About Melinda V. Jen, MD
Pediatric dermatologist Melinda Jen, MD, believes the skin is unique, because the entire organ is visible to the naked eye. ""The skin is a window into the body,"" she explains. ""Manifestations on the skin can frequently clue us into something else going on in the body.” Further, given the visibility of the skin, even conditions that appear to be minor can have a profound impact on a patient. As the Director of Dermatologic Surgery and Laser, Dr. Jen strives to provide the best surgical environment for each child. She performs procedures under local anesthesia, sedation and general anesthesia. In addition to more standard surgical procedures, Dr. Jen also treats a variety of conditions with laser, including vascular lesions and scars. Dr. Jen’s other major clinical interest is in pediatric pigmented lesions, and she serves as the Director of the Pediatric Pigmented Lesion Group. There, she specializes in caring for patients with congenital nevi, atypical nevi, and melanoma. The risk factors, frequency and prognosis of melanoma appear to be different in children than in adults. As melanoma is relatively rare in the pediatric population, more research is needed to counsel families and inform treatments. Toward this end, Dr. Jen maintains an active registry of rare tumors and melanoma, and CHOP participates in a national study to learn more about these tumors.
