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Maria Mercedes Chang Villacreses,

M.D.

Endocrinologist

4.9 (251 Ratings)
Biography photo
Location
City of Hope Duarte
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010
Specialties
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Education
Medical school:

Board Certifications

  • 2022, American Board of Internal Medicine — Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • 2018, Medical Board of California: Physician and Surgeon
  • 2018, ABIM 2018 Internal Medicine Certification
  • 2014, ECFMG Certificate
  • 2012, Ecuadorian National Title Registration For Healthcare Professionals

Degrees

  • 2005-2011, M.D., Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador
  • 2005, Bachelor Degree, Best graduate and National Flag bearer in Unidad Educativa Steiner Internacional

Residency

  • 2015–2018, Internal Medicine Residency, Danbury Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Program, Danbury, CT. Dr. Villacreses also rotated in Yale Endocrinology patient consultation service during her residency.

Professional Experience

  • 2020–present, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
  • 2018–2020, Endocrinology Fellow at Harbor UCLA – City of Hope, Duarte, CA
  • 2014, Internal Medicine Physician on Emergency Department at Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo — Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social, Guayauil, Ecuador
  • 2011-2012, Rural Family Medical Service, Subcentro de Salud Puerto Hondo and Puesto de Salud Puertas del Sol, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Academic Appointments
  • Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism
  • City of Hope Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship Associate Program Director
About Me

As an endocrinologist at City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte, Maria Mercedes Chang Villacreses, M.D., is passionate about improving how patients are diagnosed with diabetes, as well as developing new treatments and screening methods. By identifying diabetes early, Dr. Chang Villacreses hopes that patients can receive care before serious complications develop. 

Originally from Ecuador, Dr. Chang Villacreses earned her medical degree with honors from the Universidad Católica de Santiago in Guayaquil, Ecuador. After caring for patients there, she continued her training in the United States at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut and completed a joint fellowship through Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and City of Hope in California. 

She brings both dedication and deep expertise to her work, with the goal of helping people live healthier lives through earlier diagnosis and more personalized care.

