On October 31st the LA Cancer Challenge is making a triumphant return to the UCLA campus once again! We are delighted to share that a dedicated supporter of the Foundation, Dr. Zhaoping Li, Chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition, has accepted our invitation to be LACC Honorary Medical Chair. It is fitting that we begin a new post-pandemic chapter with Dr. Li at the helm; her exceptional commitment to wellness and expertise in nutrition impacts pancreatic cancer survivors every day.
Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD was welcomed into our Foundation family in 2016 when she was awarded a Seed Grant for ‘Nutrition Support to improve outcomes in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.’ It was the first study of its kind to be funded by the Hirshberg Foundation. A couple years later she would also launch a medically supervised study investigating how dietary counseling, with and without nutrition supplementation, can affect outcomes of non-surgical patients. Dr. Li’s research and position at UCLA continue to enrich our partnership and effectively serve patients in new ways.
In 2017, Dr. Li presented for the first time at the Hirshberg Foundation’s Symposium for Pancreatic Cancer. Her unique insight made a memorable impression on patients. She was immediately a crowd favorite, sharing with patients how to achieve optimal nutrition. Not long after, the Hirshberg Foundation hosted a hands-on Cooking Healthy class, and Dr. Li answered the call once again. She patiently led survivors and caregivers through a fun cooking experience sharing nutritious recipes and cooking tips. Dr. Li continues to be instrumental in educating patients as they find themselves balancing the complexities of a changing diet during and after treatment.
Whether she’s discussing nutrition and pancreatic cancer at the 2019 Symposium or hosting our very first webinar during the pandemic, ’Eat & Live Well During the Corona Virus,’ Dr. Li always has patients’ best interests at heart. Nutrition can be a contentious topic for many patients navigating side effects, but Dr. Li’s compassion, knowledge and warm personality make each event outshine the last. We are thrilled to welcome her as LACC Honorary Medical Chair and grateful to have her walk and fundraise on the UCLA Health Sciences Team!
More about Dr. Zhaoping Li
Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD is Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Li completed her MD and PhD in Physiology at Bejing University. Dr. Li has been a faculty member at UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Health Care System since 1997. Dr. Li is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Physician Nutrition Specialist. Dr. Li has been a principal investigator for over 100 investigator-initiated NIH and industry-sponsored clinical trials; she has published over 200 peer-reviewed scientific papers and co-authored two books focusing on nutrition and nutrition-related to oncology.