Melissa Zimel

Melissa Zimel is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. She is an Orthopaedic Surgical Oncologist specializing in treating pediatric and adult patients with benign and malignant bone/soft tissue tumors, including metastatic disease to the skeleton. She chairs the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Diversity Committee, actively promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare.

• Education: MD from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2008), BA in Biology and Philosophy from University of Southern California (2004), and postdoctoral training in Orthopaedic Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2015).

Her research focuses on bone and soft tissue sarcomas, including limb salvage surgery, pediatric bone tumors, and pathologic fractures. She also investigates soft tissue sarcoma subtypes like Osteosarcoma, Ewing Sarcoma, and Chondrosarcoma, with an emphasis on improving post-salvage function and healthcare access.

Her recent publications (2020–2024) span oncology, orthopaedic surgery, radiology, and immunology, including studies on patient-derived xenograft models, endoprosthesis outcomes, and diagnostic imaging innovations. Notable work includes dinaciclib for metastasis inhibition and carbon fiber implants for reduced imaging artifacts.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training (UCSF, 2018)

As a clinician-scientist, Zimel bridges clinical practice with translational research, collaborating on NCCN guidelines and multi-institutional studies. She contributes to emergency medicine protocols for pediatric tumor diagnosis and biomechanical studies on joint cartilage.