Mayuko Sakae, M.D.
- Palliative Medicine
- Pediatric Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Supportive Care Medicine
It is such a pleasure for me to work at City of Hope.
Mayuko Sakae, M.D., is a world-class palliative care and pain management physician with global experience dating back more than two decades.
She has tended to the sick at the Mother Teresa's Home for the Dying in Calcutta, India, cared for leprosy and malaria patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, handled culturally sensitive cases for Israel's Jewish and arab patients, and alleviated pain for adults and children in renowned facilities across the U.S.
“Initially, I aspired to become a physician with a dream to work in the international health field,” she said, “because I am deeply drawn to humanitarian work to help relieve people from any suffering and painful symptoms.”
Dr. Sakae, a Johns Hopkins University graduate, earned her medical degree at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel, in collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center. After completing a pediatrics internship and residency at University of Florida College of Medicine — Jacksonville, Dr. Sakae turned to palliative care, earning a dual-board fellowship in both pain medicine and palliative medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Additionally, she studied Leprosy Management and Rehabilitation Training at the All Africa Leprosy, Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Training Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dr. Sakae is very passionate about integrative medicine by combining the conventional western medicine with eastern medicine and psycho-spiritual treatments such as Acupuncture, hypnotherapy, meditation and herbal medicine as well as mechanical balance restoration and energy treatments: chiropractics, ortho-bionomy, kinesiology.
Dr. Sakae is eager to bring her deep expertise in pain medicine and palliative care to City of Hope. “It is a privilege for me to contribute to the high quality patient care in City of Hope's Department of Supportive Care Medicine, which is well-integrated with pain medicine.”
Location
Duarte Cancer Center
Duarte, CA 91010
Education & Experience
Board Certifications
- American Board of Pediatrics, Certified
- American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Certified
- American Board of Pain Medicine, Eligible
Degrees
- 1999-2004, Doctor of Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Medical School for International Health and Medicine in Collaboration with Columbia University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
- 1994-1998, Bachelor of Arts, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
Fellowship
- 2009-2010, Research Fellow, Chief Fellow, Pain Medicine and Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
- 2008-2010, Fellow, Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Residency
- 2005-2008, Resident, Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine — Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
Internship
- 2004-2005, Intern, Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine — Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
Professional Experience
- 2026-present, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, Division of Supportive Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, California
- 2019-2026, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Supportive Care Medicine, Division of Supportive Medicine, City of Hope, Duarte, California
- 2017-2019, Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Palliative Medicine & Supportive Care Service, Keck Hospital of USC, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- 2010-2017, Metropolitan Jewish Hospice Co-chair, Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Care Committee, New York, NY
- 2013-2017, Palliative Medicine Consultant, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
- 2013-2017, Inpatient Hospice Unit Medical Director, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
- 2010-2013, Hospice Medical Director, Nassau-Queens Home Hospice Team, Queens, NY
Awards & Memberships
Awards
2022, Top Pediatrician, Find a Top Doctor
2021, Top Pediatrician, Find A Top Doctor
2019, Top Pain Management Specialist, Find A Top Doctor
Memberships
2004-present, Member, American Academy of Pediatrics
2008-present, Member, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine
2008-2012, Member, American Pain Society
2008-2011, Member, International Association for Study of Pain
2009-2011, Member, International Children’s Palliative Care Network
Publications
- Abe T, Sakae M, Hanaka S. Reye Syndrome and Drug-Induced Encephalopathy. Clinical Neurology. 2003;43:872-876
- Sakae M, Margolith A. Dermatology Chapter. In: Pediatric Emergency Medicine Manual. Luten R, Hendry H, Joseph M, McIntosh M, ed. University of Florida Jacksonville. Jacksonville, FL, July, 2005
- Layman-Goldstein M, Sakae M. Knowing the Child Before You. In: Coyle N, Ferrell BR, ed. Textbook of Palliative Nursing 3rd Edition, Oxford Press, March, 2010
- Essandoh S, Sakae M, Miller J, Glare PA. A cautionary tale from critical care: resolution of myoclonus after fentanyl rotation to hydromorphone. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2010 Nov;40(5):e4-6.
- Sakae M, Essandoh S, Hsu M, Setton J, Zhang Z, Lee N. Fatigue Associated with Radiotherapy: Short and Long-term Fatigue Level Trajectories in Patients with Oropharyngeal Cancer. International Journal of Radiation Oncology. 2011;Volume 81,Issue 2;S672–S673
- Spratt DE, Sakae M, Riaz N, LokBH, Essandoh S, Shu M, Zang Z, Lee N. Time course and predictors for cancer-related fatigue in a series of oropharyngeal cancer The Oncologist. 2012 Apr; 17(4): 569–576.
- Sakae, M, Simbolon, Y, Anderson, C, et al. Screening Tool to Assess Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Needs and Referral Timing For Pediatric, Adolescent & Young Adult Oncology Patients. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2023; 31(399): 194-195
C. Anderson , J. Chan , M. Sakae, et al. Development of a Screening Tool to Assess and Quantitate the Interdisciplinary Care Needs of Pediatric, Adolescent & Young Adult Cancer Patients in an Academic Cancer Center. 2023; 37(1): 59-60
ABSTRACTS
- Sakae M, Kearney J, Enora K, Cheung NK, Obbens E. Anti-GD2 Antibody Induced Pain in Pediatric Neuroblastoma Patients. International Symposium of Pediatric Pain, March 2010, Acapulco, Mexico
- Sakae M, Eilers D, Stewart M, Moryl N. Care Giver Screening for Elderly Abuse in Cancer patients - retrospective study. 6th Research Congress of the European Association of Palliative Care, Glasgow, UK, June 2010