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Katharine Schulz-Costello,

D.O.

Surgical Oncologist, Breast Surgeon; Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope Cancer Center Duarte and City of Hope® Arcadia

5 (228 Ratings)
Biography photo
Location
City of Hope Arcadia
301 West Huntington Drive, Suite 400
Arcadia, CA 91007
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center - Duarte
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010
Specialties
Breast Surgical Oncology
Surgical Oncology
Education
Medical school:

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA

Residency:

General Surgery - Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Colton, CA

Academic Appointments
  • Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery
About Me

Katharine Schulz-Costello, D.O., has always known she wanted to be a surgeon — a dream inspired by her father. That dream became even more personal when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer when Dr. Schulz-Costello was just 15. “These experiences created a lifelong passion to help women affected by breast cancer,” she says.

A Southern California native, Dr. Schulz-Costello earned her medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences and completed a five-year general surgery residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton, California, where she served as administrative chief resident. She later completed a breast cancer surgery fellowship at City of Hope®, which she calls “the best year of my entire career.”

Dr. Schulz-Costello cares for a wide range of patients, including those at high risk due to genetic mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. She performs many types of breast cancer surgery, including breast-conserving procedures and simple, skin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomies.

She sees patients at City of Hope locations in Arcadia, Duarte and South Pasadena.

