Dr. Ivan Maillard

Ivan Maillard, MD, PhD, is a hematologist-oncologist and physician-scientist specializing in the treatment of blood cancers and blood disorders, including leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). He sees patients at Memorial Hospital in New York City and serves as Head of the Division of Hematologic Malignancies within the Department of Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Raised in Switzerland with an early education grounded in music, literature, and the humanities, Dr. Maillard was drawn to medicine by the intersection of its human and scientific dimensions. His doctoral training deepened his passion for immunology research, and his residency experience caring for patients with cancer confirmed his commitment to hematologic oncology as a lifelong calling.

Dr. Maillard's research centers on understanding how blood cells form and how disruptions to this process contribute to disease. He investigates bone marrow transplantation and immune system responses, with a particular focus on the Notch signaling pathway and its role in T cell development and function. This work has advanced the understanding of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a serious complication following bone marrow or stem cell transplantation in which donor immune cells attack the host's tissues. As division head, he aims to foster collaboration and partnership among faculty, describing his role as identifying connections that allow colleagues to maximize their potential in delivering the best care for patients. He is also committed to teaching, regularly training residents and fellows in both the clinical management and scientific underpinnings of hematologic diseases.

Dr. Maillard brings a distinctly humanistic approach to patient care, drawing on his background in the humanities to understand each patient's values and needs beyond their diagnosis. He believes that no two patients are the same, even when they share an identical diagnosis, and he focuses on caring for the whole person rather than the disease alone. Outside of medicine, he is a musician with a deep interest in the arts and theater. He enjoys traveling and exploring new countries and cultures with his wife, also a physician, and their two daughters. A multilingual family fluent in English, French, and Portuguese, they also share a love of nature and the outdoors.