MD, MPH
Professor, Department of Medicine
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Prevention and Control
Gastrointestinal Oncology Programs
Area of Interest
I am a gastrointestinal medical oncologist and clinical researcher. My primary academic focus is on improving the quality of cancer care delivery. I approach this goal through health services research and through leading value and quality initiatives at the UNC Health System.
I am also a clinical trialist and have served as the principal investigator on a number of industry, cooperative and investigator initiated clinical trials. I am an active member the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, serving on multiple Alliance committees (GI Committee and the Alliance-ACS Cancer Care Delivery Research Committee), the GI Colon Cancer Trials Working Group, and as the Alliance Representative to the Colon Task Force of the NCI GI Steering Committee. In addition to mentoring multiple trainees and junior faculty, I am the Program Director of our Paul Calabresi K12 institutional career development award.
Awards and Honors
- UNC Health Care and Faculty Physicians Carolina Care Excellence Leader, 2016-2019
- Recognition, UpToDate Best Authors in Oncology, 2017
- Best Doctors in America, 2013-2018
- America’s Top Doctor, Castle Connolly/ US News & World Report, 2010
News and Stories

Sanoff offers perspective on a promising rectal cancer study in the New England Journal of Medicine
Hanna K. Sanoff, MD, MPH, is the author of a viewpoint that provides a perspective on the evolving treatment of rectal cancer in light of findings from a phase II clinical trial using the drug dostarlimab.

COVID-19 safeguard makes a difficult conversation even harder
In an essay published in JAMA Oncology, Hanna Sanoff, MD, MPH, said she was unprepared to discuss death and dying with patients via web conferencing or the telephone.

Sanoff co-authors viewpoint in JAMA Oncology
The viewpoint detailed strategies for expanding the concept of precision oncology beyond tailored drug delivery to include other aspects of health care.