Jan Merin, MD, MPH

Dr. Jan Merin is the full-time medical oncologist/hematologist at Northern New Mexico Cancer Care, formerly LAMC Specialty Clinic. She is practicing with Dr. Peter Lindberg, who now specializes only in the treatment of prostate cancer.  Her professional interest is the treatment of all types of cancer and blood disorders, especially breast cancer.

Merin completed her medical oncology fellowship at the University of New Mexico, where she also did her internship and residency.  She holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center, from where she obtained her MD as well. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Swathmore College in Pennsylvania.

Speaking with passion about the practice of oncology and providing total care for her patients, now and in the future, Merin says, “I have a real vision for what cancer care is going to be here in Los Alamos. I’m somebody who, because of my English background, understands that state-of-the-art medicine is important, but so is looking at the whole person.”

Just hearing a diagnosis of cancer often devastates the patient and family even before they begin to contemplate what a course of treatment might entail. But Merin is already thinking about those details, and, she says, her philosophy is summed up in two words: “No suffering.”

“We will do everything possible to support people through their treatment so they can continue to work or do whatever hobbies they have,” Merin said. Toward that end, she hopes to add additional “complementary/alternative” services that may not be covered by insurance but that can make a big difference in the patient’s wellbeing.

“We are developing a comprehensive cancer center,” she said. “We are going to have state-of-the-art clinical care and work in a holistic way with our patients. In the future, we want to provide fee-for-service options like chair massage, acupuncture, exercise, more support groups, and ultimately a clinical research program so that we can offer clinical trials to Northern New Mexico.”

Merin says she is very in tune with the needs of patients on the other end of the cancer treatment spectrum. “I am also very aware that there may not be as many viable options that preserve quality of life for patients with terminal cancer,” she said. “So in those situations, I will focus on treatments that preserve quality of life in the effort to prolong life. However, when it comes time to stop treatment and focus on comfort care, as an oncologist, I know that providing continuity of care and palliative or hospice care is just as important as providing aggressive therapy for those who can be cured.”

Coming to LAMC from Albuquerque’s prestigious New Mexico Oncology Hematology Consultants, Merin brings extensive oncology and hematology experience and is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.

In her free time she enjoys hiking, downhill skiing, creative writing & traveling.

Office address: 3917 West Road, Suite 225

Office phone number: 505-662-3450

Website: http://www.losalamosphysicianspractices.com/about_lapp.html