PHOENIX — City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, announced March 12 the appointment of Aleksandar Sekulic, M.D., Ph.D.,  as a professor in the Integrated Cancer Genomics Division at Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), part of City of Hope, and director of Dermatology and the director of Translational Research at City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix. He joins City of Hope from Mayo Clinic where he held various leadership roles, including chair of the Cutaneous Oncology Disease Group at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, vice chair of the Department of Dermatology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, deputy director for Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center as well as the associate director for the Center for Individualized Medicine. 
 
“I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with Dr. Sekulic for over a decade in piloting studies that bring genomic technology into clinical practice,” said Jeffrey M. Trent, Ph.D., TGen president and research director. “His arrival at City of Hope is welcomed, as his clinical acumen in the treatment of cancers of the skin, combined with a deep understanding of human genetics and genomics. He brings significant benefit both to his patients as well as our efforts to ensure early adoption of new genomic technologies into the cancer centers of City of Hope nationally.” 
 
As a professor of Integrated Cancer Genomics at TGen, Sekulic will conduct research focused on the deployment of genomics in patient care, will develop and expand research programs within the institute, and will recruit new faculty to the program. At City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix, Sekulic will lead the Dermatology group and the new skin cancer clinic opening later this year.
 
Dr. Sekulic is our second joint faculty member with TGen,” said Kevin Tulipana, D.O., M.S., president of City of Hope Cancer Center Phoenix. “He brings forth vast expertise in skin cancer, genetics and precision medicine. His desire to join City of Hope demonstrates our continued commitment to expanding leading-edge care to our community and expanded access to the clinical scientists who are leading the future in cancer care.”
 
Sekulic’s clinical practice straddles the fields of dermatology and oncology, with a focus on complex skin cancers. His approach combines compassionate, personalized patient care with innovation in the areas of disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment of skin cancers. He is closely involved with new drug development in the field of skin cancers and has led prominent clinical trials bringing the first targeted therapy, as well as the first immunotherapy for basal cell carcinoma to U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval.
 
“I am very excited to join the visionary and dynamic team of TGen and City of Hope that brings together complementary clinical and research expertise. This blend of strengths creates a unique opportunity to leverage the latest scientific advances and offer comprehensive care for cancer patients in our communities, through improved cancer prevention, earlier cancer detection and interception, and more effective cancer treatments,” said Sekulic.