Newswise — LOS ANGELES (Dec. 18, 2012) – Two of Southern California’s best-known orthopedic oncologists have joined Cedars-Sinai, enhancing a surgical team that treats some of the most complex and difficult types of cancer.
Lawrence R. Menendez, MD, and Daniel C. Allison, MD, FACS, MBA, have partnered with Earl Warren Brien, MD, director of musculoskeletal tumor service at the Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedic Center, to form one of the preeminent orthopedic oncology practices in the western U.S.
The surgeons specialize in metastatic bone disease, sarcoma cancers of the bone and soft tissue, invasive skin cancers and melanomas, and complex tumor-like conditions that other hospitals are unable to handle.
“With the joining of these new physicians to the already outstanding program established by Earl Brien, Cedars-Sinai can continue to make meaningful contributions to the treatment of these disorders,” said Bruce Gewertz, MD, chair of the Department of Surgery and the H & S Nichols Chair in Surgery.
Menendez and Allison came from USC, where they held leadership positions in orthopedic oncology.
At USC, Menendez served as chief of the Metastatic Bone Clinic, the Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Center and the Center for Orthopaedic Oncology.
His research focuses largely on musculoskeletal tumors. In addition to authoring a book on musculoskeletal tumors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, he co-authored two book chapters, 34 peer-reviewed journal articles and numerous abstracts and presentations.
Menendez is a member of the Los Angeles Surgical Society, the Western Orthopaedic Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Surgical Oncology.
“We’ve come to Cedars-Sinai to build something special and important in the field of orthopedic oncology,” Menendez said. “This is the place to be if you’re an orthopedic oncologist.”
Before joining Cedars-Sinai, Allison was assistant chief of the USC Center for Orthopaedic Oncology at the USC Norris Cancer Hospital. He has expertise in musculoskeletal oncology, joint reconstruction and anterior hip replacement. Allison has published extensively in peer reviewed journals and co-authored two book chapters relating to orthopedic surgery, and he has presented numerous papers and abstracts about orthopedic conditions. “This is a valuable opportunity to become the preeminent center for orthopedic oncology in the western U.S.,” said Allison, who is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, as well as a member of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society and the California Orthopedic Association.
Menendez and Allison combine forces with Brien, the co-director of Orthopedic Oncology who has published numerous articles, written book chapters and lectured internationally on these subjects. Brien is a diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He also is a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Orthopaedic Association and the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons.
“This team will offer a level of expertise and specialized care that patients will find few other places,” Brien said. “We treat some of the most challenging cases.”
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