Dr. Leonard H. Wexler

Dr. Leonard H. Wexler, MD, is a pediatric oncologist at MSK Kids, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, specializing in the treatment of children, adolescents, and young adults with bone and soft tissue sarcomas. These are among the rarest of childhood cancers, with fewer than 2,000 cases diagnosed in the United States each year. He works within a multidisciplinary team of oncologists, pediatric and orthopedic surgeons, and radiation therapists to provide specialized expertise for patients with newly diagnosed sarcomas as well as those with recurrent disease. A committed educator, Dr. Wexler serves as one of the lead attending physicians on the faculty-fellow team at MSK Kids, working closely with trainees to help them develop the skills to identify individual patient needs and manage the care of children with cancer.

Dr. Wexler has made meaningful contributions to clinical research in pediatric sarcoma. He co-directed an international study evaluating the effectiveness of chemotherapy for children with osteosarcoma, and he leads a clinical trial for children with Ewing's sarcoma in first relapse, comparing outcomes with chemotherapy alone versus chemotherapy combined with a personalized tumor-derived vaccine. His research extends to cardioprotection in pediatric oncology, having played a key role in the development and assessment of dexrazoxane, a drug now routinely used to protect heart tissue in children receiving doxorubicin. Nationally, he has served on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network committee on cancer-related fatigue and on Memorial Sloan Kettering's fertility preservation committee, contributing to standards for patient counseling and care options.

Beyond his clinical and research work, Dr. Wexler is known for the depth of his personal commitment to his patients and their families. He and his colleagues at MSK Kids embrace a family-centered, holistic philosophy of care, building relationships that often extend well beyond the hospital setting. He attends major life milestones for his patients, including weddings, births, Bar Mitzvahs, and confirmations. Each year, he volunteers at Camp Simcha, a summer camp for children battling cancer. He speaks with deep admiration for the courage of his young patients and the strength of their families, and he approaches every child's care with the same devotion he would bring to his own.