Meet Greg R. Angstreich, MD

Dr. Angstreich is a medical oncologist and hematologist at Keck Medicine of USC, who specializes in the treatment of all blood disorders and cancer types.

Here’s what you won’t find on his resume.

He once dreamed of exploring outer space.

“When I was growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut. I was, and still am, fascinated by outer space. From a really early age, I just had a love for science, whether it was biology, physics, chemistry or astronomy. And that love of science also coalesced with my deep appreciation for medicine and helping people who are ill get better.”

When he’s not working, he enjoys a wide variety of activities.

“I really enjoy spending time with my kids, when they visit California. Traveling, playing tennis and swimming in the ocean are among my favorite pastimes. I also enjoy reading and solving crossword puzzles — I’m a dedicated cruciverbalist!”

On his personal bucket list, there are three places he’d like to go.

“One thing I would like to see is the aurora borealis. I would also like to attend the Olympics and travel to outer space.”

He would consider a career switch with a world-championship athlete.

“If I could trade careers with anyone in the world, I’d choose professional surfer Kelly Slater. He gets to surf every day of his life.”

His favorite book combines several genres.

“My favorite book is ‘1Q84’ by Haruki Murakami. The novel combines suspense, science fiction and an emotional plot with language that is evocative and innovative.”

Getting to know his patients is the most rewarding part of his job.

“I deeply value building relationships with my patients and their families. It’s very rewarding to get to know my patients and understand who they are. I believe this enhances our ability to make good decisions, based on honesty and understanding, about their care. The best part of my job is seeing a patient become cancer-free.”

Leaving no stone unturned is central to his philosophy of care.

“My approach to patient care includes putting the patient’s interests first and leaving no stone unturned. I believe understanding the needs and concerns of my patients is of paramount importance to providing quality care. Equally as important is being an expert in their type of cancer or blood disorder. I evaluate each patient’s scans, pathology reports and medical history — turning over every stone — so that I have all the information about who they are medically, clinically and personally. By building a relationship and having a full picture of their condition, we can decide on the best and most current treatment plan.”

Here’s the advice he would offer to incoming medical students.

“If a medical student is considering specializing in oncology, I would share with them all the advances in cancer treatment that have been truly revolutionary, especially in the last five years. Our field has never been more rewarding.”

The people factor is the best part of working at Keck Medicine.

“What I like best about working at Keck Medicine are the incredibly dedicated people with whom I work. Practicing medicine at an academic medical center gives me the ability to treat patients in a setting with direct ties to clinical research programs, as well as easy access to world-class experts in all fields. In my specialty, it is the quality of the medical team, along with their breadth and depth of experience, that makes the patient care we provide at Keck Medicine unique.”

Offering world-class cancer care close to home is important.

“Our team delivers expert, world-class cancer care to the Newport Beach community. We offer all the resources and innovation available at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the Keck Medicine health system, closer to home in a setting that’s comfortable and convenient.”

View Dr. Angstreich’s full biography and schedule an appointment.

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