She is the director of the Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.
Esserman had an early interest in science which she pursued working in a research lab at the University of Miami during her high school years.
[8] She believes that some patients with a type of breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ, should be placed on active surveillance instead of undergoing a biopsy, mastectomy or lumpectomy.
[9][10] Dr. Esserman is one of the most vocal proponents of the idea that breast cancer screening brings with it overdiagnosis and overtreatment.
[18][19] In 2020, Esserman received the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction in Clinical Research from Susan G. Komen, breast cancer organization.