Welcome to OncoDaily‘s special section, “Oncologist Near Me,” where we introduce prominent oncologists worldwide.
Here, you can get to know the leading cancer specialists in your area, including personal and professional details you won’t find in their research articles.
Interested solely in research? We’ve got that covered, too! Discover top research articles by the author, learn about their academic achievements, awards, and honors, watch their interviews, and memorize some quotes for much-needed inspiration!
Gregory Kalemkerian, MD, FASCO
Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian is a leading figure in thoracic oncology, recognized internationally for his expertise in lung cancer care and research. He is a Professor of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan, where he also serves as Associate Division Chief for Faculty Development and Education and Associate Director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program. In addition to his academic and clinical leadership, Dr. Kalemkerian chairs the NCCN Small Cell Lung Cancer Guideline Panel and contributes to the advancement of the field through his role on several editorial boards, including OncoDaily and OncoDaily Medical Journal.
Where Science Meets Purpose
For Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian, the decision to pursue a career in medicine was rooted less in a single moment of inspiration and more in a desire to transform his love of science into a meaningful career. “Going to medical school wasn’t so much an inspiration as a practical decision,” he recalls. “I believed that medicine would be the best way for me to turn my love of science into a useful career. As it turned out, I think that I was right.”
His interest in oncology began early in medical school, when a lecture by Steve Rosen, MD, now at City of Hope, introduced the exciting potential of monoclonal antibodies. “This was around 1982 or ’83, and MoAbs were a relatively new thing,” he says. “I was inspired by the science and the remarkable potential that they held as ‘magic bullets’ to target cancer cells.” That spark deepened during residency, as he rotated through oncology clinics and experienced firsthand the gratitude of patients, even at a time when treatment options were limited.
Dr. Kalemkerian went on to complete his medical training at Northwestern University and the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, setting the stage for a career that would blend scientific innovation with compassionate patient care.
Career and Leadership
With more than three decades of service in academic oncology, Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian has built a career that bridges patient care, research, and education. After completing his medical training, he began as a physician-scientist at Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit (1993–1999). In 1999, he joined the University of Michigan, where he has remained a central figure in the Division of Hematology/Oncology. Today, he serves as Professor of Internal Medicine, Associate Division Chief for Faculty Development and Education, and Associate Director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program.
Over the course of 35 years, Dr. Kalemkerian has cared for more than 7,000 patients with lung cancer, an experience he describes as filled with “way too many stories of inspiration and deflation to recount.” One story, however, has stayed with him.
“My patient was a young man, about my age at the time, with stage IV NSCLC in the era when chemo was our only systemic option. He did well for a couple of years, unusual for that time, and then he told me that he and his wife had been trying to adopt before he was diagnosed and had recently been called about twin girls in need of a family. He asked me my opinion, so, being a realist and the father of twin boys, I asked his wife, ‘Are you okay with raising these girls alone? Because that is by far the most likely scenario.’ They trusted their faith and adopted these adorable little girls, and my patient spent his last year as their full-time caregiver. During our last visit, he told me that the past year had been the best one of his life.”
Stories like these, equal parts uplifting and heartbreaking, have shaped Dr. Kalemkerian’s outlook on oncology, reinforcing his dual dedication to science and to the human side of medicine.
Throughout his career, he has also taken on national leadership roles, including chairing the NCCN Small Cell Lung Cancer Guideline Panel and contributing to the scientific programming of ASCO. He has served on numerous editorial boards, grant review sections, and committees of leading oncology societies. Dr. Kalemkerian has received numerous awards during his career, including the ASCO Excellence in Teaching Award and the University of Michigan Outstanding Clinician Award.
Research and Scientific Contributions
Dr. Kalemkerian’s academic work has focused on the clinical and translational research of thoracic malignancies, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and thymic tumors. At the Rogel Cancer Center, he continues to lead and participate in innovative clinical trials aimed at advancing precision oncology for patients with thoracic cancers.
