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.