Dr. Allan C. Halpern

Dr. Allan C. Halpern, MD, is a board-certified internist and dermatologist with special expertise in skin cancer, particularly melanoma. He serves as Chief of the Dermatology Service and Co-Leader of the Melanoma Disease Management Team at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he brings together specialists in surgery, medical oncology, clinical immunology, dermatology, pathology, and radiation oncology to diagnose and treat melanoma. His clinical career has centered on the early detection and management of melanoma in high-risk individuals, and he has developed a reputation as a leading authority in this area.

Dr. Halpern has pioneered the use of whole-body photography for detecting changing moles in patients with dysplastic nevi and those with a personal history of melanoma. He established a fully computerized digital imaging system at Memorial Sloan Kettering that creates a baseline photographic record of a patient's moles, allowing new and changing moles to be identified at follow-up appointments. This approach enables subtle melanomas to be recognized at a stage when they are easily cured, while also reducing unnecessary excisions of stable moles. His research efforts focus on epidemiologic studies of risk factors for melanoma, prevention strategies, and early detection, including an ongoing study of the genetic and environmental factors that influence mole development in children and adolescents. He is also involved in developing novel optical imaging techniques for the non-invasive diagnosis and management of skin cancer, including automated computerized image analysis and non-invasive subsurface microscopy.

Through his combined roles in clinical care, research, and multidisciplinary team leadership, Dr. Halpern continues to advance the field of melanoma detection and prevention. His work integrating digital imaging technology into routine surveillance has meaningfully improved outcomes for patients at elevated risk, and his research into optical imaging techniques holds promise for further expanding non-invasive approaches to skin cancer diagnosis. His contributions span population-based science, technological innovation, and direct patient care, reflecting a broad commitment to reducing the burden of melanoma.