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.
May 30, 2025
4.3
"Provider mentioned a medication that she could possibly put me on to help with a concern I brought up but glossed over it. She didn't explain why she didn't want to prescribe it or give me the option to advise if I was interested in it or not."
May 28, 2025
2.1
"Bad experience"
May 27, 2025
5.0
"The Doctor was professional, kind, caring to me."
May 20, 2025
5.0
"She was very professional and tentative and I liked that she was tentative to my questions and concerns"
May 13, 2025
5.0
"Excellent"
May 13, 2025
5.0
"Excellent"
May 9, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Villacreses was genuinely concerned and showed willingness to help with my condition. Unfortunately my condition doesn't have a clear answer to what may help to ease symptoms and other issues."
May 7, 2025
5.0
"Good experience"
May 7, 2025
5.0
"Good experience"
Apr 29, 2025
4.9
"Dr. Chang was very professional and prepared when walking into the room. She listened to questions and provided insights and recommendations."
Apr 25, 2025
4.9
"Excellent in video visit as well"
Apr 24, 2025
4.9
"Dr. Chang is terrific"
Apr 23, 2025
2.7
"My care provider is nice and friendly. She is no where near the level of competence that I value in the care of my disease."
Apr 16, 2025
4.9
"Good"
Apr 16, 2025
4.9
"Good"
Apr 12, 2025
5.0
"Dr Chang is very good and thorough"
Apr 10, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Chang Villacreses is always very thorough, reviews blood tests results, recommends if there is a change to be made to my diabetic monitoring, and always addresses my questions and concerns if any."
Apr 3, 2025
4.9
"Good experience, no comment"
Apr 1, 2025
5.0
"Excellent physician"
Apr 1, 2025
5.0
"Love Dr. Chang."
Feb 14, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Chang provides me with very detailed information regarding my labs/tests and is very considerate and extremely caring."
Feb 1, 2025
5.0
"Dr. Chang is very knowledgeable and provides the best of care!"
Jan 27, 2025
4.4
"She went over very throughly a propose treatment."
Jan 12, 2025
5.0
"She was wonderful!"
Jan 7, 2025
5.0
"I have already made recommendations for Dr Villacreses"
Jan 7, 2025
5.0
"Excellent"
Jan 7, 2025
5.0
"Excellent"
Dec 23, 2024
5.0
"She is very encouraging and professional in her analysis of my concern."
Dec 14, 2024
3.0
"(Thyroid Cancer 2015) Thyroid scan ultrasound results showed enlarged lymph nodes, Dr. Maria Chang Villacreses did not understand the discrepancy from 2023/2024 scan. She informed me during the visit that she would contact Radiology to review the two scans and get back with me on a plan of action, maybe biopsy or another scan to ensure my cancer has not returned. My chart does not document any of our conversation. I informed Dr. Chang of my symptoms, cough, swallowing problems and night sweats, I contacted Endocrinology via my chart four (4) messages during the week of [...] without a reply, no follow-up or communication. I would like someone to at least acknowledge my messages, to contact me regarding the ultrasound results and a plan of action for additional treatment, if needed."
Dec 6, 2024
5.0
"This MD is extremely helpful. Kind. Respectful."
Nov 22, 2024
5.0
"Dr. Chang, knows everything about her patient. She is a doctor that is approachable, and can ask her anything. Dr. Chang truly cares. Dr. Chang can explain and educate the patient. Dr. Chang is a gift to the City of Hope.Dr. Chang is well prepared on all aspects of your health Not just her specific specialty y which is so important for the patient.[...] Dr. Chang Is an excellent asset to your team. ."
Nov 13, 2024
5.0
"Dr. Maria Chang Villacreses is amazing. I gave her a 10 out of 10. She is very polite with great bad manners."
Nov 13, 2024
5.0
"Buena"
Nov 13, 2024
5.0
"Buena"
Nov 7, 2024
5.0
"As always Dr Chang was great"
Nov 2, 2024
5.0
"I appreciate all of the time it was spent going over my history going over my medication's and planning what we needed to do next"
Nov 2, 2024
5.0
"Everything here is truly set up for the convenience and comfort of the patient, and that is greatly appreciated. The expertise of the staff and the physicians is unbelievable, and also appreciated."
Nov 2, 2024
5.0
"She gave me options of care or treatment and therapy"
Oct 19, 2024
5.0
"Excellent"
Oct 19, 2024
5.0
"Excellent experience"
Oct 9, 2024
5.0
"I had a great experience. She explored every aspect of my issue and showed both concern and knowledge."
Sep 28, 2024
5.0
"Great experience"
Sep 28, 2024
5.0
"Great experience"
Sep 24, 2024
5.0
"Buena experiencia"
Sep 24, 2024
5.0
"Buena experiencia"
Sep 14, 2024
4.9
"Dr Chang is the best and has great bedside manner. We love her"
Aug 23, 2024
5.0
"Good interaction with concerns..helpful!"
Aug 21, 2024
5.0
"Very pleased with my doctors she's always very professional"
Aug 20, 2024
5.0
"I I'm very Happy with Dr. Chang."
Aug 14, 2024
5.0
"Very present, knowledgeable, caring thoughtful helpful and listened to everything I spoke about. Would highly recommend everyone to go to my Doctor. She is incredible."
Aug 11, 2024
5.0
"She knows all my ongoing conditions as soon as she walks through the door and before she reads my records. She goes through each result with care and explains it all to me. She also gives me a plan for my care after visit."
Aug 1, 2024
5.0
"Dr. Maria M Chang is very kind, she takes her time to explain all the details of my health!"
Jul 29, 2024
4.9
"I am so fortunate to have Dr Chang she goes above and beyond, she cares and gives a seance of comfort as she explains to you what you would like to know. City of Hope needs more Dr. Like Dr. Chang. She looks at the entire person. She knows everything that is going on with your journey and has all the Information from the various physicians that are caring for you. What is so beneficial Is here communication skills. She verifies the records are correct. With Dr. Chang you are not a medical number you are a Human Being."
Jul 29, 2024
5.0
"Dr. Chang is always very thorough and discusses the lab results and corrective action that I need to take and follow."
Jul 24, 2024
5.0
"It has been one of my best care experiences I have ever received"
Jul 23, 2024
4.7
"Quite efficient and helpful."
Jul 23, 2024
4.7
"This was my first appointment with this doctor and she was extremely professional, supportive and thorough."
Jul 22, 2024
5.0
"I think he is a good doctor and very efficient"