Find an MSK Doctor or Cancer Specialist
Dr. Monica Chen

Monica F. Chen, MD

Melanoma Medical Oncologist

4.9 | 56 reviews

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Melanoma

My Specialties

  • Early-phase clinical trials
View all
Dr. Chen's Office Information
Languages: English
Request an Appointment
Our Care Advisors can answer many of your questions. They will connect you with the best healthcare provider for your needs.
Back to top
Share

Get to Know Me

I am a medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of melanoma with expertise in early-phase clinical trials. I see patients at Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion in Manhattan and at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in New Jersey.

My path to becoming an oncologist began when my grandmother was diagnosed with cancer. I know first-hand how devastating a cancer diagnosis can be for a person and their loved ones. I quickly learned how confusing and rushed medical interactions can feel. I became an oncologist because I wanted the opportunity to counsel and guide people like my grandmother, through one of the most difficult periods in their lives.

I aim to get to know my patients on a personal level and partner with them to design treatment plans individualized to each patient’s needs and the unique characteristics of the type of cancer they have been diagnosed with. People who come for their first appointment are often fearful about the many unknowns that come with cancer: What does this diagnosis mean? What treatments are available to me? How will the treatment make me feel? How will it affect my loved ones?

I try to help my patients understand all options. Together with an exceptional multidisciplinary team, I work to bring cutting-edge therapies to the clinic with the goal of ending cancer for life. My research focuses on developing the next generation of targeted therapies and immunotherapies, particularly for patients with brain metastasis. Many FDA-approved therapies for patients were developed by our team including the combination of nivolumab (Opdivo ®) and ipilimumab (Yervoy ®), selpercatinib (Retevmo ®), and trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu®).

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with loved ones, cooking, traveling, and hiking.

 

What I Do at MSK

A melanoma medical oncologist is a cancer doctor who specializes in melanoma. This includes superficial spreading, nodular, lentigo maligna, and acral lentiginous melanomas, as well as eye, mucosal, and rare skin melanomas.

  • Assistant Attending Physician
Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Melanoma

My Specialties

  • Early-phase clinical trials
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, University of California Los Angeles

Residencies

  • Internal Medicine, NewYork Presbyterian-Columbia University

Fellowships

  • Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Awards and Honors

  • Conquer Cancer Foundation Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology (2024)
  • Conquer Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology (2023)
  • Dr. Joseph N. Muschel Housestaff Award, Columbia University (2020)
  • David Geffen Merit Scholar (2014-2018)

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA and NYC retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

See updates

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

See updates

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

Metroplus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

City Employee Health Plans (Gold and Gold Care)

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

Make an Appointment

Women talking
New Patients
Scheduling an appointment is easy. Click or call 800-525-2225— we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Make an Appointment
Current Patients
Request an appointment by logging in to MSK MyChart or calling your Care Team. If you are not enrolled in MSK MyChart, ask your Care Team to send you an invitation. You can also go to MSK MyChart and select “Sign up now.”

Contact and Location

Dr. Chen sees patients at two locations.

Office Phone
Location
Middletown, NJ
New York, NY
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth
480 Red Hill Road Middletown NJ 07748
Get Directions
Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion
160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022
Get Directions
Map MarkerA msk map marker icon
Map MarkerA msk map marker icon
Leaflet © OpenStreetMap contributors; © CARTO.

Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Early Drug Development Service doctors

See all Melanoma Service doctors

Clinical Trials

Smiling doctors in the lab
Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Chen’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed

Patient Reviews

Your trust is our main concern

We strive to keep reviews trustworthy, honest and fair. Learn more about our patient experience reviews.

4.9 56 reviews

  • 5.0 Provider's Explanations Easy to Understand
  • 4.9 Trusts Provider with Care
  • 4.9 Provider Listened Carefully
  • 4.9 Likelihood of Recommending Provider
Mar 20, 2025

Excellent

Jan 27, 2025

Dr. Chen was very understanding and approachable. I am so happy with all of my care team at MSK.

Jan 16, 2025

I asked to switch to Doctor Monica Chen after having an issue with a different Oncologist at MSK. Glad I did.

Jan 16, 2025

Dr. Chen was covering for my usual oncologist and she was fine. I was also very impressed by her nurse, Shady, who met with me before I saw Dr Chen because he was so prepared and informed about my case.

Jan 9, 2025

Dr. Chen is very knowledgeable about melanoma and she explained everything to us very clearly. She made us feel comfortable and confident in my treatment plan. I would highly recommend Dr. Chen.

View more +
Ratings and Comments Powered by NRC Health