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Melinda Jen, MD

About Melinda 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.

Titles

Attending Physician

Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Certifications

Dermatology – American Board of Dermatology

Pediatric Dermatology – American Board of Dermatology

Awards and Honors

2015-2016, Faculty Teaching Honor Roll, Pediatric Residency, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
2015-2016, Career and Community Advancement Award, Women's Dermatologic Society
2015-2016, Mentorship award in procedural dermatology, Society for Pediatric Dermatology
2012, Jean A. Cortner Divisional Teaching Award, General Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Leadership and Memberships

Memberships in Professional Organizations

2012-present, American Academy of Pediatrics
2009-present, Women's Dermatologic Society
2009-present, Society for Pediatric Dermatology
 - 2011-present, Junior Faculty and Fellows Committee
 - 2018-present, Awards Committee
2007-present, American Academy of Dermatology

Editorial and Academic Positions

Editorial Positions

2018-present, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Reviewer
2014-present, Pediatric Emergency Care, Reviewer
2013-present, JAMA Dermatology, Reviewer
2009-present, Pediatric Dermatology, Reviewer

Academic and Institutional Committees

2012-present, Laser Safety Committee
2011-present, Dermatology Residency Selection Committee

Education & training

Medical Degree

MD - Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

Internship

Pediatrics - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

Residency

Dermatology - University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT (Chief Resident)
Pediatrics - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

 

Fellowship

Pediatric Dermatology - Rady Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego, CA

Publications

Publications

2019

Valiga Alexander, Neidig Lane, Cusack Carrie Ann, Gaddis Kevin, Jen Melinda, Rubin Adam, Moon Amanda T: Plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor on the chest of a 5-year-old child and review of the literature. Pediatric dermatology Mar 2019.

Provini Lauren E, Stellar Judith J, Stetzer Molly N, Nguyen Phuong D, Jen Melinda: Combination hyperbaric oxygen therapy and ustekinumab for severe hidradenitis suppurativa. Pediatric dermatology Feb 2019.

Heller Elizabeth, Murthy Aditi S, Jen Melinda V: A slime of the times: Two cases of acute irritant contact dermatitis from homemade slime. Pediatric dermatology 36(1): 139-141, Jan 2019.

2018

Ashchyan Hovik, Jen Melinda, Elenitsas Rosalie, Rubin Adam I: Surreptitious apple cider vinegar treatment of a melanocytic nevus: Newly described histologic features. Journal of cutaneous pathology 45(4): 307-309, Apr 2018.

Yu JiaDe, Jen Melinda V, Yan Albert C, Elenitsas Rosalie, Rubin Adam I: Angiomatoid and desmoplastic Spitz nevus presenting as a keloidal nodule. Pediatric dermatology Mar 2018.

Chang Xiao, Li Dong, Tian Lifeng, Liu Yichuan, March Michael, Wang Tiancheng, Hou Cuiping, Pellegrino Renata, Levy Richard, Jen Melinda, Soccio Raymond, Sleiman Patrick, Hakonarson Hakon, Castelo-Soccio Leslie: Heterozygous Deletion Impacting SMARCAD1 in the Original Kindred with Absent Dermatoglyphs and Associated Features (Baird, 1964). The Journal of pediatrics 194: 248-252.e2, Mar 2018.

2016

Coughlin Carrie C, Jen Melinda V, Boos Markus D: Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome with Prolonged Course Complicated by Parvovirus Infection. Pediatric dermatology 33(6): e364-e365, Nov 2016.

2004

Siegel Richard M, Muppidi Jagan R, Sarker Malabika, Lobito Adrian, Jen Melinda, Martin David, Straus Stephen E, Lenardo Michael J: SPOTS: signaling protein oligomeric transduction structures are early mediators of death receptor-induced apoptosis at the plasma membrane. The Journal of cell biology 167(4): 735-44, Nov 2004.

2003

Young David M, D'Argenio David A, Jen Melinda, Parke Donna, Nicholas Ornston L: Gunsalus and Stanier set the stage for selection of cold-sensitive mutants apparently impaired in movement of FAD within 4-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 312(1): 153-60, Dec 2003.

