Faculty Profile

After completing her UCLA OBGYN fellowship in gynecologic oncology, Dr. Melissa Hodeib spent six years practicing as a gynecologic oncologist at Kaiser Permanente in Riverside County, California. But ultimately, she decided she missed academia. “I really enjoy participating in the groundbreaking medicine that takes place at an outstanding research institution, and being able to give back by teaching fellows, residents, and medical students,” she says. “I still had a lot of mentors at UCLA, and I was drawn to return.”  

Dr. Hodeib joined the UCLA OBGYN faculty last October as an assistant clinical professor. A gynecological oncologist who is double board-certified in OBGYN and GynOnc, she provides comprehensive care to patients with all types of gynecologic malignancies, as well as caring for individuals with genetic conditions that increase their risk of these malignancies. She also treats patients with novel therapeutics as part of the department’s large clinical trials program.  

After earning her DO degree at Western University of Health Sciences, Dr. Hodeib did her residency at UC Irvine, then came to UCLA for her fellowship. “The fellowship allowed us to provide full-scope care and coverage to patients of all socioeconomic and geographic backgrounds, which was really valuable,” she recalls. 

At UCLA OBGYN, Dr. Hodeib will pursue clinical and research interests in areas that include early detection and prevention of gynecologic malignancies, health care disparities, and improving care in underserved patient populations. “We know that among non-white patients, morbidity and mortality from these diseases is much worse, so it’s important to identify barriers that result in delays of care and compromise survival,” says Dr. Hodeib, who has also focused on improving quality of life for cancer survivors. 

Dr. Hodeib was born and raised in Southern California by parents who emigrated from the Middle East. She decided to pursue a career in gynecologic oncology after her grandmother was diagnosed with uterine cancer. “That ignited a passion in me to make an impact in the field,” Dr. Hodeib says. “I’m grateful to have that opportunity at UCLA, being part of a department that provides full-scope women’s health care for patients from diagnosis through the rest of their lives.”