Dr. Arpita Desai is an Assistant Professor and Medical Director of the GU medical oncology program at UCSF. She specializes in caring for patients with genitourinary cancers (cancers of the genital or urinary organs). She particularly focuses on kidney and prostate cancers.

Desai is interested in developing novel imaging and treatment strategies for kidney cell cancer, with the goal of improving outcomes by personalizing therapy. Her most recent research focused on incorporating functional and molecular imaging to personalize treatment in genitourinary cancers.

Desai earned her medical degree at Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in India. She completed a residency in internal medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, where she served as chief resident. She completed a fellowship in medical oncology at the University of Chicago.

Desai is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and American Association for Cancer Research. She has received a Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO Merit Award and Dexter S. Levy Memorial Award for her commitment to teaching and excellence in patient care.