Skip to Content

Jeffrey E. Gershenwald, MD

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Professor (term-tenured), Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment

Professor (term-tenured), Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1990 Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY, MD, M.D. with Honors in Research
1984 Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, BS, B.S. with Honors

Postgraduate Training

1995-1998 Fellow in Surgical Oncology/Junior Faculty Associate, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Chairman, Dr. Raphael E. Pollock
1994-1995 Administrative Chief Resident (General Surgery), The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, Chairman, Dr. John M. Daly
1991-1994 Resident in General Surgery, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, Chairman, Dr. Roger Yurt/Dr. John M. Daly
1990-1991 Intern in General Surgery, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, Chairman, Dr. G. Tom Shires

Board Certifications

1996 American Board of Surgery

Experience/Service

Academic Appointments

Associate Member, Graduate Faculty, Department of Surgical Oncology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas-Houston, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 8/2001-present

Professional Memberships

American Association of Cancer Research
Member, 1998-present
American College of Surgeons
Commission on Cancer, Member, 2006-present
American Joint Committee on Cancer
Vice-Chairman, Melanoma Task Force, 2005-present
Member, Melanoma Task Force, 1999-present
American Society Clinical Oncology
Member, 1999-present
ASCO/ONS
Cancer.Net Editorial Board member, 2009-present
Australia and New Zealand Melanoma Trials Group (ANZMTG)
Member, 2008-present
International Sentinel Node Society
Member, Executive Council, 2006-present
Society for Melanoma Research
Member, 2004-present
Society of Surgical Oncology
Executive Committee, 2008-present
Chair, Training Committee, 2005-2008
Member, 1998-present
Society of University Surgeons
Member, 2002-present

