Cheryl Olson, MD

General surgeon, Cheryl Olson, MD, joined Surgical Associates of La Jolla in 1998. While on staff at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, Dr. Olson has been a leader in the community serving as section chief in general surgery, on the Ximed board of directors, as well as president of both the San Diego Society of General Surgeons and the San Diego Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Exemplifying the quality of her care and the utmost respect of her peers, she has been selected as one of "San Diego’s Top doctors” five times in the last 8 years.

During her medical education, she served a two-year tour aboard the USS Simon Lake during Desert Storm and shares a deep commitment to military families and retirees.

Dr. Olson’s expertise and care of cancer patients includes state-of-the-art procedures for treating breast cancer including ultrasound guided biopsy, breast conservation and the use of accelerated partial breast radiation catheters. All care she provides is highly specialized and tailored to the unique needs of the patient, which may include nipple and areolar sparing mastectomy followed by immediate reconstruction which are coordinated with an experienced plastic surgeon. Dr. Olson is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the primary leadership organization for general surgeons who treat patients with breast disease.

In practice, Dr. Olson has a special interest in treating patients with benign and malignant diseases with the most advanced minimally invasive techniques. This includes laparoscopic procedures for cholecystectomy, hernia repair, and removal of portions of the colon. She has expertise in use of the robotic surgery system for the more complex surgical procedures. Dr. Olson is the first general surgeon at Scripps to become skilled in the use of the robotic surgical system and uses it regularly to perform complex colon resections, hiatal hernia repair and adrenalectomy. In 2012 she was the first surgeon at any Scripps hospital to perform a robotic single incision cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal).

Dr. Olson performs cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC (heated intraoperative chemotherapy) as part of a multidisciplinary program for the treatment of peritoneal surface malgnancy or carcinomatosis.

The practice of medicine and surgery is her passion. Dr. Olson considers it a privilege and pleasure to provide her patients with the highest level of coordinated care for any surgical need. She strives to treat each patient with the kindness and expertise she would want for her own family.