Medical Student
University of California, San Francisco
Pearl Doan is a medical student at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), with a strong academic and research focus in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. Her passion for ENT stems from a deep interest in the intersection of surgical innovation, patient-centered care, and translational research. Pearl conducts clinical research under Dr. Jolie Chang, studying hypoglossal nerve stimulation outcomes and decision-making for obstructive sleep apnea patients. She also works under Dr. Nicole Jiam at UCSF, contributing to projects studying how artificial intelligence models can optimize referral triaging for head and neck cancer patients. Before medical school, Pearl was an National Institutes of Health Post-Baccalaureate Fellow studying alternative HIV vaccine candidates. Outside of research, Pearl is dedicated to mentorship and community engagement, particularly in promoting increased healthcare access for underserved communities through coordinating free head and neck cancer screening events. She is also interested in the intersection of ENT with adjacent disciplines such as digital health innovation. Pearl looks forward to continuing to contribute to the field of Otolaryngology through collaborative research, clinical excellence, and advocacy.