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles

1. Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong SJ, Thompson JF, Atkins MB, Byrd D, Buzaid AC, Cochran A, Coit DG, Ding S, Eggermont AMM, Flaherty KT, Gimotty P, Kirkwood J, McMasters K, Mihm M, Morton D, ross MI, Sober A, Sondak VK. Final Version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Melanoma Staging and Classification. J Clin Oncol. In Press.
2. Davies MA, Stemke-Hale K, Lin E, Tellez C, Deng W, Gopal YN, Woodman SE, Calderone TC, Ju Z, Lazar AJ, Prieto VG, Aldape K, Mills GB, Gershenwald JE. Integrated molecular and clinical analysis of AKT activation in metastatic melanoma. Clin Can Res. In Press.
3. Soong S, Ding S, Coit D, Balch C, Gershenwald JE, Thompson JF, Gimotty P. Predicting survival outcome of localized melanoma: an electronic prediction tool based on the AJCC melanoma database. Ann Surg Oncol. In Press.
4. Andtbacka RH, Gershenwald JE. Role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in patients with thin melanoma. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 7(3):308-17, 3/2009. PMID: 19401063.
5. Balch CM, Morton DL, Gershenwald JE, McMasters KM, Nieweg OE, Powell B, Ross MI, Sondak VK, Thompson JF. Sentinel node biopsy and standard of care for melanoma. J Am Acad Dermatol 60(5):872-5, 2009. PMID: 19389531.
6. Davies MA, Stemke-Hale K, Tellez C, Calderone TL, Deng W, Prieto VG, Lazar AJ, Gershenwald JE, Mills GB. A novel AKT3 mutation in melanoma tumours and cell lines. Br J Cancer 99(8):1265-8, 10/21/2008. e-Pub 9/23/2008. PMID: 18813315.
7. Gershenwald JE, Andtbacka RHI, Prieto VG, Johnson MM, Diwan AH, Lee JE, Mansfield PF, Cormier JN, Schacherer CW, Ross MI. Microscopic tumor burden in sentinel lymph nodes predicts synchronous nonsentinel lymph node involvement in patients with melanoma. J Clin Oncol 26(26):4296-4303, 2008. e-Pub 7/2008. PMID: 18606982.
8. Cormier, JN, Xing, Y, Ding, M, Cantor, SB, Salter, K.J, Lee, JE, Mansfield, PF, Gershenwald, JE, Ross, MI. Cost-effectiveness of adjuvant interferon in node-positive melanoma. J Clin Oncol 25(17):2442-8, 2007.
9. Aloia TA, Gershenwald JE, Andtbacka RH, Johnson MM, Schacherer CW, Ng CS, Cormier JN, Lee JE, Ross MI, Mansfield PF. Utility of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging staging before completion lymphadenectomy in patients with sentinel lymph node-positive melanoma. J Clin Oncol 24(18):2858-65, 6/2006. PMID: 16782925.
10. Pawlik TM, Ross MI, Johnson MM, Schacherer CW, McClain DM, Mansfield PF, Lee JE, Cormier JN, Gershenwald JE. Predictors and natural history of in-transit melanoma after sentinel lymphadenectomy. Ann Surg Oncol 12(8):587-96, 8/2005. PMID: 16021533.
11. Pawlik TM, Ross MI, Thompson JF, Eggermont AM, Gershenwald JE. The risk of in-transit melanoma metastasis depends on tumor biology and not the surgical approach to regional lymph nodes. J Clin Oncol 23(21):4588-90, 7/2005. PMID: 16034040.
12. Balch CM, Soong SJ, Atkins MB, Buzaid AC, Cascinelli N, Coit DG, Fleming ID, Gershenwald JE, Houghton A, Jr, Kirkwood JM, McMasters KM, Mihm MF, Morton DL, Reintgen DS, Ross MI, Sober A, Thompson JA, Thompson JF. An evidence-based staging system for cutaneous melanoma. CA Cancer J Clin 54(3):131-49; quiz 182-4, 5/2004. PMID: 15195788.
13. Rousseau DL, Jr, Ross MI, Johnson MM, Prieto VG, Lee JE, Mansfield PF, Gershenwald JE. Revised American Joint Committee on Cancer staging criteria accurately predict sentinel lymph node positivity in clinically node-negative melanoma patients. Ann Surg Oncol 10(5):569-74, 6/2003. PMID: 12794025.
14. Ballo MT, Gershenwald JE, Zagars GK, Lee JE, Mansfield PF, Strom EA, Bedikian AY, Kim KB, Papadopoulos NE, Prieto VG, Ross MI. Sphincter-sparing local excision and adjuvant radiation for anal-rectal melanoma. J Clin Oncol 20(23):4555-8, 12/2002. PMID: 12454112.
15. Gershenwald JE, Fidler IJ. Cancer. Targeting lymphatic metastasis. Science 296(5574):1811-2, 6/2002. PMID: 12052939.
16. Balch CM, Buzaid AC, Soong SJ, Atkins MB, Cascinelli N, Coit DG, Fleming ID, Gershenwald JE, Houghton A, Jr, Kirkwood JM, McMasters KM, Mihm MF, Morton DL, Reintgen DS, Ross MI, Sober A, Thompson JA, Thompson JF. Final version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system for cutaneous melanoma. J Clin Oncol 19(16):3635-48, 8/2001. PMID: 11504745.
17. Balch CM, Soong SJ, Gershenwald JE, Thompson JF, Reintgen DS, Cascinelli N, Urist M, McMasters KM, Ross MI, Kirkwood JM, Atkins MB, Thompson JA, Coit DG, Byrd D, Desmond R, Zhang Y, Liu PY, Lyman GH, Morabito A. Prognostic factors analysis of 17,600 melanoma patients: validation of the American Joint Committee on Cancer melanoma staging system. J Clin Oncol 19(16):3622-34, 8/2001. PMID: 11504744.
18. Gershenwald JE, Thompson W, Mansfield PF, Lee JE, Colome MI, Tseng CH, Lee JJ, Balch CM, Reintgen DS, Ross MI. Multi-institutional melanoma lymphatic mapping experience: the prognostic value of sentinel lymph node status in 612 stage I or II melanoma patients. J Clin Oncol 17(3):976-83, 3/1999. PMID: 10071292.
19. Gershenwald JE, Colome MI, Lee JE, Mansfield PF, Tseng C, Lee JJ, Balch CM, Ross MI. Patterns of recurrence following a negative sentinel lymph node biopsy in 243 patients with stage I or II melanoma. J Clin Oncol 16(6):2253-60, 6/1998. PMID: 9626228.

