Who We Are
Maurice J. Berkowitz, MD, President
Dr. Berkowitz is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA in the division of Hematology and Medical Oncology. Dr. Berkowitz is deeply committed to advancing breast cancer care through both direct patient management and impactful research. His academic interests are prominently centered on improving patient outcomes in breast cancer through rigorous clinical investigation and the strategic application of technology. Dr. Berkowitz's research portfolio highlights a strong dedication to understanding the patient experience, particularly concerning the side effects and adherence challenges associated with endocrine therapy for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. He has actively utilized and contributed to studies leveraging online surveys and patient communities, demonstrating an embrace of technological platforms to gather crucial real-world data directly from patients.
Dr. Berkowitz's involvement in clinical trials reflects an interest in innovative treatment strategies, including the integration of immunotherapy with neoadjuvant chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer. His work also explores the utility of advanced diagnostic and monitoring technologies, such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing for molecular surveillance in early-stage breast cancer, underscoring his commitment to personalized and precise treatment approaches. His contributions to research on topics like the efficacy of PD-L1 expression on circulating tumor cells as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy in metastatic breast cancer further exemplify his engagement with cutting-edge technologies and their translational potential
Dr. Melissa Hodeib, Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Hodeib is a Gynecological oncologist and doubleboard-certified in obstetrics and gynecology and gynecology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Hodeib specializes in gynecologic malignancies. Her expertise is in providing comprehensive care to patients with gynecologic malignancies (ovarian, cervical, uterine/endometrial, and vulvar cancers). She has specialized training in a wide range of surgical approaches (laparoscopic, robotic surgery, complex pelvic surgery, and radical surgical techniques) and the administration of systemic treatment, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and access to clinical trials. Her clinical care is focused on delivering compassionate care with state-of-the-art medicine and best clinical practices. She offers a multi-disciplinary approach to care, partnering with specialists in radiation oncology, radiology, medical oncology, genetics, and palliative care
Kristi Berkowitz, Vice President
Kristi is VP and an Executive Consultant at Personalysis, a company that provides a powerful personality assessment and feedback tool that helps leaders and teams understand and leverage their strengths, preferences, and motivations. She has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and Leadership Development, and is passionate about helping leaders enhance their self-awareness, collaboration skills, and influence in the workplace. As a certified executive coach and a Personalysis master practitioner, Kristi has successfully coached and consulted with leaders and teams across various industries and functions, delivering customized solutions that address their specific challenges and goals. She is also skilled in program management, change management, and performance management, and is committed to problem-solving and continuous improvement. Kristi's mission is to empower leaders and teams to achieve their full potential and create positive impact in their organizations
Nikka Berkowitz, AGACNP-BC, OCN, Secretary
Nikka has been dedicated to the field of women’s health and oncology since 2011, beginning her career as a registered nurse at the U.T. MD Anderson Cancer Center and continuing her growth at UCLA Health, USC, Stanford Health, the Disney Family Cancer Center, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. After earning her Master’s Degree from Georgetown University in 2019, she transitioned to the GI Oncology nurse practitioner role at Cedars-Sinai. In 2022, she shifted her focus to Urologic Malignancies where she remains committed to advancing patient care, advocacy, and education
Jacob Berkowitz, Chief Information Officer
Jacob is a computer scientist and mathematician recognized for his interest in making AI more transparent, equitable, and effective, particularly within the critical domain of healthcare and biomedical research. His research in AI delves into crucial aspects of the technology's application, particularly in the context of large language models (LLMs) and their biomedical implications. Hi work addresses the need for explainability and transparency in AI systems, especially in sensitive areas like medical diagnosis and treatment. He has explored methods such as sparse autoencoders (SAEs) to linearize LLM embeddings, aiming to create "monosemantic features" that offer a clearer window into how these models comprehend and process information. This pursuit of explainability is vital in biomedical applications where understanding the AI's reasoning is critical for trust and effective deployment.
His research highlights the importance of data quality and bias mitigation in AI development. He has investigated how commonly used data filters in electronic health record datasets can introduce sample bias, disproportionately affecting data availability for minoritized racial and ethnic populations. This underscores his commitment to ethical AI development, ensuring fairness and equitable outcomes in healthcare AI.