Jonathan Berek

Jonathan Samuel Berek, MD, MMSc (born April 21, 1948) is the Laurie Kraus Lacob Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, Founding Director of the Stanford Women's Cancer Center, and Senior Advisor for the Stanford Cancer Institute. He is also the former Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford (2005-2012). Prior to joining the faculty at Stanford in 2005, he was Professor at the UCLA School of Medicine.

Additionally, Berek is a documentary film director and producer, Director of MedArts Films, and founder of the Under One Umbrella annual fundraising gala. He has received numerous honors, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Gynecologic Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society. In 2017, Dr. Berek was selected as a Fellow in the Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute.

Personal life Jonathan S. Berek was born in Sioux City, Iowa, in St. Monica’s Home, then adopted by Samual I. and Janet Graetz Berek and raised in a family with his adopted sister Joyce in Fremont, Nebraska. The two have three children—Jonathan Micah Berek (1975), James Samuel Berek (1979), Jessica Evelyn Berek Reilly (1988)—and two grandchildren—Fiona Berek (2004) and Maclay Berek (2010).

Dr. Berek's biological heritage is Helen Mucha Winberg Porter (maternal—Eastern European); Everett Osterholt (paternal—German-Irish); Tasha Zemrus, MD (first cousin); and Alphones Mucha (distant cousin). He is the recent past Chair of the Women’s Cancer Committee of the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO), and he contributed to the FIGO staging systems for ovarian, fallopian tube, peritoneal, cervical, uterine, and vulvar cancers. Dr. Berek received numerous grants to support his laboratory and clinical research.

Health Communication Dr. Berek founded the Stanford Health Communication Initiative in 2017 and serves as its Executive Director. He is also the Faculty Director of Health Communication in the Stanford Center for Health Education. Dr. Berek spoke about high stakes communication in medical settings and his work as a storyteller for the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast on February 19th, 2026.

Research Symposium On Friday, September 12th, 2025, the Stanford Cancer Institute and the Stanford Center for Continuing Medical Education held a research symposium on gynecologic oncology in honor of Dr. Jonathan Berek. The event served as an update on the latest scientific advances in gynecologic oncology, gathering physicians and scientists from all around the world to present emerging research and advances, focusing most specifically on gynecologic and breast cancer. Topics discussed at the symposium included genetic testing, immunotherapy, organoid modeling, computational biology, and novel clinical trial data. One of the featured guest speakers was Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi.

Filmography

Documentary Short Films (Director)

Embracing the Challenge (2013) I Can Picture You (2014) Advances in Research (2016) Survivors (2016) Cesarean Hysterectomy—Prevention of Maternal Hemorrhage (2016) Legacy of Hope: Nothing Is Worth More than This Day (2017) Gilogene (2019) Discovery & Hope (2019) Research Progress in Women’s Cancer (2020) Women, Living with Cancer (2022) Cancer Screening in Sweden (2023) Discover Stanford DCI (2024) Tribute to Laurie (2025) Street Crisis Response Teams of San Francisco (2026) – to be released

Documentary Short Films (Producer)

In Some Dark Valley – The Testimony of Reverend Brand (2026) – to be released

Documentary Series (Director)

Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute (2014-2024) – 3 episodes Mindset (2020) – 8 episodes Common Health Conditions (2021) – 127 episodes Mindset Yoga (2024) – 8 episodes – to be released

Trailers (Director)

Mindset (2020)

Philanthropy and Involvement with Under One Umbrella In 2009, Dr. Berek helped to found the Under One Umbrella charity fundraiser and annual gala, with the main goal of encouraging and supporting the work of the Stanford Women's Cancer Center. The Center’s programming is devoted to the search for better means for prevention, early detection, and treatment for women’s cancers through innovative research that leads to fundamental discoveries. Nicole Kidman, a long-time friend of Dr. Berek, serves as an Honorary Chair of the Under One Umbrella steering committee, and has supported and served in her role since the fundraiser’s inception in 2009. Nicole Kidman was joined by Trisha Yearwood as Honorary Co-Chair in 2012. Under One Umbrella philanthropy efforts have generated substantial support for innovative research programs in women’s cancer via concerts headlined by celebrities, including Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Garth Brooks, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Wilson Phillips, Darlene Love, and Harry Connick Jr.