Invited Articles

1. Berman R, Kurtzman S, Posner M, Gershenwald. Society of Surgical Oncology fellowship training - Where we have been, where we are now, and where we are going. J Surg Oncol 100(3):179-81, 2009. PMID: 19444817.
2. Gershenwald JE, Petrelli N. Fellowship training in surgical oncology - an international affair. Surg Oncol 17(4):277-9, 12/2008. e-Pub 7/2008. PMID: 18672361.
3. Choi EA, Gershenwald JE. Imaging studies in patients with melanoma. Surg Onc Clin N Am 16(2):430-30, 2007.
4. Gershenwald JE, Ross MI. Practice point: Is sentinel-node biopsy superior to nodal observation in melanoma? Nat Clin Pract Oncol 4(5):278-9, 2007.
5. Aloia TA, Gershenwald JE. Management of early-stage cutaneous melanoma. Curr Probl Surg 42(7):455-534, 2005.
6. Pawlik TM, Ross MI, Gershenwald JE. Lymphatic mapping in the molecular era. Ann Surg Oncol 11(4):362-74, 4/2004. PMID: 15070595.

Book Chapters

1. Pytowski B, Gershenwald JE. Therapeutic targeting of the lymphovascular system in cancer: The promise and challenges. In: From Local Invasion to Metastatic Cancer: Involvement of Distant Sites through the Lymphovascular System. Ed(s) Leong SP. Humana Press: New York, 191-200, 2009.
2. Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong S, Sober A, Kirkwood J. Melanoma staging and classification. In: Cutaneous Melanoma, 5th. Ed(s) Balch CM, Houghton AN, Sober AJ, Soong S, Atkins MB, Thompson JF. Quality Medical Publishing: St. Louis, 65-85, 2009.
3. Gershenwald JE, Balch CM, Thompson JF. Intraoperative mapping and sentinel node technology. In: Cutaneous Melanoma, 5th. Ed(s) Balch CM, Houghton AN, Sober AJ, Soong S, Atkins MB, Thompson JF. Quality Medical Publishing: St. Louis, 2009.
4. Gershenwald JE, Balch CM, Soong S, Thompson JF. Prognostic factors and natural history of melanoma. In: Cutaneous Melanoma, 5th. Ed(s) Balch CM, Houghton AN, Sober AJ, Soong S, Atkins MB, Thompson JF. Quality Medical Publishing: St. Louis, 35-64, 2009.
5. Gershenwald JE, Hwu Patrick. Melanoma. In: Cancer Medicine, 8th. Ed(s) WK Hong, RC Bast, WN Hait, DW Kufe, R Pollock, RR Weichselbaum, JF Holland, E Frei, III. People's Medical Publishing House - USA: Shelton. In Press.
6. Balch CM, Gershenwald JE, Soong S, Thompson JF, Atkins MB, Byrd D, Buzaid AC, Cochran A, Coit DG, Ding S, Eggermont AMM, Flaherty KT, Gimotty P, Kirkwood J, McMasters K, Mihm M, Morton D, ross MI, Sober A, Sondak VK. Melanoma of the skin. In: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 7th. Ed(s) Edge SE, Byrd DR, Carducci MA, Compton CA. Springer: New York. In Press.

Books (edited and written)

1. Gershenwald JE, Guest Editor. Lymphadenectomy for Malignant Disease. Operative Techniques in General Surgery: New York, 2006.

Last updated: 10/20/2009