Maria Nelson

Maria Nelson, MD, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery and Interim Chief of the Division of Breast, Endocrine and Soft Tissue Surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She specializes in breast surgical oncology and women’s health, with clinical expertise in benign and malignant breast diseases.

• Education: Master’s and medical degrees from University of South Dakota; General Surgery residency at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital; Breast Surgical Oncology fellowship at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

Her research focuses on breast imaging diagnostics and decision-making complexities in breast cancer care. Recent publications analyze neoadjuvant chemotherapy outcomes, germline genetic testing integration, and MRI limitations in predicting cancer responses. Key subfields include Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy, Breast Cancer Risk Assessment, and Pathologic Response Analysis.

• Scientific Awards: Lynne Sage Breast Cancer Symposium Achievement Award (2013), Dr. Robert and Ruth Quinn Scholarship (2007), University of South Dakota Medical School Scholarship (2006), American Society of Hematology Student Research Award (2005).

Dr. Nelson directs the USC Breast Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program and practices at Keck Medicine of USC, affiliated with Keck Hospital, USC Norris Cancer Hospital, and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. She accepts new patients and offers telehealth appointments.