Notable Clinical Trials Involvement:
- ALCHEMIST Trial – Adjuvant Lung Cancer Enrichment Marker Identification and Sequencing Trial
- Phase III Trial in Early-Stage NSCLC – Crizotinib versus observation for surgically resected tumors with ALK fusion
With more than 200 publications and over 230 invited lectures delivered across the globe, he has contributed to reshaping the landscape of thoracic oncology, advancing therapies that bring new hope to patients worldwide.
Top 10 papers by Gregory Kalemkerian*
- Kalemkerian GP, Narula N, Kennedy EB. Molecular Testing Guideline for the Selection of Lung Cancer Patients for Treatment With Targeted Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: American Society of Clinical Oncology Endorsement Summary of the College of American Pathologists/International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/Association for Molecular Pathology Clinical Practice Guideline Update. J Oncol Pract. 2018 May;14(5):323-327. doi: 10.1200/JOP.18.00035. Epub 2018 Mar 28. PMID: 29589987.
- Kalemkerian GP, Akerley W, Bogner P, Borghaei H, Chow L, Downey RJ, Gandhi L, Ganti AK, Govindan R, Grecula JC, Hayman J, Heist RS, Horn L, Jahan TM, Koczywas M, Moran CA, Niell HB, O’Malley J, Patel JD, Ready N, Rudin CM, Williams CC Jr; National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Small cell lung cancer. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2011 Oct;9(10):1086-113. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2011.0092. PMID: 21975911.
- Jett JR, Schild SE, Kesler KA, Kalemkerian GP. Treatment of small cell lung cancer: Diagnosis and management of lung cancer, 3rd ed: American College of Chest Physicians evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest. 2013 May;143(5 Suppl):e400S-e419S. doi: 10.1378/chest.12-2363. PMID: 23649448.
- Gadgeel SM, Pennell NA, Fidler MJ, Halmos B, Bonomi P, Stevenson J, Schneider B, Sukari A, Ventimiglia J, Chen W, Galasso C, Wozniak A, Boerner J, Kalemkerian GP. Phase II Study of Maintenance Pembrolizumab in Patients with Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC). J Thorac Oncol. 2018 Sep;13(9):1393-1399. doi: 10.1016/j.jtho.2018.05.002. Epub 2018 Jul 17. PMID: 29775808; PMCID: PMC6833950.
- Fu JB, Kau TY, Severson RK, Kalemkerian GP. Lung cancer in women: analysis of the national Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Chest. 2005 Mar;127(3):768-77. doi: 10.1378/chest.127.3.768. PMID: 15764756.
- Kalemkerian GP, Loo BW, Akerley W, Attia A, Bassetti M, Boumber Y, Decker R, Dobelbower MC, Dowlati A, Downey RJ, Florsheim C, Ganti AKP, Grecula JC, Gubens MA, Hann CL, Hayman JA, Heist RS, Koczywas M, Merritt RE, Mohindra N, Molina J, Moran CA, Morgensztern D, Pokharel S, Portnoy DC, Rhodes D, Rusthoven C, Sands J, Santana-Davila R, Williams CC, Hoffmann KG, Hughes M. NCCN Guidelines Insights: Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 2.2018. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2018 Oct;16(10):1171-1182. doi: 10.6004/jnccn.2018.0079. PMID: 30323087.
- Kong FM, Ten Haken RK, Schipper M, Frey KA, Hayman J, Gross M, Ramnath N, Hassan KA, Matuszak M, Ritter T, Bi N, Wang W, Orringer M, Cease KB, Lawrence TS, Kalemkerian GP. Effect of Midtreatment PET/CT-Adapted Radiation Therapy With Concurrent Chemotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: A Phase 2 Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2017 Oct 1;3(10):1358-1365. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.0982. PMID: 28570742; PMCID: PMC5674997.
