Following an internal medicine residency at USA Health and a three-year oncology fellowship at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI), Daisy E. Escobar, M.D. joins the cancer center as a medical oncologist and hematologist. Additionally, Escobar is serving as assistant professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Clinical Oncology at the MCI.

Prior to entering her residency, Escobar worked in clinical trials at the MCI, focusing on gynecologic oncology. The opportunity to learn about clinical research deeply influenced Escobar’s decision to stay within the university’s health system for her residency and fellowship, as she was able to offer hope to patients and be a part of a field where research is transforming lives.

As the region’s only academic cancer research and treatment center, MCI conducts phase 1 clinical trials and hands-on research – all under one roof. Coupled with innovative technology, the institute continues to seek new medical breakthroughs that translate into novel diagnostics for early cancer detection and life-saving treatments for cancer patients.

“Working in an academic health system allows me the ability to teach, mentor and conduct research, help to advance the field and support the next generation of professionals, and create a ripple effect that extends my impact beyond my immediate practice,” said Escobar. In addition, the ability to provide representation as a Hispanic female was a meaningful part of her decision to stay at the MCI.

Escobar said being able to offer hope and support to patients during times of grief and uncertainty is her favorite and most rewarding part of her job. “We are not just treating illnesses but also making the journey more bearable and hopeful for those facing some of the toughest times in their lives,” Escobar said.

During her residency and fellowship, Escobar served as the appointed residency representative for the Graduate Medical Education Committee. She was the vice chair for the House Staff Council, a co-chief medical oncology and hematology fellow and the winner of the Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute and Travel award in 2023.

Escobar attended medical school at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine in Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Prior to residency, she completed a pre-internship program at Sound Shore Medical Center of Westchester in New Rochelle, New York.

Escobar’s husband, Jose Sanchez, M.D., also works within USA Health as a neuromuscular neurologist and an assistant professor of neurology. She said the support and resources provided to her husband are unmatched in the area and is another driving factor influencing Escobar to stay within the health system.

To learn more about MCI and USA Health’s academic health system, visit usahealthsystem.com.