Melisa Wong

Melisa Wong, MD, MAS, AGSF, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She specializes in thoracic oncology, treating patients with lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, with a focus on geriatric oncology and personalized cancer care for older adults.

• Education: MD from UCSF (2011), Master's in Clinical Research at UCSF Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics (2017), BA in Human Biology with Honors from Stanford University (2005)

Dr. Wong’s research investigates patient-centered outcomes in older cancer patients, emphasizing functional status, quality of life, and chemotherapy toxicity. Her recent publications highlight trends in geriatric oncology, symptom clusters, and decision-making tools like Best Case/Worst Case. Current projects include NIH-funded studies on functional decline and communication tools for advanced cancer.

• Scientific Awards: Conquer Cancer Foundation of ASCO Merit Awards (2016-2017), Vicky Merryman Young Investigator Award (2017-2018), NIH/NIA K76 Beeson Emerging Leaders Award (2019-2024), UCSF Pepper Center Scholar (2018-2020), SIOG Young Investigator Award (2017)

Her grants include NIH/NIA R03 (2017-2020), CTSI KL2 Career Development Award (2017-2020), and Mount Zion Health Fund pilot studies (2019, 2022). She collaborates with institutions like the Cancer and Aging Research Group and Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, and her work is frequently cited in JAMA, J Clin Oncol, and Br J Cancer.