A nationally-recognized expert, Dr. Leonard Sender serves as the director of the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program at CHOC Children’s, leading one of the nation’s largest programs focused on the unique needs of cancer patients ages 15-26 years old.
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
Locations
Outpatient Clinic, Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s
1201 W. La Veta Ave.
Orange, CA 92868
phone: 714-509-8636
fax: 714-509-8699
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, Hyundai Cancer Institute, 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
