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Susana Ortiz-Urda

MD PhD MBA

Co-director, Melanoma Center
Dermatologist and melanoma specialist

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.

  • Education

    University of Vienna School of Medicine, 1998

  • Residencies

    UCSF Medical Center, Dermatology, 2010

    Stanford Medical Center, Dermatology, 2010

  • Board Certifications

    Dermatology, American Board of Dermatology

  • Academic Title

    Associate Professor

  • Languages

    German

    Spanish

Where I see patients (2)

    My reviews

    4.9

    Overall Experience
    290 Ratings
    About our process
    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.
    May 23, 2023
    I cannot speak highly enough about Dr. Susana Ortiz-Urda. I am grateful to benefit from her her expert care, her kindness, and her efficiency. She is a pro!
    May 23, 2023
    Mar?a Susana Ortiz, MD, Dermatology was excellent in providing care and information.She was compassionate about a different serious problem of my primary progressive aphasia for which I am being followed by UCSF Neurology.
    May 14, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz was in a hurry to get to her appointments on Divisidaro. Took me 2+ hours to get to office due to traffic and parking problems. Even Valet was backed up so I tried parking myself. A big mistake. Ended up on top floor of garage after circling parking lots a few times and then reorienting to the right door of the building (not well marked) and doing all this on an injured knee. Made me 15' late which is perhaps why Dr. Ortiz had to rush our visit.
    May 11, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz took time to go over my concerns and was helpful.
    Apr 11, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz exudes warmth and enthusiasm. She makes me believe she cares about her patients. This was a short (10 minute ) visit and I only had one minor issue. I will note that Dr. Ortiz usually seems rushed and thus does not have the luxury of providing detailed explanations.
    Mar 28, 2023
    Doctor and her trainee were nice, concerned, funny and a good experience.
    Mar 21, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz is an excellent doctor. She was very professional and provided clear explanations of the care. I appreciated her kindness and general demeanor.
    Mar 15, 2023
    A biopsy was taken 10 days ago haven't received the results yet. As well full body moll mapping noResults reported. Still waiting.
    Mar 07, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz is SUPER
    Mar 07, 2023
    Dr Urda looked closely at a couple of spots that concerned me - explained the difference in them
    Feb 28, 2023
    I appreciate my doctor, her knowledge and personal care. She is excellent.
    Jan 31, 2023
    Dr Ortiz is the best
    Jan 25, 2023
    Dr. Ortiz is so wonderful. I am blessed to be under her care.
    Jan 25, 2023
    I was delighted to meet with Dr. Ortiz. She's an excellent physician.
    Dec 23, 2022
    Always so caring and explains everything
    Dec 20, 2022
    Dr. Ortiz is absolutely best! I trust her knowledge and experience and know that I receive the best possible modern care for my skin problems. She explains and answers questions clear and respectful. Her kindness and compassion make me feel safe and well taken care of. Love my doctor and wish her many successful years practicing medicine the way she does it.
    Dec 13, 2022
    Dr Ortiz is why I put up with the other sub-standard service, but I would prefer to avoid it.
    Nov 10, 2022
    This growth was first spotted in spring 2021. It would have been better if it was treated then or during the two appointments prior to this one.
    Nov 10, 2022
    She is a great doctor. She takes the time to listen and she explains wonderfully.
    Nov 03, 2022
    Both Dr. Ortiz and the fellow working under her advice were outstanding. I continue to be grateful for the superb care that I have been receiving from Dr. Ortiz and her team. UCSF is lucky to have her!
    Nov 01, 2022
    Dr Ortiz is wonderful. She listens carefully and is very kind.
    Oct 25, 2022
    Dr Ortiz is clearly the best doctor I've ever had. Very professional, very easy to understand medical issues, very polite. Always upbeat.
    Oct 20, 2022
    Excellent Care. Dr. Ortiz is the best!

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