Soonmee Cha

Soonmee Cha, MD, is a Professor In Residence in Radiology and Neurological Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She serves as the Vice Chair for Education in Radiology and Program Director of the Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program. Her clinical and research focus centers on brain tumor imaging, particularly leveraging quantitative MRI techniques like perfusion MRI, diffusion-weighted imaging, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment monitoring in gliomas and other brain tumors.

Dr. Cha completed her medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine (1991), followed by residency in Diagnostic Radiology at North Shore University Hospital (Cornell University) and a Neuroradiology fellowship at New York University Medical Center (1998). She has held NIH grants as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator, and her work has resulted in over 87 peer-reviewed articles, 4 book chapters, and numerous awards, including the RSNA Certificate of Merit (1994–1995), the ASNR Outstanding Presentation Award (2000), and recognition as a 'Best Doctor' (2009–2013).

Her research emphasizes identifying non-invasive biomarkers for prognosis and therapy response in brain tumors, with contributions to spatial modeling of brain metastases and advancements in neuroimaging standards. Dr. Cha also leads educational initiatives in radiology, including UCSF’s residency program ranked #1 nationally.

Her honors include the Hideyo Minagi Outstanding Teacher Award (2010, 2013) and Excellence and Innovation in Graduate Medical Education Award (2014). She is a prominent figure in neuroradiology, specializing in glioblastoma, primary cerebral lymphoma, and molecular imaging.