Meet Elizabeth Zhang-Velten, MD, PhD

Dr. Zhang-Velten is a radiation oncologist with Keck Medicine of USC who specializes in adult cancers.

She treats patients at Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital. Here’s what you won’t find on her resume. 

The most rewarding part of her job is sharing successes with her patients. 

“I love showing patients the images that show their cancer has shrunk with radiation. It’s one thing to just tell my patients how proud I am of their persistence through therapy. It’s another thing entirely to be able to show them the before and after on their medical imaging.” 

She views patient care as a privilege. 

“The honor of showing up for my patients motivates me to be the best physician I can be every day. Many patients are meeting me in their most vulnerable times. It’s my responsibility and privilege to offer them the same high-quality care that I would want for myself or my family.”  

Patient education is a top priority. 

“I believe in empowering my patients through knowledge. Radiation therapy can understandably seem scary to a lot of people, and I always take the time to answer questions and ensure my patients thoroughly understand the benefits, risks and alternatives. I also encourage my patients to actively participate in their care so we can make decisions that align with their personal values and goals.” 

She’s passionate about enhancing radiation treatments through research. 

“I’m leading a working group of radiation oncologists from Keck Medicine in spatially fractionated radiation therapy (SFRT), which is a technique that incorporates little high-dose spheres of radiation into standard radiation treatment.” 

The advancement that most impacted her field:  

“The development of stereotactic body radiation therapy, or SBRT, changed radiation oncology and cancer care in general by making precise, high-dose sessions possible and allowing patients to receive shorter courses of treatment.” 

She’s optimistic about how innovation will enhance radiation therapy in the near future. 

“I hope that radiation therapy becomes as short as one session for most patients. Currently, there are very few patients who can receive such a short course, but breakthroughs in precision medicine have the potential to get us there.” 

Her message to future radiation oncologists: 

“Radiation oncology is a lesser-known field to many medical students, but it’s a wonderful specialty. I love that it’s an intersection of biology, technology and direct patient care.” 

Why she chose academic medicine: 

“I joined Keck Medicine because of the opportunity to offer my patients state-of-the-art care and access to groundbreaking clinical trials.” 

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