Richard Essner, MD

Richard Essner, MD

Surgical Oncology

Accepting New Patients

About Richard Essner, MD, FACS 

Certified by the American Board of Surgery, Richard Essner, MD is a Surgical Oncologist, Professor of Surgery, Director of Surgical Oncology, and the Co-Director of the Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology Research Program at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute. His primary focus is on complex surgical oncology, particularly in patients with melanoma and other cutaneous (skin) cancers, head and neck tumors, and reconstructive surgeries.  

Dr. Essner earned his medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, then moved to Florida to complete his internship at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. He has completed two residencies; one at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and the other at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. He has also completed two surgical oncology fellowships, one at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles and the other at the Saint John’s Cancer Institute.  

Dr. Essner has published extensively in the National Library of Medicine, and his translational research focuses on mechanisms of metastases in melanoma and other skin malignancies.  

He is associated with Cedars-Sinai, and his affiliations include the Cancer Institute (Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute), the Sarcoma Program, and the Department of Surgery.  

Richard Essner

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Richard Essner, MD, FACS
Hematology/Oncology Clinic

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Hematology/Oncology
01 / 02

Medical Service

Surgical Specialties

Locations

2121 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404

Education

Medical School
Emory University School of Medicine – Atlanta, GA

Internship
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine – Miami, FL

Residency
University of North Carolina School of Medicine – Chapel Hill, NC

Fellowship
UCLA Geffen School of Medicine – Los Angeles, CA

Reviews

At Providence, we’re dedicated to providing you quality, personalized health care. We are constantly striving to optimize your experience.

As part of ensuring you have a positive experience with Providence, our online provider directory includes ratings and patient comments for select providers. More about our survey.

  • 4.9
  • 175 Reviews
  • 210 Comments
  • 4.71
06/16/2025

Very professional

Providence Patient
  • 5
06/14/2025

I'm so grateful that the surgeon performed surgery Remind me to keep living longer

Providence Patient
  • 5
06/14/2025

It's all good

Providence Patient
  • 4.89
06/12/2025

All good

Providence Patient
  • 5
06/09/2025

The best

Providence Patient
  • 5
06/09/2025

Are extremely confident and competent, friendly and professional. I feel that my health is their top priority during the day. They make you feel like you are their only patient although you know they are extremely busy because he is such an important medical professional.

Providence Patient
  • 5
06/02/2025

I have had a great experience will all of the care providers at Providence.

Providence Patient
  • 5
05/31/2025

I always enjoy the time spent with my provider

Providence Patient
  • 5
05/24/2025

Dr. Essner was previously my surgeon for recurring melanoma. My last operation was in 2015. I recently contracted him to ask his opinion about something on my recent PET scan. He was very helpful and ordered a CT scan so we could get more information on the issue. My experiences with Dr Essner have always been good and he is a fantastic surgeon.

Providence Patient
  • 5
05/05/2025

Dr. Essner is very good! He has taken great care of me since my melanoma surgery!

Providence Patient