I. Benjamin Paz, M.D.

[email protected]
(877) 460-4673
I. Benjamin Paz, M.D.
Surgical Oncologist
Clinical Expertise
  • Breast Surgery
  • Endocrine Surgery
  • Colon and Rectal Surgery
  • Minimal Invasive and Robotic Surgery
  • Sarcoma Oncology
  • Skin Cancer
  • Melanoma
  • HIPEC — Hyperthermic (or Heated) Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
Academic Appointments
  • Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs
  • Clinical Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery
Clinical Teams
Breast Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Cancers
HIPEC — Hyperthermic (or Heated) Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
Pancreatic Cancer
Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma and Bone Cancer
Skin Cancer and Melanoma
Surgery — Surgical Oncology
Musculoskeletal Tumors and Sarcoma — Pediatric
Additional Contacts
  • South Pasadena Patients
    (877) 998-7546
  • Duarte Patients
    (800) 826-4673
  • Referring Physicians/Colleagues
    (626) 353-5549
The main objective of cancer treatment is to help people to live and achieve their dreams.
Patients offer high praise of I. Benjamin Paz, M.D., for his surgical skills and his compassionate care.

At City of Hope since 1990, Dr. Paz is renowned for his expertise in breast cancer, gastrointestinal and rectal cancers, and tumors involving the bone and soft tissues. He specializes in minimally invasive surgery and has developed one of the leading centers for minimally invasive surgery in oncology in California.

Dr. Paz received his medical degree in Chile and received further training at University of Arizona.

Dr. Paz has also served as vice chair of the Department of Surgery at City of Hope, where he has helped to expand the program dramatically and develop a number of patient-focused, multidisciplinary clinics.

Location

Education & Experience

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Surgery

Degrees

  • 1985, Masters in General Surgery, with honors, Universidad Catolica de Chile

  • 1981, M.D., with honors, Universidad de Chile

Fellowship

  • 1990-1993, Fellow, Surgical oncology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

Residency

  • 1989-1990, Chief resident, general surgery, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

  • 1985-1989, Resident, general surgery, University of Arizona, Tuczon, AZ

  • 1984-1985, Chief resident, general surgery, Universidad Catolica De Chile, Santiago

  • 1982-1984, Resident, general surgery, Universidad Catolica De Chile, Santiago

  • 1980-1981, Rotating intern, Universidad de Chile, Hospital Salvador

  • 1979-1982, Intern, Emergency unit of the Chilean Air Force Hospital

  • 1976-1982, Intern and student clerk, Emergency unit of the Hospital Salvador

Professional Experience

  • 2018-present, Vice Chair, Clinical Affairs, City of Hope, Duarte CA

  • 2014-2018, Medical Director of Value Based Oncology Care, City of Hope Medical Foundation, Duarte, California

  • 2011-present, Clinical Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2009-2011, Executive Medical Director of Community Practice Sites, City of Hope Medical Group, Duarte, CA

  • 2008-2011, Vice Chair, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2005-2008, Acting Chair, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2004-2007, Chief, Division of General Oncologic Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2001-2005, Vice Chair, Department of Surgery, City of Hope Duarte, CA

  • 2000-2011, Co-director, Breast Cancer Program, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

  • 2000-2011, Medical Director, City of Hope Women’s Center, Duarte, CA

  • 1998-2004, President, City of Hope Medical Group

  • 1998-2003, Section Head, Division of General Oncologic Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
    1992-present, Staff surgeon, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, South Pasadena, CA

