time to get questioned answered on MyChart.
    Nov 30, 2022
    Dr Rogo is excellent. She is exceptionally intelligent, spends time with me exploring treatment options, is compassionate and caring and always makes me feel better when I leave my meeting with her.
    Nov 30, 2022
    Dr. Rugo was excellent in her discussion of the issues and her compassion.
    Nov 16, 2022
    Dr Rugo is the expert I will have her to take the lead for my care.

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