Under One Umbrella has raised over $75 million in total since its inception. The gala raised over $2.7 million in 2025 alone.

Notable Honors and Awards For his research and charitable contributions to the field of gynecologic oncology and obstetrics research throughout his career, Dr. Berek has received myriad honors and awards.

Most Notable Recognitions

(2004) Sherman Mellinkoff Faculty Award, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2010) Recipient, John C. Fremont Pathfinder Award, John C. Fremont Pathfinder Award (2012- present) Laurie Kraus Lacob Endowed Professorship, Stanford University School of Medicine (2020) Lifetime Achievement Award, American Cancer Society (2023) Lifetime Achievement Award, International Gynecologic Cancer Society (2024) Endowed Fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology in honor of Dr. Jonathan S. Berek, Stanford Division of Gynecologic Oncology (2025) President, Stanford University Phi Beta Kappa, Stanford University Beta Chapter (2025) 1st Stanford Gynecologic Research Symposium in honor of Dr. Jonathan S. Berek, Stanford Cancer Institute & Stanford Division of Gynecologic Oncology

Other Awards and Recognitions

(1965-1966) American Field Service Scholarship, American Field Service (1967-1970) Dean’s List, Brown University (1967-1970) William S. Cherry, Jr. Scholar, Brown University (1972) Sigma Xi, Brown University (1975) Graduation with Honors, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1975) Koennecke Award in Gynecology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1975) Alpha Omega Alpha, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1975) Phi Beta Kappa, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (1978-1979) Administrative Chief Resident, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Harvard Medical School (1985, 1987, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2004) Excellence in Teaching Award, UCLA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1987) President’s Award, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (1989) Who’s Who in the West, Who’s Who (1990, 1997) America’s 400 Best Cancer Specialists, Good Housekeeping Magazine (1991) President, Western Association of Gynecologic Oncologists (1991-1992) Bethesda II Committee, National Institutes of Health (1992-2001) Bethesda III Committee, National Institutes of Health (1992-2004) Best Doctors in America, The Best Doctors in America (1992-2015) Gynecology & Gynecologic Oncology, America’s Best Doctors (1993) American Men and Women of Science, American Men and Women of Science (1993) Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who (1994) Men of Achievement, Men of Achievement (1994) Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who (1996, 2001) Best 2000 Doctors Gynecologic Oncology, American Health (1996-1997) Vice President, Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (1996-2003) The Best Doctors in America: Pacific Region, Best Doctors in America (1997) National Faculty Award, Council on Residency Education in Obstetrics & Gynecology (2000-2011) Best Doctors in America, Best Doctors in America (2003) Excellence in Education Award, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2003) Twenty-First Century Award for Achievement, Twenty-First Century Award (2004) Sherman Mellinkoff Faculty Award, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA (2004) America’s Top Doctors for Cancer, Gynecologic Oncology, America’s Top Doctors for Cancer (2004) Who’s Who in Science and Engineering, Who’s Who (2006-2007) Who’s Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Who’s Who (2006) America’s Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists, America’s Top Doctors (2007) Top Doctors—The A List, San Jose Magazine (2007) Highly Commended in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Berek & Novak’s Gynecology, 14th ed. (2007) Highly Commended in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, British Medical Association (2007) Nominee Person of the Year, TIME Magazine (2007-2011) America’s Top Oncologists, America’s Top Oncologists (2008-2010) President, International Gynecologic Cancer Society (2008) America’s Top Oncologists, Consumers’ Research Council of America (2010) Recipient, John C. Fremont Pathfinder Award, John C. Fremont Pathfinder Award (2010) Member, Liaison Committee for Obstetrics and Gynecology (LCOG), Liaison Committee for Obstetrics and Gynecology (2011-2013) President, Council of University Chairs of Obstetrics & Gynecology (CUCOG) (2012- present) Laurie Kraus Lacob Endowed Professorship, Stanford University School of Medicine (2014) Fellow, American Society of Clinical Oncology