Dr. Dana E. Rathkopf

Dr. Dana E. Rathkopf, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of prostate cancer and other genitourinary cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her primary clinical focus is the medical management of men with advanced or high-risk prostate cancer, work she has dedicated more than a decade to. She also serves as Chair of the Research Council at MSK, a role that charges her with overseeing the scientific merit and progress of the institution's patient-facing research portfolio. Dr. Rathkopf brings a rare combination of clinical depth, trial leadership, and personal investment to her specialty, driven by both scientific curiosity and the opportunity to work alongside extraordinary mentors and colleagues.

Dr. Rathkopf has played a leadership role in the development of clinical trials using androgen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies, including abiraterone, enzalutamide, and apalutamide, for patients with advanced prostate cancer. The survival benefits demonstrated in these trials changed the standard of care for men with advanced disease. Building on that foundation, she is now focused on improving outcomes for patients who require additional treatment by investigating new AR-directed therapies and combinations of targeted agents. As site principal investigator at MSK for the Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Consortium (PCCTC), she also works to expand patient access to clinical trials across the country, reflecting her commitment to bringing effective treatment options into broader clinical practice.

Despite her extensive involvement in clinical trials, Dr. Rathkopf has consistently placed her patients at the center of her work. She is often asked why she chose to specialize in a disease that affects only men, and her answer reflects both scientific passion and personal connection as a daughter, wife, and mother of three sons. That personal perspective informs the compassionate care she brings to each patient encounter and underscores her belief that the choice to pursue a career in prostate cancer was an easy one. Through her clinical expertise, research leadership, and dedication to patient outcomes, Dr. Rathkopf continues to shape the landscape of genitourinary oncology.