Lirong Cheng, MD
"Dr. Cheng’s leadership has significantly enhanced the performance, efficiency, and quality of the pathology and laboratory department at KP Roseville, and her commitment to excellence, continuous improvement, and exemplary service has had a lasting impact.”
Richard Florio, MD, FACS, Physician-in-Chief, KP North Valley
Roderick Vitangcol, MD, Physician-in-Chief, KP North Valley
Despite a 14% increase in caseload since 2017, the pathology and laboratory department headed by Lirong Cheng, MD, MHA, at KP Roseville has delivered high-level performance without any increase in physician staffing. Her department achieved the fastest pathology turnaround time in the region for the past 7 years.
“When we promptly get accurate diagnoses, clinicians can deliver care to our patients in a timely manner,” says Dr. Cheng, Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at KP Roseville.
Handling a large volume of complex patient cases, Dr. Cheng’s department is one of the busiest in KP Northern California and her leadership has ensured high standards of precision, accuracy, quality control, and safety. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement, she earned a Master of Health Administration from Cornell University during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Initiated by Dr. Cheng, the subspecialization of KP Roseville pathologists fostered improved collaboration with clinical specialists across multiple disciplines, and as TPMG Chair of Pathology Chiefs from 2016 to 2019, she facilitated subspecialization in pathology departments throughout the region.
The KP Roseville pathology department consistently receives the highest Joy and Meaning in Medicine (JAMM) scores, a testament to her ability to strengthen department cohesiveness and culture.
“To me, good leadership means clear communication, thinking ahead, and understanding what people need,” Dr. Cheng says. “I also believe in leading by example—with humility, fairness, transparency, and integrity.”