Valerie Galvan-Turner, MD, FACOG, DABOM

English, Spanish

Dr. Valerie Galvan-Turner believes excellent cancer care begins with listening. Recognizing that a cancer diagnosis can leave patients feeling as though they've lost control, she sees her role as helping them understand what's happening, regain that sense of control, and participate meaningfully in decisions about their care. She builds trust through honesty, consistency, and clear communication, explaining recommendations and alternatives in understandable terms while acknowledging uncertainty rather than offering false reassurance. Understanding that each patient's family, culture, beliefs, finances, and personal priorities shape their care, she creates person-centered treatment plans, not just disease-focused ones. She remains an honest, dedicated advocate throughout their cancer journey.

Dr. Galvan-Turner is passionate about women's health, particularly improving the lives of patients affected by gynecologic cancers. Since medical school, she has been committed to ensuring underserved and underrepresented patients have access to high-quality care and specialists who understand the challenges they face navigating the health care system. She is equally passionate about advancing cancer research and clinical trials, improving outcomes through prevention and education, and increasing awareness so patients recognize symptoms and seek care early. Teaching is also central to her career, as educating future physicians allows her to improve care for far more patients than she could treat alone. Personally, she is a proud mother of three sons and has been happily married for 23 years. Raised in Texas and later building her career in Southern California, she and her family are proud to call Riverside home.

• Why did you choose to practice at UCR Health? My family and I moved to Riverside in 2023 and have become deeply connected to the community, with my oldest son starting at UCR this fall. Caring for my neighbors and contributing to the health of the community where my own family lives is deeply meaningful to me. As a graduate of the gynecologic oncology fellowship at UC Irvine, I understand the University of California system's potential to combine outstanding patient care, education, research, and innovation. Recognizing the Inland Empire's significant need for greater access to gynecologic oncology services, particularly for underserved and Hispanic/Latina communities, I'm inspired by the opportunity to help build a comprehensive, world-class women's cancer program at UCR Health, bringing advanced surgery, multidisciplinary care, research, and innovative therapies closer to women throughout Riverside County and the Inland Empire.
• Outside of medicine, what do you enjoy doing? Family is at the center of my life, and I love spending time with my husband, children, extended family, and friends. I enjoy traveling, learning about art and architectural history, reading, crocheting, theater, spending time outdoors, and discovering new foods. Having three boys has expanded my interests too, teaching me far more than I expected about trains, motorsports, pop culture, and more. I'm also an enthusiastic marching band booster and enjoy volunteering in activities that support students, families, and my local community. One of my favorite things about Southern California is that there's always something new for our family to discover together.

Female

• American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology
• American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gynecologic Oncology
• American Board of Obesity Medicine

• Evisceration of Abdominal Contents Through a Posterior Vaginal Defect: A Case Report
• Molecular portraits of clear cell ovarian and endometrial carcinoma with comparison to clear cell renal cell carcinoma

We accept most major PPOs and HMOs. View our full insurance list here. If you have questions about your insurance provider, please call our patient access team at: 844-827-8000.

• The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston - Galveston, TX

• The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston - Obstetrics and Gynecology

• University of California, Irvine - Gynecologic Oncology