Brooklyn, NY, July 9, 2025 – Maimonides Health has opened its new Melanoma Center, bringing the expertise of Maimonides’ Division of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Services, Department of Pathology, Department of Surgery, and Cancer Center together into one easy-to-navigate resource for screening and treatment services.

Led by Daniel Buchen, MD, Chief of Maimonides’ Division of Dermatology, the interdisciplinary team specializes in Mohs surgery, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, radiation therapy, rehabilitation, quality-of-life issues, and more.

In both the inpatient and outpatient setting, patients with suspected and confirmed melanoma benefit from the center’s collaborative approach to care and the collective expertise of Brooklyn’s first fully accredited cancer center, which serves more than 30,000 patients each year across 18 oncology specialties. This includes surgical, medical, and radiation oncologists, as well as plastic surgeons and dermatopathologists. In the field of skin cancer treatment, immunotherapy and targeted therapies have in recent years vastly transformed care, enabling more patients to live longer lives as melanoma survivors. Maimonides’ medical oncologists are well-versed in prescribing and overseeing these latest targeted therapies for even the most complex cancer cases.

“My vision for the Melanoma Center is a hub for care that brings the best of all the disciplines offered at Maimonides directly to our melanoma patients, with an emphasis on ease of access,” said Dr. Buchen. “From diagnosis to remission, we want to make this process as patient-forward and compassionate as possible, whether a case is straightforward or complex. Additionally, we place a strong emphasis on early diagnosis and intervention, regular screening, educating patients, and working alongside primary care doctors to help recognize signs of melanoma, all of which is critical to ensuring positive outcomes and high survival rates.”

“As Chair of Medicine and as a primary care physician, I’m thrilled to have a multidisciplinary resource for patients with melanoma or at high risk for melanoma,” said Matthew Weissman, MD, Chair of Medicine at Maimonides. “Given Dr. Buchen’s more than 25 years of experience and specialized Mohs training, he’s the perfect resource for patients throughout Brooklyn with complicated and serious dermatologic issues.”

More than 4,000 people in New York state are diagnosed with melanoma annually. While it is the rarest of the three main varieties of skin cancer, making up only about 1% of skin cancer cases, it is by far the deadliest. Fortunately, early screening, identification, and treatment is incredibly effective at saving lives from melanoma. When caught early, before the cancer can spread to other parts of the body, the five-year survival rate is over 98%.

Factors that increase the risk of melanoma include red or blond hair, blue or green eyes, fair skin, high mole density (more than 30 moles), birthmarks larger than the palm of the hand, inherited mutations, family history of melanoma, cancer syndromes like melanoma-pancreatic cancer syndrome, and a weakened immune status. At Maimonides’ Division of Dermatology, dermatologists offer total-body skin examinations to patients at appropriate intervals, and guide each patient to assess their individual risk level and determine their ideal personalized screening schedule.

Read more about Maimonides Melanoma Center or call 718-283-6300 to schedule an appointment.