M.D.
Colorectal Surgeon
General Surgery
Colon and Rectal Surgery
1999-2003, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, M.D.
1995-1999, Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences, Ithaca, NY, B.A. Chemistry with Distinction.
2005-2007, Research Fellowship in Trauma and Burn Research, Loyola University Medical Center, Burn Shock Trauma Institute, Maywood, IL
2010-2011, Colon and Rectal Surgery Residency, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
2003-2010, General Surgery Residency, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
2021-present, Associate Clinical Professor, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2021-present, Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2015-2021, Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
2011-2015, Attending Physician, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Mount Sinai (Formerly Beth Israel Medical Center), New York, NY
2006-2008, Contract Physician, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital, Downers Grove, IL
2005-2007, Contract Physician, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare, Evanston, IL
2000, Research Assistant, Mentors, Weill Cornell Medical Center, Department of Surgery, New York, NY
1999-2003, Tissue Procurement Team Leader, New York Firefighters Skin Bank, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
1999-2001, Research Assistant, Strang Cancer Prevention Center, New York, NY
1998-1999, Research Assistant, Cornell University, Department of Textiles and Apparel, Ithaca, NY
1997-1999, Facility Assistant, Cornell University, Department of Chemistry, Ithaca, NY
Kurt Melstrom, M.D., is a colorectal surgeon at City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte, where he works with patients diagnosed with disease such as colon cancer, rectal cancer and anal cancer. Patients describe Dr, Melstrom as “kind,” “approachable” and “genuinely caring,” and his dedication to compassionate care has earned him both the Patients' Choice Award and the Compassionate Doctor Recognition Award.
Dr. Melstrom became part of the City of Hope team in 2015, following five years practicing at Beth Israel Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where he also earned his medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College. He then completed his surgical residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois, and returned to New York for advanced training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Melstrom frequently presents at medical conferences and has authored numerous scholarly articles. He brings specialized expertise in minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted colorectal surgery, laparoscopic procedures and high-resolution anoscopy.