Dr. Yelena Y. Janjigian

Dr. Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD, is an internationally recognized medical oncologist specializing in upper gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal, gastroesophageal junction, and gastric malignancies. She serves as Chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and is a Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Janjigian received her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, completed her residency in internal medicine at NYU/Bellevue Hospital, and pursued fellowship training in hematology and medical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology and is widely respected for her leadership in developing innovative treatment strategies for GI cancers.

A leader in translational research and clinical trial development, Dr. Janjigian has played a pivotal role in defining new standards of care for advanced gastroesophageal cancers. She is the principal investigator of multiple international clinical trials and has led landmark studies on HER2-targeted therapies, immunotherapy combinations, and biomarker-driven treatment approaches. Her work has been published extensively in top-tier journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet Oncology, and Journal of Clinical Oncology. She also leads the Gastroesophageal Cancer Therapeutics Program at MSK, a collaborative initiative that advances personalized treatment through global research partnerships.

In addition to her clinical and scientific accomplishments, Dr. Janjigian is a dedicated mentor and educator. She plays an active role in training oncology fellows and early-career physician-scientists, and contributes to national cancer research efforts through her work with the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. She was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation in recognition of her contributions to translational oncology. Through her commitment to scientific discovery, collaborative leadership, and patient-centered care, Dr. Yelena Janjigian continues to shape the future of gastrointestinal cancer treatment on a global scale.