Why I Chose Oncology: Dr. Dongyan Liu

Dr. Dongyan Liu joined GBMC’s Sandra & Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute as a medical oncologist in 2025. She brings years of experience and a personalized approach to caring for her patients. 

Initially, Dr. Liu dedicated her career to clinical research in nephrology, earning her MD and PhD as she studied kidney disease and the molecular mechanisms that created pathways for treatment. When a fellowship brought her to Johns Hopkins University, she felt very much at home, having come from Peking Union Medical College and Hospital, a leading institute in China that was modeled, a century ago, on the Hopkins combination of patient care and research. 

When Dr. Liu completed a hematology/oncology fellowship program, she was inspired by what she found. “There has been a lot of advancement in cancer treatment,” she explains. “We have a better understanding of the disease. 

“We have much better options in the targeted treatment and immunotherapy we can provide now than in the past.” 

To determine the best plan of care, “I treat patients as a whole person, listening to their thoughts and stories to better understand them and provide personalized treatment.” Having started out as a research clinician, Dr. Liu is prepared for the constant study required to remain current as cancer research deepens understanding of the disease and new treatments emerge. She finds the greatest satisfaction in the relationships she and the team at the Berman Cancer Institute build with their patients. 

The result is a truly patient-centered approach to cancer care. “We work side-by-side with our patients to either conquer or deal with the condition,” she explains. “Our patients are great. I learn from them, as well.”