Joshua Mammen, MD, PhD, has been named the Merle M. Musselman Centennial Professor of Surgery, chief of surgical oncology and vice chair of academic affairs for the department of surgery. He also will serve as a permanent member of the Nebraska Medicine/Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center Clinical Program Executive Committee. Dr. Mammen began his new role at the medical center on March 1.
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| VIDEO: Meet Joshua Mammen, MD, PhD |
Formerly, Dr. Mammen was the chief of the oncologic surgery division and chair of the cancer committee at the University of Kansas Medical Center. In his new role, Dr. Mammen will oversee a UNMC division that includes 11 faculty members, performs approximately 1,500 procedures a year and sees more than 5,000 patient visits annually.
About Dr. Mammen
Dr. Mammen, who holds an MBA and an MEd in additional to his doctoral degrees, has held a faculty appointment at the University of Kansas Medical Center since 2009. He served in several leadership roles at the state, regional and national level. He has chaired the faculty council of the University of Kansas School of Medicine and led the University of Kansas Health System Perioperative Operations Committee. He served as the chair of the University of Kansas Surgical Oncology Committee, the state of Kansas’ CDC-funded Comprehensive Cancer Coalition, and as the assistant director of the Midwest Cancer Alliance, a partnership of institutions through the States of Kansas and Missouri that collaborate to ensure clinical trials and optimal cancer care are available throughout the region.
He has been the recipient of numerous awards during his training and career, including the 21st Surgical Enrichment Award from the Central Surgical Association Foundation in 2014 and the 2017 Commission on Cancer Outstanding Performance State Chair Award. He is consistently named one of the “Top Doctors in Kansas City” by Kansas City Magazine.
Dr. Mammen has served as associate editor of BMC Cancer International since 2015. He is an ad hoc reviewer for the American Journal of Surgery and the Journal of Surgical Research. He serves as a councilor of the American Board of Surgery, as well as a director of the Complex General Surgical Oncology Board. He is the rising chair of the American Board of Surgery Training and Education Committee and the chair of the Complex General Surgical Oncology Board Continuous Certification Committee. In addition to delivering the American Board of Surgery certifying examinations for general surgery and complex general surgical oncology, he also is an examiner for the College of Surgeons of East, Central, and Southern Africa. He is active with several other medical organizations, having been president of the Kansas Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, president of the Kansas City Surgical Society, and president of the Kansas City Medical Society. He currently is the chair of the Young Fellows Association of the American College of Surgeons.
An established leader, clinician and researcher with a focus on melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas, Dr. Mammen is looking forward to working with colleagues and collaborators throughout the region to also address issues beyond treatment, including cancer prevention, early detection and addressing cancer care disparities.
“I am excited to join the incredible team at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine, which has world-class expertise and provides excellent care for our patients,” Dr. Mammen said. “In addition to the team, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine provide the environment and resources needed to ensure that exceptional patient care is consistently provided. Furthermore, I look forward to working with others in the region to reduce the cancer burden in our area.”
David W. Mercer, MD, McLaughlin Professor and chair of the UNMC Department of Surgery said he was delighted to have Dr. Mammen assume his new roles at UNMC and Nebraska Medicine.
“Dr. Mammen brings a wealth of clinical experience in treatment of melanoma, which dovetails nicely with the comprehensive skin cancer program being developed by Dr. Ashley Wysong,” Dr. Mercer said. “In addition, he has a prominent role with the American Board of Surgery which will enhance all educational programs in GME and UME. We anticipate Dr. Mammen collaborating with a number of other departments at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center to initiate even more clinical trials that his endowed professorship will no doubt help support.”
Ashley Wysong MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Dermatology, said she was excited to have Dr. Mammen at UNMC.
“He is a well-established leader with a wonderful vision for the UNMC Division of Surgical Oncology,” she said. “In addition, in dermatology, we look forward to working with him closely to continue building our multidisciplinary melanoma and high-risk skin cancer programs.”
Dr. Mammen said he also was excited to work with Dr. Wysong.
“Having someone equally interested in skin malignancies is exciting for me,” he said. “I look forward to working with her team, particularly in regard to high-risk skin malignancies like melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and sweat gland malignancies.”
Dr. Mammen also is enthusiastic about building the division’s research portfolio with new clinical trials – he serves as the national primary investigator for a major melanoma trial and is the co-investigator of a national breast cancer trial.
Dr. Mammen emphasized that he was excited to be joining a fine team.
“The individuals here already provide exceptional care, do great research and provide excellent education,” he said. “I look forward to working with everyone to help UNMC to continue to reach even higher levels of excellence.”
Congratulations, Dr. Mammen!
Congratulations Dr Mammen on your new role!
Dr. Mammen did surgery on my husband several years ago for melanoma. We are so grateful he was the surgeon. He is so caring and truly a gifted surgeon. We wish him the best in his new position. Bob & Marlo Howard , Missouri
I'm happy for Dr Mammen's success but really sad to see him leave KC. He's been my doctor since a melanoma diagnosis in 2014. Thanks for everything Dr Mammen!! Karen Guzman