Awards & Memberships

Awards

  • America’s Top Doctors, Castle Connelly

  • Top Doctors, Pasadena Magazine

Memberships

  • American College of Surgeons

  • American Association of Cancer Research

  • Society of Surgical Oncology

  • Southwestern Oncology Group

  • American Head and Neck Society

Publications

  • Bosserman LD, Cianfrocca M, Yuh B, Yeon C, Chen H, Sentovich S, Polverini A, Zachariah F, Deaville D, Lee AB, Sedrak MS, King E, Gray S, Morse D, Glaser S, Bhatt G, Adeimy C, Tan T, Chao J, Nam A, Paz IB, Kruper L, Rao P, Sokolov K, Kulkarni P, Salgia R, Yamzon J, Johnson D. Integrating Academic and Community Cancer Care and Research through Multidisciplinary Oncology Pathways for Value-Based Care : A Review and the City of Hope Experience, Journal of Clinical Medicine. 10 (2021).
  • Cristea MC, Frankel P, Synold T, Rivkin S, Lim D, Chung V, Chao J, Wakabayashi M, Paz B, Han E, Lin P, Leong L, Hakim A, Carroll M, Prakash N, Dellinger T, Park M, Morgan RJ. A phase I trial of intraperitoneal nab-paclitaxel in the treatment of advanced malignancies primarily confined to the peritoneal cavity, Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology. 83 (2019) 589 -598.
  • Stewart CL, Chao J, ChenY-J, Lin J, Sullivan MJ, Melstrom L, Hyung WJ, Fong Y, Paz IB, Woo Y. Multimodality management of locally advanced gastric cancer-the timing and extent of surgery., Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 4 (2019).
  • Stewart C, Chao J, Chen YJ, Lin J, Sullivan MJ, Melstrom L, Hyung WJ, Fong Y, Paz IB, Woo Y. Multimodality management of locally advanced gastric cancer-the timing and extent of surgery, Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 4 (2019).
  • Desiderio J, Stewart CL, Sun V, Melstrom L, Warner S, Lee B, Schoellhammer H, Trisal V, Paz IB, Fong Y, Woo Y. Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Gastric Cancer Patients Improves Clinical Outcomes at a US Cancer Center, Journal of Gastric Cancer. 18 (2018) 230 -241.
  • Eng O, Raoof M, O'Leary MP, Lew MW, Wakabayashi MT, Paz IB, Melstrom L, Lee B. Hypothermia Is Associated with Surgical Site Infection in Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intra-Peritoneal Chemotherapy, Surgical Infections. (2018).
  • Mehren MV, Randall RL, Benjamin RS, Boles S, Bui MM, Ganjoo KN, George S, Gonzalez RJ, Heslin MJ, Kane JM, Keedy V, Kim E, Koon H, Mayerson J, McCarter M, McGarry SV, Meyer C, Morris ZS, O'Donnell RJ, Pappo AS, Paz IB, Petersen IA, Pfeifer JD, Riedel RF, Ruo B, Schuetze S, Tap WD, Wayne JD, Bergman MA, Scavone JL. Soft tissue sarcoma, version 2.2018 : Clinical practice guidelines in oncology, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN. 16 (2018) 536 -563.
  • Eng OS, Dumitra S, O'Leary M, Raoof M, Wakabayashi M, Dellinger TH, Han ES, Lee SJ, Paz IB, Lee B. Association of fluid administration with morbidity in cytoreductive surgery with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, JAMA Surgery. 152 (2017) 1156 -1160.
  • Ho B, Lewis A, Paz IB. Laparoscopy can safely be performed in frail patients undergoing colon resection for cancer, American Surgeon. 83 (2017) 1179 -1183.
  • Eng OS, Dumitra S, O'Leary M, Wakabayashi MT, Dellinger T, Han E, Lee S, Paz IB, Singh G, Lee B. Base Excess as a Predictor of Complications in Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy, Annals of Surgical Oncology. 24 (2017) 2707 -2711.
  • Mehren MV, Randall RL, Benjamin RS, Boles S, Bui MM, Conrad EU, Ganjoo KN, George S, Gonzalez RJ, Heslin MJ, Kane JM, Koon H, Mayerson J, McCarter M, McGarry SV, Meyer C, O'Donnell RJ, Pappo AS, Paz IB, Petersen IA, Pfeifer JD, Riedel RF, Schuetze S, Schupak KD, Schwartz HS, Tap WD, Wayne JD, Bergman MA, Scavone J. Soft tissue sarcoma, version 2.2016 : Clinical practice guidelines in oncology, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN. 14 (2016) 758 -786.