- Kalemkerian GP. Staging and imaging of small cell lung cancer. Cancer Imaging. 2012 Jan 12;11(1):253-8. doi: 10.1102/1470-7330.2011.0036. PMID: 22245990; PMCID: PMC3266593.
- Gadgeel SM, Ramalingam SS, Kalemkerian GP. Treatment of lung cancer. Radiol Clin North Am. 2012 Sep;50(5):961-74. doi: 10.1016/j.rcl.2012.06.003. PMID: 22974781.
- Kalemkerian GP, Darwish B, Varterasian ML. Tumor lysis syndrome in small cell carcinoma and other solid tumors. Am J Med. 1997 Nov;103(5):363-7. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9343(97)00153-8. PMID: 9375703.
*Most cited papers, where Gregory Kalemkerian is the first or last author according to Google Scholar
Interviews with Gregory Kalemkerian
Inspiring the New Generation: Learning, Teaching, and Exploring with Dr. Greg Kalemkerian – OncoDaily
Gregory Kalemkerian, MD, Video Profile – Michigan Medicine
Systemic Therapy for SCLC Rapid Update – ASCO Guidelines
The descendant of the generation that survived the Armenian Genocide is an accomplished doctor in the USA and YSMU Visiting Professor – Yerevan State Medical University
Pioneering Progress in Lung Cancer: Dr. Greg Kalemkerian on Transformative Treatments – Journal of Hematology Oncology Pharmacy
Beyond the White Coat
Outside of medicine, Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian finds peace in life’s quieter rhythms. While he admits he doesn’t keep many hobbies, reading remains a favorite way to unwind. He also enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and sons, often hiking through U.S. National Parks and taking in natural landscapes. At home, he takes satisfaction in simple projects around the house and yard, the kind of tasks that offer “a satisfying sense of accomplishment.”
When it comes to culture and leisure, his choices reflect both his professional identity and his personal values. He often recommends The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee to colleagues in oncology, citing its importance in understanding the field’s evolution. Among his favorite novels are Silas Marner by George Eliot and The Road by Cormac McCarthy, both of which explore the enduring strength of a father’s love for his child.
And while he appreciates serious cinema, he confesses to being “a sucker for light Rom-Coms”, a genre that helps him decompress from the intensity of oncology. For Dr. Kalemkerian, the perfect day is less about travel or grand plans and more about time spent with family in Ann Arbor, enjoying open spaces, familiar routines, and the company of those most meaningful to him.
In His Words
When asked about the most important advice he would offer to young oncologists, Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian underscored that this profession is more than just a career—it’s a calling.
“Being an oncologist is not a 9-to-5 job; it has to be a calling. It takes a lot of time to care for people with cancer and to keep up with a field that is now moving at light speed so you can provide optimal care. You have to be conscientious and compassionate in your care, while maintaining some distance to preserve your own well-being in the face of so much suffering. I guess that’s more than one piece of advice.”
For Dr. Kalemkerian, the source of his daily motivation is clear: his patients.
“When I started in oncology, particularly in caring for people with lung cancer, the prognosis for the vast majority of patients was pretty bleak. The tremendous advances in our knowledge of the biology of cancer have now led to long-term survival, and maybe even cures, in some people with advanced-stage disease. What motivates me most is that a large proportion of our patients still do not do very well, and even those who benefit from newer therapyies, are rarely cured of their disease. I now spend a lot of my time on education, hoping to inspire the next generation of physicians and scientists to continue moving the field forward, improving both the quality and duration of our patients lives.”
Through his decades of clinical care, research, and mentorship, Dr. Gregory Kalemkerian continues to shape the future of thoracic oncology-driven by his patients, inspired by progress, and committed to guiding the next generation forward.
How to contact him?
Email: [email protected]
Location: 1500 E Medical Center Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States
Read the previous articles in the “Oncologist Near Me” series to explore insights into the lives and careers of leading oncologists worldwide.
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Written by Vahe Grigoryan