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At Perlmutter Cancer Center, I specialize in both skin cancer and in phase 1 clinical trials for all types of advanced cancers. Like many, I was motivated to choose oncology as a specialty when my uncle received a cancer diagnosis. I remember searching the internet in my dorm room for clinical trials that could help him, and finding none.

Looking back, this incredible loss shaped my future drive to discover new cancer treatments. In my role as the associate director for clinical research and part of the leadership team at Perlmutter Cancer Center, I now work with our team of research experts to expand our menu of clinical trials across locations in Manhattan, in Brooklyn, and on Long Island, bringing cutting-edge studies to people who receive a cancer diagnosis.

After an intense, competitive residency in New York City, I was fortunate to pursue fellowship training in hematology and medical oncology. I have more than a decade of experience leading phase 1 clinical trials for patients with advanced skin cancers and also for those who have different types of solid tumors.

My most rewarding career experiences have involved using precision oncology and immunotherapy to identify effective treatments for advanced cancer, often with less toxicity than traditional approaches such as chemotherapy. I have been part of a team whose work led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of immunotherapy for aggressive neuroendocrine tumors such as small cell lung cancer and Merkel cell carcinoma. For the last decade, I have also led a National Cancer Institute (NCI)–funded laboratory focused on developing more precise strategies for the management of melanoma.

As a physician, I pay attention to the patient’s experience and take time to understand what is important to each person. Perlmutter Cancer Center is one of only a few centers in the country to have a Melanoma Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant, a testament to the expertise of our exceptional clinical and laboratory researchers. We have renowned expertise in dermatology, surgery, radiation, and medical oncology. Working as part of this team allows me to provide a customized treatment plan for each patient in a compassionate and supportive setting.

I have held leadership positions on several international committees, including the Steering Committee of the Society for Melanoma Research and the NCI’s Investigational Drug Steering Committee. I am active with multiple patient advocacy groups including AIM at Melanoma. I am also the past chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s Melanoma and Skin Cancer Scientific Committee. I have authored more than 100 publications, book chapters, and abstracts. 

I can be reached via email at janice.mehnert@nyulangone.org.