A nationally-recognized expert, Dr. Leonard Senders serves as the director of the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Programs at CHOC Children’s, leading one of the nation’s largest programs focused on the unique needs of cancer patients ages 15-39 years old.

As a pioneer in oncology treatment for more than 20 years, Dr. Sender specializes in treating adolescents and young adults (AYAs), a largely unknown and underrepresented group in the war on cancer. His team offers a comprehensive approach toward AYA patient cancer care and survivorship that considers their unique challenges, including preservation of fertility, management of acute and chronic effects of treatment, and the psychosocial impact.

As an innovative leader in research, Dr. Sender is conducting extensive studies to improve outcomes and quality of life for AYAs. His research includes epidemiological components (incidence, prevalence, root causes), biological factors (genetic or cellular differences), the psychosocial impact and long-term cancer survivorship. He serves on the Adolescent and Young Adult Committee for Children’s Oncology Group, a cooperative group to accelerate research for childhood and adolescent cancer. Dr. Sender is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. A passionate advocate for AYA’s with cancer, Dr. Sender serves as chairman of the LIVESTRONG Young Adult Alliance Cancer Centers Working Group, chairman of the I’m Too Young for This foundation, and is a founding member and chairman of SeventyK.org.

Dedicated to clinical excellence, Dr. Sender is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric hematology/oncology. Prior to joining CHOC Children’s, Dr. Sender served as an adult hematologist/oncologist at the University of Kentucky where he was a faculty member in the School of Medicine. Dr. Sender conducted his pediatrics internship and residency at UC Irvine Medical Center. He completed part of his pediatrics hematology/oncology subspecialty training at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He received medical education in South Africa.

Dr. Sender is consistently voted as one of Orange County’s Top Doctors by the Orange County Medical Association.