Aleksandar Sekulic,

University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Dermatology - Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN

Dermatology - Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN

Dermatology - American Board of Dermatology

Aleksandar Sekulic, MD, PhD, joined City of Hope^® Cancer Center Phoenix in March 2024 as Director of Dermatology and Translational Research, leading the dermatology group and the new skin cancer clinic at City of Hope in Arizona. In his dual role as Professor of Integrated Cancer Genomics at Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), which is also part of City of Hope, he heads up studies focused on deploying genomics in patient care and works to develop and expand research programs within the institute.

Board-certified in dermatology, Dr. Sekulic is experienced in skin cancer screening and the treatment of dermatologic malignancies including melanoma and other pigmented lesions, squamous and basal cell carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous T cell lymphoma, with a focus on complex skin cancers and a strong interest in immunotherapy, individualized medicine and clinical research. His approach combines compassionate, personalized patient care with innovations in prevention, diagnosis and therapy. Focused on treating the individual, not just the disease, he ensures that his patients have access to leading-edge care techniques such as immunotherapies.

Dr. Sekulic’s calling in dermatology stemmed in part from his passion for immunology research. With the growing understanding of the body’s natural defenses and their potential to be harnessed for therapies in oncology, he saw skin cancer as an apt target for immunotherapies. It was the capacity to translate research advances to benefit patients that inspired him to join City of Hope.

“City of Hope and TGen have a very dynamic, forward-looking team,” says Dr. Sekulic, who has held a professional appointment at TGen since 2006. “The organization is nimble, mission-driven and focused on outcomes—creating the sort of environment where one can make a tremendous difference for patients.”

At City of Hope Phoenix, Dr. Sekulic is building up a dermatology service line focused on cancer care, cancer screening and supportive care that addresses side effects of cancer and its treatment across all malignancies, as well as clinical studies offering skin cancer patients access to the newest emerging treatment options. In his role facilitating translational research efforts, he draws on the close connection between City of Hope and TGen to accelerate the movement of lab innovations toward clinical trials.

A renowned physician-researcher, Dr. Sekulic had co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed biomedical publications when he joined City of Hope. His investigations into the genomics of skin cancer and precision oncology have drawn support from the National Institutes of Health. He designed clinical trials that resulted in U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the first-ever targeted drug for basal cell carcinoma, a boon to those who cannot undergo surgery. He then led the study that led to FDA approval for the first immunotherapy for the same malignancy, while also studying potential second-stage treatments for those who don’t benefit from the targeted therapy. Another important finding from his research indicated that genetic testing should be expanded more broadly among cancer patients.

After earning his medical degree from the University of Zagreb in Croatia, Dr. Sekulic completed a PhD program in biomedical sciences-immunology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, where he continued with a postdoctoral research fellowship, a residency in dermatology that included training as a clinical investigator.

Before City of Hope, Dr. Sekulic was professor of dermatology at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, where he served as the vice-chair of the dermatology department in addition to leading the Center for Individualized Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona. For six years, he also served as deputy director of the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.

Dr. Sekulic has been recognized with several institutional awards for excellence in teaching and research. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the Society for Investigative Dermatology, the American Dermatological Association, the Society for Melanoma Research, the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

Outside of City of Hope, Dr. Sekulic loves spending time with his wife, who is also a dermatologist, and their three children. He is an avid cyclist who also loves listening to music and reading.