Bio


Dr. Anju Goyal is a pediatric hematology oncology fellow physician at Stanford University School of Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago. She then served as an AmeriCorps member with City Year Chicago, fostering her dual interests in community advocacy and education. She went on to receive her medical degree from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles and to complete her pediatrics residency at Stanford University School of Medicine.

During her research time as a pediatric hematology oncology fellow, Dr. Goyal has pursued a Master's degree in the Community Health and Prevention Research Program at Stanford University. She sought this additional research training to learn how to parter effectively with communities to achieve health equity. Specifically, her primary research project has utilized the principles of community based participatory research to partner with a local organization, Jacob's Heart, and to understand the financial burden of childhood cancer for Latinx families. Additionally, she has honed a skill set in medical education and is conducting research on how to promote well being for pediatric hematology oncology fellows.

Clinical Focus


  • Pediatric Hematology
  • Pediatric Oncology Survivorship Care
  • Health Equity
  • Medical Education
  • Pediatric Hematology-Oncology

Academic Appointments


Honors & Awards


  • UCLA Medical Alumni Association Edward A. Langdon Award, Presented to medical students who best demonstrate compassion and humanitarian qualities (2018)
  • David Geffen Scholar Class of 2018, Annual Merit Based Scholarship (2014-2018)
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society, DGSOM at UCLA (2017)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, DGSOM at UCLA (2017)

Professional Education


  • Fellowship: Stanford University Pediatric Hematology Oncology Fellowship (2024) CA
  • Board Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics (2021)
  • Residency: Stanford University Pediatric Residency at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (2021) CA
  • Medical Education: UCLA David Geffen School Of Medicine Registrar (2018) CA
  • Board Certification, American Board of Pediatrics, Pediatrics (2021)
  • Pediatric Residency, Stanford University (2021)
  • MD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2018)
  • BA, University of Chicago, Biology with Specialization in Endocrinology (2012)

All Publications


  • A qualitative study of childhood cancer families' post-treatment needs and the impact of a community-based organization in a rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged, majority Hispanic/Latino region. Pediatric blood & cancer Smith, S. M., Teer, A., Tolamatl Ariceaga, E., Billman, E., Benedict, C., Goyal, A., Pang, E. M., Pecos-Duarte, C., Lewinsohn, R., Smith, M., Boynton, H., Montes, S., Rivera, E., Ramirez, D., Schapira, L. 2023: e30798

    Abstract

    Individual- and population-level socioeconomic disadvantages contribute to unequal outcomes among childhood cancer survivors. Reducing health disparities requires understanding experiences of survivors from historically marginalized communities, including those with non-English language preference.We partnered with a community-based organization (CBO) serving families of children with cancer in a rural region in California with low socioeconomic status and majority Hispanic/Latino (H/L) residents. We interviewed English- and Spanish-speaking adolescent/young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors (≥15 years old, ≥5 years from diagnosis), parents, and CBO staff to evaluate post-treatment needs and impact of CBO support. Data were analyzed qualitatively using applied thematic analysis. Themes were refined through team discussions with our community partners.Twelve AYAs (11 H/L, 11 bilingual), 11 parents (eight H/L, seven non-English preferred), and seven CBO staff (five H/L, five bilingual) participated. AYAs (five female, seven male) were of median (min-max) age 20 (16-32) and 9 (5-19) years post diagnosis; parents (nine female, two male) were age 48 (40-60) and 14 (6-23) years post child's diagnosis. Themes included challenges navigating healthcare, communication barriers among the parent-AYA-clinician triad, and lasting effects of childhood cancer on family dynamics and mental health. Subthemes illustrated that language and rurality may contribute to health disparities. CBO support impacted families by serving as a safety-net, fostering community, and facilitating H/L families' communication.Childhood cancer has long-lasting effects on families, and those with non-English language preference face additional burdens. Community-based support buffers some of the negative effects of childhood cancer and may reduce disparities.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/pbc.30798

    View details for PubMedID 38053230

  • Leveraging a community-academic partnership to evaluate the needs of Latinx AYA cancer survivors Smith, S. M., Teer, A., Ariceaga, E., Billman, E., Goyal, A., Benedict, C., Pecos-Duarte, C., Smith, M., Montes, S., Luna, E., Ramirez, D., Boynton, H., Schapira, L. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2023