The 2025 Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium: A Day of Research, Education, and Collaboration
On Saturday, September 13, 2025, Saint John’s Cancer Institute welcomed physicians, researchers, and other medical professionals to the third annual Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, California. This continuing medical education event brought together specialists from across the country to discuss developments in melanoma and cutaneous oncology, including immunotherapy, molecular research, surgical management, and emerging diagnostic approaches.
Participants gathered in the hotel’s Sapphire Ballroom for a day of presentations, discussion, and professional collaboration. The program provided an opportunity for clinicians from different specialties and institutions to exchange perspectives on current research and complex questions in skin cancer care.
The symposium was organized under the direction of Kim Margolin, MD, and Richard Essner, MD, program directors associated with the Borstein Family Foundation Melanoma Program at Saint John’s Cancer Institute. Their participation reflected the Institute’s longstanding involvement in melanoma research, clinical investigation, and multidisciplinary care.
A Continuing Medical Education Event for Melanoma Specialists
The 2025 symposium was jointly provided by the Southern Medical Association and Saint John’s Cancer Institute. The free educational program was offered in accordance with applicable continuing medical education requirements and included an opportunity for participating physicians to claim up to six AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ under the original event’s requirements.
This accreditation information refers to the live September 2025 activity. Viewing the archived recording does not automatically qualify a viewer for continuing medical education credit.
The event was supported by the Borstein Family Foundation, Castle Biosciences, Bristol Myers Squibb, Caris Life Sciences, Merck, Pfizer, and Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute. Their sponsorship helped support an educational gathering focused on research developments and professional exchange.
The symposium also provided time for conversation among medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, dermatologists, pathologists, research investigators, and other professionals involved in melanoma and skin cancer care.
Scientific Discussions Across Melanoma and Cutaneous Oncology
The program featured speakers from Moffitt Cancer Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, UCLA, City of Hope, Cedars-Sinai, The Angeles Clinic, and Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute.
Topics extended from the biology of melanoma and molecular diagnostic tools to immunotherapy, surgical approaches, and questions about how emerging evidence may inform clinical decision-making. The presentations reflected areas of scientific investigation as of September 2025 and should be interpreted in the context of subsequent developments in oncology research.
Advanced Melanoma and Immunotherapy Research
Jonathan Zager, MD, of Moffitt Cancer Center discussed approaches to regionally advanced metastatic melanoma, while Kim Margolin, MD, presented research involving cancer vaccines and other emerging immunotherapy strategies. These discussions addressed how investigators are evaluating treatments for patients with complex or advanced melanoma.
Inderjit Mehmi, MD, of The Angeles Clinic examined non-cutaneous and acral melanoma, highlighting disease subtypes that differ from more common sun-associated cutaneous melanoma. These presentations emphasized the importance of tumor characteristics, clinical circumstances, and research evidence when considering treatment options.
Molecular Research and Emerging Diagnostic Approaches
Roger Lo, MD, PhD, of UCLA discussed molecular mechanisms involved in melanoma development. Matthew Hedberg, MD, PhD, of City of Hope addressed liquid biopsy research in cutaneous oncology, including the potential implications of analyzing tumor-associated molecular material found in blood.
Richard Essner, MD, presented research involving microRNA in melanoma, an area of molecular investigation relevant to understanding tumor biology and the potential development of biomarkers.
These research approaches are being investigated for their possible clinical applications. Individual molecular tests and biomarkers require appropriate validation before they can be used routinely to guide patient care.
Surgical Management of Skin Cancers
Nima Gharavi, MD, PhD, of Cedars-Sinai discussed Mohs surgery and its role in selected cutaneous malignancies. Vivian Wu, MD, of Providence Saint John’s Health Center presented considerations in the management of head and neck skin cancers, where tumor location, functional preservation, and multidisciplinary planning can influence treatment decisions.
Different skin cancers require different surgical and nonsurgical approaches. Treatment selection depends on the diagnosis, disease extent, location, and individual patient circumstances.
Diet, the Microbiome, and Tumor Immunity
Jennifer McQuade, MD, of MD Anderson Cancer Center examined research involving diet, the microbiome, melanoma, and tumor immunity. The presentation explored a developing area of investigation concerning how biological and environmental factors may relate to immune responses.
Although this research is important, findings concerning the microbiome and cancer treatment response should not be interpreted as proof that a particular diet or supplement can treat melanoma or replace established cancer therapies.
Watch the Complete 2025 Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium
The entire recorded program is available for clinicians, researchers, and others interested in the scientific discussions presented during the event. The recording preserves the perspectives of participating specialists and provides a historical reference for the state of melanoma research in September 2025.
Because treatment evidence and clinical guidelines change over time, viewers should consult current research and professional guidance before applying information from an archived scientific presentation to patient care.
Watch the Third Annual Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium — Full Program
Physicians and researchers discuss melanoma, immunotherapy, molecular diagnostics, surgical oncology, and cutaneous cancer research at the September 13, 2025 Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium.
For viewers interested in individual presentations, the 2025 Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium Program and Recording Archive includes presentation topics, speaker information, and links to video chapters.
Building Connections Across Cancer Research and Clinical Care
Beyond the lectures, the symposium created opportunities for physicians and researchers from different institutions to exchange ideas, discuss scientific questions, and establish professional connections. These conversations are part of the collaborative environment supporting medical research and clinical education.
For Saint John’s Cancer Institute, the event also reflected the scientific and clinical interests of the Borstein Family Foundation Melanoma Program, which brings together specialists involved in melanoma diagnosis, surgery, systemic treatment, and research.
The value of this annual educational gathering lies in the opportunity to share evidence, examine developing approaches, and strengthen communication among professionals caring for patients with melanoma and other cutaneous cancers.
Moments From the 2025 Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium
The following photo gallery captures speakers, attendees, and moments from the September 2025 event at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica.
Continuing Melanoma Research, Education, and Collaboration
The third annual Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium brought together melanoma specialists and researchers for a day of scientific education, clinical discussion, and professional collaboration. Through presentations on immunotherapy, molecular biology, diagnostic research, surgery, and tumor immunity, the 2025 event documented important questions and developing approaches in melanoma and cutaneous oncology. Its complete recording and photo gallery preserve the program as a resource for continued learning and institutional history.
Explore the 2025 Symposium Recording and Individual Presentations or learn more about the Borstein Family Foundation Melanoma Program at Saint John’s Cancer Institute, including melanoma treatment, multidisciplinary care, and clinical research.
Sources & Further Reading
- Saint John’s Cancer Institute — 2025 Santa Monica Melanoma Symposium Program and Recordings
- Saint John’s Cancer Institute — 2025 Melanoma Symposium Event Announcement
- Saint John’s Cancer Institute — Borstein Family Foundation Melanoma Program
- Saint John’s Cancer Institute — Melanoma and Skin Cancer Conditions
- Saint John’s Cancer Institute — Active Clinical Trials