Yelena Janjigian, one of the most recognized medical oncologists in gastrointestinal cancer, continues to be celebrated not only for her scientific leadership but also for her commitment to education, mentorship, and team-based cancer care.
Dr. Janjigian serves as Chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, where she holds the Carroll and Milton Petrie Endowed Chair. Her clinical and research work has focused on esophageal and gastric malignancies, with a particular emphasis on biomarker-driven treatment strategies, immunotherapy-based approaches, and HER2-targeted therapies.
At MSK, Dr. Janjigian has led major advances in gastroesophageal cancer care and has played a central role in practice-changing clinical trials. Her work has contributed to the establishment of perioperative immunotherapy in gastric and gastroesophageal cancers and helped shape modern HER2-targeted strategies for advanced disease.
Beyond her clinical and academic achievements, Dr. Janjigian is also a member of the Board of OncoDaily, Co-Chair of the OncoDaily Party and Yvonne Award Ceremony, and Scientific Co-Chair of the ESMO 2026 Annual Meeting. In 2025, she was recognized among The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology, honoring her impact across cancer research, care, education, and leadership.
Honored by Fellows and Trainees
Dr. Janjigian has now received the 2026 Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Service Award from fellows and trainees, on behalf of her colleagues in the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Reflecting on the recognition, Dr. Janjigian emphasized that the strength of the GI Oncology Service comes from its people.
“Honored to receive the 2026 Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Service Award from our fellows and trainees on behalf of my colleagues in the GI Oncology Service at MSK. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
They say it takes a village. In our case, it takes a metropolis. As the largest service in the Department of Medicine, our success depends on an extraordinary community of faculty, fellows, nurses, APPs, research staff, coordinators, administrators, and so many others who are committed to outstanding patient care, scientific discovery, and education.
This is the second time our service has received this recognition during my 8 years as Chief, and it still gives me a jolt of motivation every time. What made this award especially meaningful was receiving it from our GI research fellows, including Jeremy Tchack, one of my own mentees, whose contributions to our program this year have been tremendous. THANK YOU Deb Schrag”
As the largest service in the Department of Medicine at MSK, the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service depends on a broad and dedicated community. This includes faculty, fellows, nurses, advanced practice providers, research staff, coordinators, administrators, and many others working together toward outstanding patient care, scientific discovery, and education.
A Recognition Built on Teamwork
For Dr. Janjigian, the award represents more than an individual honor. It reflects the collective effort of an entire service committed to advancing care for patients with gastrointestinal cancers while training the next generation of oncologists.
This is the second time the GI Oncology Service has received this recognition during Dr. Janjigian’s eight years as Chief. She described the award as a renewed source of motivation and a meaningful reminder of the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and service.
The moment was especially significant because the recognition came from GI research fellows, including Jeremy Tchack, one of Dr. Janjigian’s mentees, whose contributions to the program this year were described as tremendous.
Yelena Janjigian recognized among The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025
Mentorship at the Center of Oncology
In oncology, mentorship is not only about academic guidance. It is also about shaping how future physicians think, care, communicate, and lead. The Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Service Award highlights the value of programs that create an environment where trainees feel supported, challenged, and inspired.
At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the GI Oncology Service stands as a major hub for clinical care, translational research, and professional development. Its work spans complex patient care, clinical trials, biomarker-driven medicine, and education across one of the most rapidly evolving areas in oncology.
Dr. Janjigian’s leadership reflects the close connection between innovation and mentorship. Her career has been defined by scientific progress in gastroesophageal cancers, but also by a deep commitment to building teams and supporting trainees who will carry the field forward.
Celebrating Service, Science, and Community
The 2026 Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship Service Award is a recognition of the people behind the progress. It honors the daily work of a large multidisciplinary team and the culture of education that allows fellows and trainees to grow within one of the world’s leading cancer centers.
For Dr. Yelena Janjigian and the GI Oncology Service at MSK, the award is also a celebration of shared purpose: caring for patients, advancing science, and training the next generation of leaders in gastrointestinal oncology.
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Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD
