Physicians

Catherine Y. Han

M.D., M.P.H.

Seeing GYN patients only

Dr. Han was inspired to become a physician after volunteering in the emergency room the summer after her freshman year of college. While she met many excellent physicians, she also encountered moments that left her thinking, “we can do better.” That experience shaped her commitment to providing compassionate, thoughtful care. Medicine also runs deep in her family. Both of her parents were physicians, and her mother was one of the only female anesthesiologists at Hoag when she began practicing in the 1970s. Watching her mother thrive as a working parent in a male dominated field left a lasting impression and became a powerful example of dedication and resilience.

Drawn to obstetrics and gynecology because of the opportunity to be present for some of the most meaningful moments in a woman’s life, especially childbirth, Dr. Han built her career around supporting women through every stage of life. She now focuses her practice on caring for women navigating menopause, an area where she sees many patients who have previously felt unheard or dismissed. Known for her empathetic approach, she is passionate about listening carefully and ensuring her patients feel respected and taken seriously. Her philosophy of care centers on partnership. She believes that physician and patient are a team, and she encourages every woman to have a voice in her own health journey.

Dr. Han completed her undergraduate education at Harvard University, graduating with honors in English and American Language and Literature. She attended Cornell University Medical College in New York City for medical school. Dr. Han returned home to California for her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at University of California Irvine.

In 2023, Dr. Han returned to school to earn her Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where she focused on Health and Social Behavior. She is especially interested in how social connections and community influence healthy habits. Outside of work, she rows with a group of women at the Newport Aquatic Center in the Back Bay, embracing the physical and mental strength that comes from teamwork. With three young adult children pursuing their education on the East Coast, Dr. Han feels she has come full circle. Her family moved to Newport Beach in the 1970s when her mother joined Hoag, and her parents still live just a mile from the hospital that has been part of their family’s story for decades.

Languages: Spanish

Sees Patients in: Irvine and Laguna Hills