Yelena Y. Janjigian, MD is a Professor and Chief of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Carroll and Milton Petrie Chair at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). A physician-scientist, leading translational research and clinical innovation to improve outcomes for patients with GI cancers.

Dr. Janjigian earned her BS from UC San Diego and MD from NYU School of Medicine, completing her residency at NYU/Bellevue and fellowship at MSK. Her research focuses on the molecular characterization of gastroesophageal cancers, driving therapeutic development and brining new drugs to the clinic. She has published over 140 papers in The New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Lancet Oncology, Lancet, and Nature, with more than 33,000 citations and an H-index of 61.

An elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), and Fellows of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (FASCO). Dr. Janjigian serves on the Board of Giants of Cancer Care, Debbie’s Dream Foundation and holds leadership roles in ASCO and AACR. She is also the Scientific Chair for ESMO 2026. Her research, funded by NIH, DOD and SU2C, has shaped new treatment standards in GI oncology.
Beyond research, she is a dedicated mentor, driving innovation and training the next generation of oncology leaders.