  • Wu GX, Ituarte PHG, Paz IB, Kim J, Raz DJ, Kim JY. A Population-Based Examination of the Surgical Outcomes for Patients with Esophageal Sarcoma, Annals of Surgical Oncology. 22 (2015) 1310 -1317.
  • Patel SK, Wong AL, Wong FL, Breen EC, Hurria A, Smith M, Kinjo C, Paz IB, Kruper L, Somlo G, Mortimer JE, Palomares MR, Irwin MR, Bhatia S. Inflammatory Biomarkers, Comorbidity, and Neurocognition in Women With Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer, Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 107 (2015).
  • Ashing K, Serrano M, Weitzel J, Lai L, Paz B, Vargas R. Towards developing a bilingual treatment summary and survivorship care plan responsive to Spanish language preferred breast cancer survivors, Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 8 (2014) 580 -594.
  • Behrendt CE, Tumyan L, Gonser, Shaw, Vora, Paz, Ellenhorn JDI, Yim JH. Evaluation of expert criteria for preoperative magnetic resonance imaging of newly diagnosed breast cancer, Breast. 23 (2014) 341 -345.
  • Mehren MV, Randall RL, Benjamin RS, Boles S, Bui MM, Casper ES, Conrad EU, DeLaney TF, Ganjoo KN, George S, Gonzalez RJ, Heslin MJ, Kane JM, Mayerson J, McGarry SV, Meyer C, O'Donnell RJ, Pappo AS, Paz IB, Pfeifer JD, Riedel RF, Schuetze S, Schupak KD, Schwartz HS, . Tine BAV,  Wayne JD, Bergman MA, Sundar H. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, version 2.2014 : Featured updates to the NCCN Guidelines, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network : JNCCN. 12 (2014) 853 -862.
  • MacDonald DJ, Deri J, Ricker C, Perez MA, Ogaz R, Feldman N, Viveros LA, Paz B, Weitzel JN, Blazer KR. Closing the loop : An interactive action-research conference format for delivering updated medical information while eliciting Latina patient/family experiences and psychosocial needs post-genetic cancer risk assessment, Familial Cancer. 11 (2012) 449 -458.
  • VanderWalde A, Ye W, Frankel P, Asuncion D, Leong L, Luu T, Morgan R, Twardowski P, Koczywas M, Pezner R, Paz IB, Margolin K, Wong J, Doroshow JH, Forman S, Shibata S, Somlo G. Long-Term Survival after High-Dose Chemotherapy Followed by Peripheral Stem Cell Rescue for High-Risk, Locally Advanced/Inflammatory, and Metastatic Breast Cancer, Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. 18 (2012) 1273 -1280.

Ratings & Reviews

Ratings and reviews below are gathered from the Press Ganey Clinician and Group Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CG CAHPS) survey. CG CAHPS is a standardized survey that is used to measure a patient's experience in the physician office setting. Ratings are an average of all responses to questions about a provider's care, with five stars being the highest.
4.9
Provider listen carefully to you
4.9
Show respect for what you say
4.8
Recommend this provider office
4.8
Provider explain in way you understand
4.8
Know important info medical history
4.8
Spend enough time with you
4.8
Rate provider 0-10
02/06/25
Dr. Paz is always attentive and kind. - Verified patient
02/01/25
Good - Verified patient
02/01/25
Good - Verified patient
01/24/25
Very nice and knowledgeable doctor. - Verified patient
01/22/25
I am always happy to be a part of City of Hope patients and feel well taken care of by the doctor the staff and every individual there even the front desk check in with security. Everyone is very happy with their jobs and they show it. - Verified patient