Doctor Finder
This section offers assistance in identifying a eye cancer doctor (ocular oncologist).
When we at OMF are asked for recommendations on who to see, we generally point patients and caregivers to the doctors who have the most experience with uveal melanoma. We cannot make judgments on which doctors are "better," and really it is a personal decision based upon a number of factors including geographical proximity, educational/training background, familiarity with OM, personal budget and other other factors, but having seen a large number of primary ocular tumors and treated a large number of metastatic patients is generally a good proxy for physicians understanding the wide array of options available and being able to guide you as patient/caregiver through the complex treatment landscape. Anecdotally, Kimmel Cancer Cancer and Wills Eye Institute are common patient destinations.
OMF's List of OM Specialists
OM Specialists - United States.pdf
click to download
This list is certainly not exhaustive. Email any additions and/or corrections to resources@ocularmelanoma.org.
From the Kimmel Center website:
Thomas Jefferson University, along with the National Cancer Institute and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, is the major center for the treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma in the United States. Drs. Jerry Shields and Carol Shields at Wills Eye Hospital are seeing more than 500 new patients with primary uveal melanoma every year. Dr. Takami Sato at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital has seen approximately 100 new patients with metastatic uveal melanoma every year since 1999. Dr. David Eschelman in the Division of Cardio-Interventional Radiology (CVIR) has performed approximately 150 embolization procedures for the liver metastases from melanoma last year, in which more than 100 procedures were for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.
Thomas Jefferson University, along with the National Cancer Institute and the MD Anderson Cancer Center, is the major center for the treatment of metastatic uveal melanoma in the United States. Drs. Jerry Shields and Carol Shields at Wills Eye Hospital are seeing more than 500 new patients with primary uveal melanoma every year. Dr. Takami Sato at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital has seen approximately 100 new patients with metastatic uveal melanoma every year since 1999. Dr. David Eschelman in the Division of Cardio-Interventional Radiology (CVIR) has performed approximately 150 embolization procedures for the liver metastases from melanoma last year, in which more than 100 procedures were for patients with metastatic uveal melanoma.
The Resources to the right are also excellent destinations for up-to-date information. We encourage you to use all of these pieces of information to find a doctor who is right for you.
Also, unlike many other cancers, OM patients typically keep in close contact with their local ophthalmologist in addition to their oncologist, being intermittently seen by both doctors (if not more).
Also, unlike many other cancers, OM patients typically keep in close contact with their local ophthalmologist in addition to their oncologist, being intermittently seen by both doctors (if not more).
Choosing An Oncologist
Resources
Eye Cancer Foundation's Doctor Finder (hosted/updated by Paul T. Finger, MD, FACS): Search over 200 specialists in more than 50 countries
Find An Oncologist Database at Cancer.net (hosted/updated by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO))