Patient reviews
The patient ratings and comments on this page are obtained from an external Press Ganey® outpatient survey provided to all eligible City of Hope patients within one to two weeks of their treatment occurrence. Raw data from the answers to the survey questions about our physicians are calculated by Press Ganey into a one- to five- star rating. In the spirit of transparency, all patient comments are posted as written by the patient, whether they are positive or negative. We only exclude comments if they are deemed to be slanderous or libelous, contain profanity or vulgar language, or do not relate to the patient's experience with the doctor involved. As a result, the comments are the views and opinions of the patients surveyed and are not endorsed by, and may not necessarily reflect the opinion of, City of Hope.
Mar 27, 2026
5.0
"Completely satisfied on my first visit"
Mar 27, 2026
5.0
"I feel very fortunate to be in the care of Dr. Schulz-Costello. I was very impressed with her. She treated me with kindness and respect. Answer all my questions. I am looking forward to my next visit and to the beginning of my treatment."
Mar 17, 2026
5.0
"Doctor is amazing, willing to educate me on all aspects of my condition and issues. She is extremely thorough!!"
Mar 7, 2026
5.0
"Dr. Costello is an amazing doctor. She really cares for patients, very professional yet personable. She takes time to listen to her patients and provide the appropriate care and support."
Feb 26, 2026
5.0
"The doctor and staff were very helpful to me."
Feb 26, 2026
5.0
"Dr. Schulz-Costello was easy to understand. In my opinion, Dr. Schulz-Costello was very thorough, extremely knowledgeable and was able to answer every question I asked her. I think she is an excellent Doctor/Surgeon. I like that she speaks to me with kindness and respect and always puts my care and concern above all else. I think she is an excellent communicator, and I feel very fortunate that she is treating me for breast cancer at City Of Hope."
Feb 7, 2026
5.0
"I leave with the office with full understanding, the team is always helpful and informative answers all my questions in a way I will understand"
Jan 26, 2026
5.0
"Everything went well"
Jan 26, 2026
5.0
"I think that if I had to refer a care professional to a relative or friend my #1 choice would be my doctor."
Jan 15, 2026
5.0
"Dr. Schulz-Costello is the best! Warm, informative and answered all my questions."
Jan 14, 2026
5.0
"Dr Schulz-Costello and her entire team, as well as the staff at the Arcadia office, have made my treatment experience so warm, caring, and humane. I always feel heard, and in capable hands. I've never had that before. I can't begin to explain how exceptional the care has been."
Jan 12, 2026
5.0
"Of course I recommend this doctor. She is very very very good at her job"
Jan 12, 2026
5.0
"Of course, I highly recommend it. Thank you very much for the excellent job you do and thank you to the whole team that has worked with me for 5 years now"
Dec 31, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Schulz-Costello is off the charts amazing. Excellent listener and explainer of options plus she followed up immediately!"
Dec 10, 2025
5.0
"I love all the staff working with me especially my Dr. Costello. Very nice and respectful."
Nov 29, 2025
5.0
"Definitely would recommend."
Nov 29, 2025
5.0
"Dr. K. Costello was great, answered all my questions and concerns. She explained to me things in a manner that I could understand. Took her time in evaluating. She is awesome."
Nov 26, 2025
5.0
"Dr Costello makes me feel that he cares about my health and the way he explains everything is perfectly understandable"
Nov 22, 2025
4.9
"Dr. Costello took a lot of time with me. She answered all my questions and explained all my options. I felt like she really cared about me."
Nov 16, 2025
5.0
"Overall I was very happy with my experience"
Nov 16, 2025
5.0
"Doctor Costello is always thorough and knowledgeable while having a friendly an caring demeanor. City of Hope is the best."
Nov 12, 2025
5.0
"When I see doctor Costello it always reinforces my decision to choose her as my surgeon."
Nov 12, 2025
5.0
"I will always recommend City of Hope. Amazing coordination of care, facilities, and caring/well trained staff."
Nov 8, 2025
5.0
"She spent a lot of time with me. Answer all questions in a way that was easy to understand. Even drew pictures."
Nov 5, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Schulz-Costello is amazing she is patient, answers all my questions listens thoroughly to what I have to say and addresses any concerns. She is reassuring when appropriate and honest in her responses. She has always made me feel heard and respected as person and not just another patient."
Oct 22, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Schulz-Costello spent a great deal of time explaining my condition and they various ways of dealing with it. I appreciated the fact that she respected me and allowed me the freedom and time to make a decision I feel most comfortable with."
Oct 2, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Schulz-Costello goes above and beyond to make sure I get the care I need. She is concerned about all of me and my complete recovery."
Sep 24, 2025
5.0
"I already recommended so many patients to doctor Costello."
Sep 24, 2025
5.0
"Before seeing doctor Katharine I met with other doctors regarding my breast cancer. I was very concerned and scared because they didn't explain much and I felt that they don't care and they just care about the surgery. But thanks God my children told me we found very good doctor and they made an appointment with my lovely doctor Katharine. First appointment was excellent and I was very comfortable trusting her to help me to overcome the difficulties."
Sep 20, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Costello is a caring and considerate provider and I am so grateful for her."
Sep 15, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Schulz-Costello has been a great doctor for me and I'm grateful for all she has done in my continued cancer care."
Aug 13, 2025
5.0
"Discussion of proposed treatment is ongoing. The provider has given me information about options, risks, benefits which I can understand."
Jul 14, 2025
5.0
"Dr Schulz-Costello was very friendly and professional! She was very informative explaining my diagnosis, treatment options, and plan of care in detail. She listened to my concerns and answered all questions."
Jul 11, 2025
5.0
"Excellente doctora., muy contenta con ella es muy buena en su trabajo y muy buena persona"
Jul 9, 2025
5.0
"I always feel cared for as an individual by Dr. Schultz-Costello"
Jul 6, 2025
5.0
"Very well recognized and recommended"
Jul 6, 2025
5.0
"My doctor did an excellent job for me very nice to talk to and respectful. She understands my situation and treated me in a good way manners.she's the best ,professionalism wise is perfect."
Jul 5, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Schulz-Costello is an exceptional doctor! She is a one in a million. She is kind, shows empathy and is an extremely talented surgeon. I can't say I have ever experienced better care (for myself of for my mother - she is also treating my mother)."
Jun 24, 2025
5.0
"Doc is really kind she always pays attention make me feel that I m in good hands."
Jun 21, 2025
5.0
"Dr Costello was lovely"
Jun 11, 2025
5.0
"Very good experience in building a relationship with Dr. Schulz-Costello"