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Joe S. Mendez
( out of 148 reviews )

Joe S. Mendez, MD

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Huntsman Cancer Institute - Cancer Hospital South

Clinic 2B, Neuro-Oncology
Salt Lake City
801-585-0250

  • Joe Mendez, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of Utah and an Investigator at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He specializes in Neuro-Oncology with a focus on treating patients with gliomas, primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), and metastatic disease to the central nervous system.

    Dr. Mendez received his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and Science from Rice ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ followed by his medical degree from the ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of California, San Francisco. He completed his neurology residency at Washington ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital where he also served as Chief Resident. He most recently completed his fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

    Dr. Mendez’s research interests include clinical trial research focused on the treatment of gliomas and primary central nervous system lymphoma. His other interest is medical education with a focus on teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows.

    Dr. Mendez is originally from Wichita Falls, Texas. He enjoys playing tennis and traveling to international destinations with his partner, who is a Radiologist in the Breast Imaging Division at the ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of Utah.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurology)
    United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (Neuro-oncology)

    Patient Rating

    4.9 /5
    ( out of 148 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    May 29, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    He answers my questions in a way I can understand my issues.

    May 19, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Doctor Mendez is just the best. He's kind, caring, and friendly. Most importantly he saved my life. I can't be more thankful to him and for him.

    May 16, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr. Mendez is very knowledgeable, caring and kind

    April 20, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr. Mendez is very bright and intelligent. He informs patient and family and keeps them updated.

    April 14, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr. Mendez is very helpful and open but also to the point of diagnosis. Answers questions that we have if we have any that are pressing. He is willing to work with us out of state with other providers so we can receive local treatment.

    April 07, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr Mendez is the best. God bless him to continue grow his knowledge to help others. Dr Mendez is very kind and listen to my concerns

    April 06, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr Mendez is so awesome. He is always super informative about the treatment process and now about our maintenance follow-ups. He is always pleased to see us and never seems rushed (we know his schedule is very full), we are truly blessed that he is our physician.

    April 02, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr Mendez is an excellent doctor and I consider him a well experienced expert in his field of medicine. I particularly appreciate his excellent communication and investigating all options best for me. Dr Mendez discuses all the options with me patiently answering all my questions. I know I have the received the best of health care with Dr Mendez and have been blessed with a positive outcome.

    March 28, 2025
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    How do you find the words to express your gratitude for someone who has saved your life? If not for Dr. Mendez, I would not be here today to have the opportunity to walk my daughter down the aisle this past summer! Thank you, Dr. Mendez!

    See More Patient Comments

  • Joe Mendez, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of Utah and an Investigator at the Huntsman Cancer Institute. He specializes in Neuro-Oncology with a focus on treating patients with gliomas, primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), and metastatic disease to the central nervous system.

    Dr. Mendez received his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and Science from Rice ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ followed by his medical degree from the ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of California, San Francisco. He completed his neurology residency at Washington ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital where he also served as Chief Resident. He most recently completed his fellowship in Neuro-Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

    Dr. Mendez’s research interests include clinical trial research focused on the treatment of gliomas and primary central nervous system lymphoma. His other interest is medical education with a focus on teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows.

    Dr. Mendez is originally from Wichita Falls, Texas. He enjoys playing tennis and traveling to international destinations with his partner, who is a Radiologist in the Breast Imaging Division at the ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of Utah.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Neurosurgery -Assistant Professor (Clinical)
    Neurology -Adjunct Assistant Professor
    Board Certification
    American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Neurology)
    United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (Neuro-oncology)

