Rona Yaeger

Rona Yaeger, MD is a Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist and Early Drug Development Specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, specializing in treating cancers of the colon, rectum, anal squamous cell cancer, carcinoid tumors, and other gastrointestinal tract cancers.

Dr. Yaeger completed her MD at New York University, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at Columbia University Medical Center, and fellowships in Medical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.

Her clinical and laboratory research centers on understanding molecular subsets of colorectal cancer and developing new therapies based on this understanding, with a particular focus on colorectal tumors with mutations in the BRAF or RAS genes. She leads the clinical trial program for colorectal tumors that harbor BRAF mutations at MSKCC. Dr. Yaeger's work bridges clinical practice and laboratory research, aiming to use insights from cancer cell biology to guide patient care and develop more rationally designed clinical trials.

Her research portfolio demonstrates a strong focus on precision oncology, particularly in the development of targeted therapies for molecularly defined subsets of gastrointestinal cancers. Recent publications highlight her leadership in clinical trials for BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer, KRAS-targeted therapies, and innovative approaches to organ preservation in rectal cancer treatment.

Dr. Yaeger serves as an investigator for multiple clinical trials, particularly those focused on molecularly targeted therapies for gastrointestinal cancers with specific genetic mutations. Her work has contributed significantly to establishing new standards of care for patients with BRAF V600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer.

As a physician-scientist at Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Yaeger is part of a team that integrates cutting-edge research with clinical care, contributing to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.