I. Benjamin Paz, M.D.

The main objective of cancer treatment is to help people to live and achieve their dreams.
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
Duarte Cancer Center
Duarte, CA 91010
South Pasadena
South Pasadena, CA 91030
Education & Experience
American Board of Surgery
1985, Masters in General Surgery, with honors, Universidad Catolica de Chile
1981, M.D., with honors, Universidad de Chile
1990-1993, Fellow, Surgical oncology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
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
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.