Dr. Mehta joins Perlmutter Cancer Center as new upper GI medical oncology director
News related to:NYU Langone Health · 2 min read
NEW YORK, Sept. 21, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Rutika Mehta, MD, MPH, has joined NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center as the new director of upper GI medical oncology. The appointment marks a significant step in the center’s ongoing growth and expansion of its gastrointestinal cancer care and research programs. Perlmutter Cancer Center, under the leadership of co-director Manuel Hidalgo Medina, MD, has been focused on strengthening its multidisciplinary care approach, which brings together specialists in medical oncology, surgery, radiation oncology, gastroenterology, pathology, radiology, nutrition, and supportive care to deliver coordinated, personalized treatment for patients with upper GI cancers, including esophageal and stomach cancers.
Dr. Mehta, a nationally recognized gastrointestinal medical oncologist, has established a reputation for building multidisciplinary care programs and innovative clinical trials for upper GI cancers. Her research focuses on personalizing cancer treatment through molecular profiling and blood tests such as circulating tumor DNA tests, which helps guide patients to the therapies most likely to benefit them. Her expertise in upper GI cancers, combined with her commitment to multidisciplinary care and extensive experience developing clinical trials, will strengthen Perlmutter Cancer Center’s ability to provide patients with access to innovative treatments while advancing research to improve outcomes.
Dr. Mehta’s arrival at Perlmutter Cancer Center is particularly significant as it brings together specialists from different disciplines to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to treating upper GI cancers. Her clinical work involves treating a wide range of GI cancers, with a particular focus on cancers of the esophagus and stomach. As the director of upper GI medical oncology, Dr. Mehta will work closely with Noah A. Cohen, MD, section chief of complex GI surgical oncology, to further enhance the multidisciplinary care model and expand clinical research opportunities.
Dr. Mehta’s research has included clinical trials evaluating targeted therapies, immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and cellular therapies for GI cancers. She has particular expertise in HER2-positive gastroesophageal cancers and participated in the clinical development of zanidatamab, a HER2-targeted therapy. Her work also explores circulating tumor DNA and comprehensive molecular profiling to better understand treatment response, recurrence, and resistance. In addition to her clinical and research leadership, Dr. Mehta is active in patient education and advocacy, working closely with patient advocacy organizations to ensure that patients and their families feel informed and supported throughout their care.
NYU Langone Health, a fully integrated health system, consistently achieves the best patient outcomes through a rigorous focus on quality, which has resulted in some of the lowest mortality rates in the nation. The health system offers a comprehensive range of medical services with one high standard of care across seven inpatient locations, its Perlmutter Cancer Center, and more than 330 outpatient locations in the New York City area and Florida. The system also includes two tuition-free medical schools, in Manhattan and on Long Island, and a vast research enterprise.
Dr. Mehta’s appointment as the new director of upper GI medical oncology at Perlmutter Cancer Center is a testament to the center’s commitment to providing patients with access to innovative treatments and advancing research to improve outcomes for upper GI cancer patients. Her expertise and dedication will play a crucial role in further strengthening the multidisciplinary care model and expanding clinical research opportunities at Perlmutter Cancer Center.