    Education history

    Fellowship Neuro-Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Fellow
    Chief Resident Neurology - Washington ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ School of Medicine in St. Louis Administrative Chief Resident
    Residency Neurology - Washington ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ School of Medicine in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Resident
    Internship Internal Medicine - Washington ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ School of Medicine in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Intern
    Professional Medical Medicine - ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ of California, San Francisco School of Medicine M.D.
    Undergraduate Environmental Engineering and Science - Rice ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵ B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Mendez JS, Cohen AL, Eckenstein M, Jensen RL, Burt LM, Salzman KL, Chamberlain M, Hsu HH, Hutchinson M, Iwamoto F, Ligon KL, Mrugala MM, Pelayo M, Plotkin SR, Puduvalli VK, Raizer J, Reardon DA, Sterba M, Walbert T, West BL, Wong ET, Zhang C, Colman H (2024). Phase 1b/2 Study of Orally Administered Pexidartinib in Combination with Radiation Therapy and Temozolomide in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma. Neuro-Oncology Advances, 6(1), vdae202.
    2. Robinson LJ, Goold E, Cannon DM, Mendez JS, Menacho ST, Mao Q, Liu T (2024). A rare case of an adult primary intracranial sarcoma associated with a DICER1 mutation. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 83(5), 365-369. ()
    3. Arnold L, Hoshina Y, Hyejung L, Haaland B, Colman H, Mendez JS (2024). Effect of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia Prophylaxis on Hematologic Toxicity in Patients Receiving Chemoradiation for Primary BrainTumors. J Neurooncol, 167(1), 211-217.
    4. Mellinghoff IK, van den Bent MJ, Blumenthal DT, Touat M, Peters KB, Clarke J, Mendez J, Yust-Katz S, Welsh L, Mason WP, Ducray F, Umemura Y, Nabors B, Holdhoff M, Hottinger AF, Arakawa Y, Sepulveda JM, Wick W, Soffietti R, Perry JR, Giglio P, de la Fuente M, Maher EA, Schoenfeld S, Zhao D, Pandya SS, Steelman L, Hassan I, Wen PY, Cloughesy TF (2023). Vorasidenib in IDH1- or IDH2-Mutant Low-Grade Glioma. N Engl J Med, 389(7), 589-601. ()
    5. Earl ER, Colman H, Mendez J, Jensen RL, Karsy M (2023). An evaluation of biobanking and therapeutic clinical trial representation among adult glioma patients from rural and urban Utah. Neurooncol Pract, 10(5), 472-481. ()
    6. Lucas CG, Davidson CJ, Alashari M, Putnam AR, Whipple NS, Bruggers CS, Mendez JS, Cheshier SH, Walker JB, Ramani B, Cadwell CR, Sullivan DV, Lu R, Mirchia K, Van Ziffle J, Devine P, Goldschmidt E, Hervey-Jumper SL, Gupta N, Oberheim Bush NA, Raleigh DR, Bollen A, Tihan T, Pekmezci M, Solomon DA, Phillips JJ, Perry A (2023). Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Reveals Divergent Clonal Evolution in Components of Composite Pleomorphic Xanthoastrocytoma-Ganglioglioma. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol, 81(8), 650-657. ()
    7. Gelhard S, Maxwell A, Colman H, Cohen AL, Mendez JS (2022). Consolidation regimens in primary central nervous system lymphoma: a single-center retrospective cohort evaluating survival outcomes and cost-benefit analysis. J Neurooncol, 159(2), 293-300. ()
    8. Kraus RD, Weil CR, Su FCF, Cannon DM, Burt LM, Mendez JS (2022). Incidence and extent of disease progression on MRI between surgery and initiation of radiotherapy in glioblastoma patients. Neurooncol Pract, 9(5), 380-389. ()
    9. Guney E, Lucas CG, Qi Z, Yu J, Zhang R, Ohgami RS, Rubenstein JL, Bou DR, Schafernak KT, Wertheim GB, Dahiya S, Giulino-Roth L, Attarbaschi A, Barth MJ, Kothari S, Abla O, Cohen AL, Mendez JS, Bollen AW, Perry A, Tihan T, Pekmezci M, Solomon DA, Wen KW (2022). A genetically distinct pediatric subtype of primary CNS large B-cell lymphoma is associated with favorable clinical outcome. Blood Adv, 6, 3189-3193. ()
    10. Parsons MW, Whipple NS, Poppe MM, Mendez JS, Cannon DM, Burt LM (2020). The use and efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in ÑÇÖÞ×ÔοÊÓƵren and adults with pilocytic astrocytoma. J Neurooncol, 151(2), 93-101. ()
    11. Mendez JS, Ostrom QT, Gittleman H, Kruchko C, DeAngelis LM, Barnholtz-Sloan JS, Grommes C (2018). The elderly left behind – Changes in survival trends of primary central nervous system lymphoma over the past four decades. Neuro Oncol, 20(5), 687-694.
    12. Sneed PK, Mendez J, Vemer-van den Hoek JG, Seymour ZA, Ma L, Molinaro AM, Fogh SE, Nakamura JL, McDermott MW (2015). Adverse radiation effect after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases: incidence, time course, and risk factors. J Neurosurg, 123(2), 373-86. ()

    Review

    1. Kropp S, Mendez JS (2024). Advancements in Targeted Molecular Therapy for Low-Grade Gliomas: Challenging the Treatment Paradigm. [Review]. Practical Neurology, 23(3), 56-59.
    2. Azab MA, Cole K, Earl E, Cutler C, Mendez J, Karsy M (2023). Medical Management of Meningiomas. [Review]. Neurosurg Clin N Am, 34(3), 319-333. ()

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