Valeria Silva Merea, MD - MSK Head and Neck Surgeon

I am a medical oncologist specializing in the care of patients with lung cancer. My research interest lies in developing new therapies for patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the lung. Treatment options for patients with this type of lung cancer havelagged behind those for patients with lung adenocarcinomas. We are, however, beginning to unravel the molecular complexity of this disease, which we hope will herald in a new era of personalized medicine for our patients.

I am a board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist with a major focus on treating cancers of the lymphoid immune system, in particular, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas and certain forms of leukemia. HIV-related lymphomas are one my main areas of interest. To provide the best treatment to each patient with these diseases, I work very closely with a team of expert specialists.

As a thoracic surgeon for more than 15 years, I have devoted my clinical practice to diagnosing and treating patients with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mesothelioma, and all other cancers of the chest cavity. In addition to serving as Chief of Thoracic Surgery, I am the Surgical Director of the Thoracic Oncology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.