Melissa Pham, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor, Gynecologic Oncology
To see if Melissa Pham is accepting new patients, or for assistance finding a UC Davis doctor, please call 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).
Locations and Contact
Lawrence J. Ellison Ambulatory Care Center
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic
4860 Y St.
Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: 916-734-6900
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
2279 45th Street
Sacramento, CA 95817
Phone: 916-734-5959
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Pham believes cancer care is a journey and that every patient is an individual with unique needs based on their background, community, and cultural values. She strives to build a partnership with her patients, meeting them where they are in their journey and empowering them with essential knowledge and empathetic support. Dr. Pham uses her evidence-based expertise to guide her patients through comprehensive treatment, while striving to optimize quality of life. She advocates for her patients to receive the high quality, honest care that everyone deserves.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Pham is a gynecologic oncologist who specializes in the medical and surgical care of patients with ovarian, uterine, cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers. She is skilled in advanced gynecologic surgeries and has special interest in minimally invasive surgery, including laparoscopic and robotic approaches to treating disease. Her expertise also includes the use of systemic chemotherapy and novel targeted agents in the treatment of gynecologic cancers. She is actively involved in recruiting for and developing clinical trials through the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Pham is committed to improving the quality of care for patients with gynecologic cancers through thoughtful clinical trial design and implementation. Her research focuses on utilizing novel targeted therapies to overcome treatment resistance and optimizing patient selection for treatment regimens. She has helped to develop clinical trials using novel targeted therapies, authored/co-authored original research in peer-reviewed journals, and presented her research at national and international meetings.
Division
Gynecologic Oncology
Center/Program Affiliation
Undergraduate School
B.A., Chemistry, University of Richmond, Richmond VA 2009
Medical School
M.D., Medicine, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton PA 2016
Other School
M.P.H., Healthcare Administration, University of Texas Houston School of Public Health, Houston TX 2022
Internship
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Drexel/Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia PA 2016-2017
Residency
Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon NH 2018-2020
Fellowship
Gynecologic Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston TX 2020-2024
Linda K. Manning Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer Research Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023,
Linda K. Manning Fellowship in Ovarian Cancer Research Award, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022,
The AstraZeneca and Merck Young Investigator Stimulus Research Award for Ovarian Cancer Research (Foundation for Women’s Cancer Research Grant), 2021,
Outstanding Resident in Gynecologic Oncology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 2020,
Outstanding Resident in Gynecologic Oncology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, 2018,
Rios-Doria E, Abu-Rustum NR, Glaser G, McGree M, Eriksson AG, Pham M, Soliman P, Ataseven B, Alektiar K, Zamarin D, Leitao ML Jr, Mueller J. 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIA endometrial cancer: oncologic outcomes based on involvement of adnexa, serosa, or both, Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2024 Jul 29;ijgc-2024-005567. doi: 10.1136/ijgc-2024-005567. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39074930.
Pham MM, Avila M, Hinchcliff E, Westin SN. Clinical Application of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (PARP) Inhibitors in Ovarian Cancer. Cancer Treat Res. 2023;186:71-89. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-30065-3_5. PMID: 37978131.
Avila M, Grinsfelder MO, Pham M, Westin SN. Targeting the PI3K Pathway in Gynecologic Malignancies. Curr Oncol Rep. 2022 Dec; 24(12):1669-1676. PMID: 36401704.
Pham MM, Hinchcliff E, Avila M, Westin SN. The Clinical Challenges, Trials, and Errors of Combatting Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors Resistance. Cancer J. 2021 Nov-Dec 01; 27(6):491-500. PMID: 34904812.
Pham MM, Ngoi NYL, Peng G, Tan DSP, Yap TA. Development of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor and immunotherapy combinations: progress, pitfalls, and promises. Trends Cancer. 2021 Oct;7(10):958-970. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.05.004. PMID: 34158277.
Ngoi NYL, Pham MM, Tan DSP, Yap TA. Targeting the replication stress response through synthetic lethal strategies in cancer medicine. Trends Cancer. 2021 Oct; 7(10):930-957. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.06.002. PMID: 34215565.
Higgins T, Pham M, McDonald J, Le Neveu M, Haslett W, Erekson E, Wilkinson-Ryan I. “The effect of state legislation on opioid prescribing practices following gynecologic surgery”. Journal of Gynecol Surg. Online 2020 Dec; ahead of print http://doi.org/10.1089/gyn.2020.0139
Wilkinson-Ryan I, Pham M, Sergent P, Tafe L, Berwin B. A Syngeneic Metastatic Mouse Model of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Transl Oncol. 2018 Sept; 12(1): 62-8. PMID:30268949.
Cameron K, Bartle E, Roark R, Fanelli D, Pham M, Pollard B, Borkowski B, Rhoads S, Kim J, Rocha M, Kahlson M, Kangala M, Gentile L. Neurosteroid binding to the amino terminal and glutamate binding domains of inotropic glutamate receptors, Steroids. 2012 June; 77(7): 774-9. PMID: 22504555