Dr. Leonard S. Sender, Pediatric Oncology

Dr. Leonard S. Sender, Pediatric Oncology

  • Leonard S Sender MD
  • Specialty: Oncology
  • Board Certified: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Hematology, Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Pediatrics

As a pioneer in oncology treatment for more than 20 years, Dr. Sender specializes in treating adolescents and young adults (AYAs), a largely unknown and underrepresented group in the war on cancer. His team offers a comprehensive approach toward AYA patient cancer care and survivorship that considers their unique challenges, including preservation of fertility, management of acute and chronic effects of treatment, and the psychosocial impact.

As an innovative leader in research, Dr. Sender is conducting extensive studies to improve outcomes and quality of life for AYAs. His research includes epidemiological components (incidence, prevalence, root causes), biological factors (genetic or cellular differences), the psychosocial impact and long-term cancer survivorship. He serves on the Adolescent and Young Adult Committee for Children’s Oncology Group, a cooperative group to accelerate research for childhood and adolescent cancer. Dr. Sender is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. A passionate advocate for AYA’s with cancer, Dr. Sender serves as chairman of the organization Stupid Cancer. He is a founding member and chairman of SeventyK.org.

Dedicated to clinical excellence, Dr. Sender is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology. Prior to joining CHOC Children’s, Dr. Sender served as an adult hematologist/oncologist at the University of Kentucky where he was a faculty member in the School of Medicine. Dr. Sender conducted his pediatrics internship and residency at UC Irvine Medical Center. He completed part of his pediatrics hematology/oncology subspecialty training at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He received medical education in South Africa.

Dr. Sender is consistently voted as one of Orange County’s Top Doctors by the Orange County Medical Association.

Clinical Interests

Adolescent and young adult cancers

Research Focus

Genomic cancer research

Leonard S Sender MD is on staff at CHOC Hospital in Orange .

Education

  • Medical School
    Doctor of Medicine University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,7 York Road, Parktown, 2193, South Africa
  • Internship
    Department of Pediatrics University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA
  • Residency – Pediatrics
    University of California, Irvine Medical Center,Orange, CA
  • Chief Resident, Pediatrics
    Chief Resident, Pediatrics University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA
  • Fellowship
    Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Including Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Transplantation Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Administrative Appointments

  • Deputy Director, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine
  • Director, Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Programs, CHOC Children’s
  • Director, Clinical Oncology Services, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine
  • Oncology, CHOC Children’s Specialists
  • Division Chief, Pediatric Oncology, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine
  • Medical Director, Blood and Marrow Clinical Laboratory, CHOC Children’s
  • Medical Director, Cancer Research Laboratory, CHOC Children’s
  • Medical Director, Cord Blood Bank, CHOC Children’s
  • Medical Director, National Marrow Donor Program Cord Blood Bank, CHOC Children’s
  • Principal Investigator, Children’s Oncology Group, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine
  • Principal Investigator, Cord Blood, National Marrow Donor Program, CHOC Children’s

Honors and Awards

  • Orange County Medical Association’s Physicians of Excellence
    Multiple years

Professional Organizations

  • American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • American Medical Association
  • American Society of Blood and Marrow Transplantation
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology
  • American Society of Hematology

Clinical Trials

Oncology Clinical Trials Pilot Project: Harnessing big data for new ideas in pediatric, adolescent and young adult oncology

Clinical Trial Protocol # 160778 | Adolescents and Young Adults, oncology | Contact (714) 509-8646

Oncology Clinical Trial: Fertility Preservation in Women and Girls with Cancer

Clinical Trial | Adolescents and Young Adults, Fertility, Survivorship | Contact (714) 509-8646

Oncology Clinical Trial: Molecular Profiles of Refractory and Recurrent Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancers

Clinical Trial | Adolescents and Young Adults, Biology/Genomics, Brain Tumor/Central Nervous System/Neuro-Oncology, Leukemia/Lymphoma, Recurrent/Refractory Cancer, Solid Tumors | Contact (714) 509-8646

Videos

Dr. Leonard Sender - cancer research
Hyundai Donation – Hope on Wheels

Hope On Wheels & Hyundai Motor America presented the second installment of a $10 million gift to CHOC to fund groundbreaking cancer research.

Dr. Sender speaking about Clinical Trials
Clinical Trials: Dr. Sender

Dr. Leonard Sender, Medical Director, Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC, describes for us the three phases of clinical trials.

Podcasts

Spyro Mousses, Ph.D., Dr. Leonard Sender, and Dr. Anthony Chang in Seacrest Studio
Impact of Precision Medicine on Oncology Field

Precision medicine is changing how physicians think about treatments, with great advances coming out of the oncology field. In podcast No. 42, three CHOC experts and speakers at the upcoming Peds2040 conference.

Health Topics

Cancer patient sitting on her hospital bed
Precision Medicine and Pediatric Cancer Treatment

Precision medicine refers to the tailoring of medical treatment to the individual genetic characteristics of each patient’s disease.

Teen girl giving herself a blood test
The Role of Teens in their Health Care Decisions

Many teens are able to manage much of their own health care, from giving themselves injections to taking medications. They can speak to their physician and research on their own.

Smiling teen cancer patients standing in the hospital hallway with IV poles
Teen Cancer Patient: Treatment & Support At CHOC

Teen and young adult cancer patients face unique challenges when dealing with cancer. Learn about treatment approaches and support resources for teenagers at CHOC