Melanoma
US Focus Meeting 2026
📍 Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, 10950 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA 92037
🗓️ April 10 - 11, 2026
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
We are delighted to extend our warmest invitation to the Melanoma Focus Meeting 2026, to be held at on April 10 - 11, 2026.
Centered around the theme “Updating Knowledge & Clinical Practice in 2026” this meeting provides pivotal collaboration aimed at advancing Melanoma research and patient treatment.
This meeting presents an opportunity for medical professionals to engage in the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and insights, as well as networking with leading experts. Engage in riveting presentations, participate in thought-provoking debates and roundtable discussions, and connect with peers at informal social gatherings.
Chairs of Melanoma US Focus Meeting 2026:
Michael Davies, MD, PhD
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Charlotte E. Ariyan , MD, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY
Supporters to be announced...
Interested in supporting this meeting? Get in contact:
ben.whitley@md-education.com
Agenda & Faculty
April 10, 2026 | Day 1
Session I: Stage III - Adjuvant Therapy
Moderated by:
Charlotte E. Ariyan, MD, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY
09:05 AM
Personalizing Risk Assessment in Stage III Melanoma
JG
Jeffrey Gershenwald, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
09:25 AM
Adjuvant Therapy - Immune, Targeted, or None
AS
April K.S. Salama, MD
Duke Health, Durham, NC
09:45 AM
Personalized Strategies in Immunotherapy
JM
Janice Mehnert, MD
NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY
Session II: Stage III - Neoadjuvant Therapy
Moderated by:
TBD
KOL TBD
KOL TBD
10:45 AM
Pathological Response Assessment
MT
Michael Tetzlaff, MD, PhD
The University of California, San Francisco, CA
11:05 AM
Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy
RA
Rodabe Amaria, MD, PhD
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
11:25 AM
Surgical Considerations
MF
Mark Faries, MD
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Session III: Stage IV Treatments - Part 1
Moderated by:
TBD
KOL TBD
KOL TBD
01:40 PM
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Current and Future
MP
Michael Postow, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY
02:00 PM
Predictors of Response to Immunotherapy
MB
Marcus Bosenberg, MD
Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
02:20 PM
Understanding Resistance to Immunotherapy for Melanoma
TG
Thomas F. Gajewski, MD
The University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
Session IV: Stage IV - Multidisciplinary Management
Moderated by:
TBD
KOL TBD
KOL TBD
04:05 PM
Role of Surgery
Charlotte E. Ariyan, MD, PhD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY
04:25 PM
Role of Radiation
CB
Christopher Barker, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY
04:45 PM
Management of CNS Disease
IG
Isabella Glitza, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
April 11, 2026 | Day 2
Session V: Stage IV Treatments - Part 2
Moderated by:
TBD
TBD
TBD
09:05 AM
Cellular Immunotherapy: Past, Present, and Future
Allison Betof Warner, MD
Stanford University, CA
09:25 AM
Intratumoral Therapy
MW
Michael Wong, MD
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY
09:45 AM
Molecular Targets and Therapies
Michael Davies, MD, PhD
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Session VI: Uveal Melanoma
Moderated by:
TBD
KOL TBD
KOL TBD
10:45 AM
Immunotherapy
SP
Sapna Patel, MD
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO
11:05 AM
Hepatic Therapy
JZ
Jonathan Zager, MD
Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
11:25 AM
Liquid Biomarkers in Uveal Melanoma and Beyond
RS
Ryan Sullivan, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Session VII: Rare Populations
Moderated by:
TBD
KOL TBD
KOL TBD
01:40 PM
New Paradigms for Mucosal Melanoma
KT
Katy Tsai, MD
The University of California, San Francisco, CA
02:00 PM
Molecular Targets/Therapies in Non-Cutaneous Melanoma
RC
Richard Carvajal, MD
Northwell Health, Long Island, NY
02:20 PM
Pediatric Melanoma
VS
Vernon Sondak, MD
Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
Session VIII: Emerging Research Areas
Moderated by:
TBD
KOL TBD
KOL TBD
04:05 PM
Immunotherapy Toxicities
DJ
Douglas Johnson, MD
Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
04:25 PM
Host Factors and the Microbiome
JM
Jennifer McQuade, MD
MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
04:45 PM
Melanoma Surveillance and Survivorship
JM
Lesly Ann Dossett, MD
University of Michigan Health, Ann Arbor, MI
Ben Whitley
Associate Project Manager
How long has Ben Whitley been in the business?
Ben Whitley has been with MD Education since 2025.