Lectures by Invitation

2019

Melinda J. "Challenging Pediatric Nevi", American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, Washington DC. Mar, 2019.

2018

Melinda J. "Procedural Dermatology in the Pediatric Population", American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA. Feb, 2018.

2017

Melinda J. "Pediatric Dermatology", American Academy of Dermatology DermPrep course, Phoenix, AZ. Nov, 2017.

Melinda J. "Dermatology Update 2017: Pediatric dermatology", Maui Derm NP+PA Fall 2017 meeting, New Orleans, LA. Sep, 2017.

Melinda J. "Pediatric dermatology", Maui Derm NP+PA Fall 2017 meeting, New Orleans, LA. Sep, 2017.

Melinda J. "Managing Challenging Nevi in Children", American Academy of Dermatology Summer Meeting, New York, NY. Jul, 2017.

Editorials, Reviews, Chapters

2016

Melinda Jen, Adam Rubin: Wells Syndrome (Eosinophilic Cellulitis). Hematopathology of the Skin. Alejandro Gru, Andras Schaffer (eds.). 2016.

2015

Melinda Jen: Rash - Drug Eruptions. Fleisher and Ludwig's Textbook of Pediatric Emergency Medicine. Richard G Bachur MD, Kathy N. Shaw MD, MSCE (eds.). Wolters Kluwer, 2015.

2013

Melinda Jen, Mary Wu Chang: Hidradenitis suppurativa. Severe Skin Diseases in Children: Beyond Topical Therapy. Wynnis Tom, MD (eds.). Springer, December  2013.

2012

Jen M, Shah KN, Yan AC. Cutaneous changes in nutritional disease. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, Gilchrest BA, Paller AS, Leffel DJ, editors. Fitzpatrick’s dermatology in general medicine. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2012.

2011

Jen M, Chang MW. Pityriasis rubra pilaris. In: Harper, Oranje, Prose, editors. Textbook of pediatric dermatology. 3rd ed. Oxford: Blackwell; 2011.

2007

Jen M, Shah KN, Yan AC. Cutaneous changes in nutritional disease. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, Katz SI, Gilchrest BA, Paller AS, Leffell DJ, editors. Fitzpatrick’s dermatology in general medicine. 7th ed. New York: McGraw Hill; 2007. 

Patient experience rating

(based on 137 submissions)

  • Clear Explanation
    4.9 of 5
  • Showed Concern
    4.9 of 5
  • Included in decisions
    4.9 of 5
  • Would recommend
    4.9 of 5
  • Discussion of Proposed Treatment
    4.9 of 5
Learn about the patient experience rating system

Comments

  • Our son happened to also see Dr. Jen for an unrelated skin condition regularly from 2014 to 2016. Nothing has changed regarding the type of care that Dr. Jen provides her patients and their families. She explains things in an easy way. She is attentive and caring. She is patient with parents when they ask questions. That alone Is priceless. She has a way with kids to make them feel comfortable. She is truthfully one of the best doctors we have worked with from any medical field. She really is just an amazing doctor.

    5 of 5
    Apr 04, 2024
  • Dr. Jen was very professional and gave us as much time as we needed to clarify plans going forward. We were very impressed and confident that she would help us make good decisions for our son.I would highly recommend the office and dr.

    5 of 5
    Mar 02, 2024
  • Excellent visit, they both listened to our concerns and answered all of our questions

    5 of 5
    Nov 30, 2023
  • Wonderful Job and felt comfortable working with her !

    5 of 5
    Sep 15, 2023
  • Dr Jen is amazing. She listens to our concerns and explains everything so that we know everything when it comes to our son.

    5 of 5
    Aug 18, 2023
  • I am very pleased with the provider and all the personnel assisting us.

    5 of 5
    Aug 02, 2023
  • Dr. Jen took the time to speak not only to my husband and I about all of our concerns but she also went out of her way to talk to our 2 year old. She is not very verbal yet but just the consideration that our daughter was the patient and she should be addressed along with us meant so much to me.

    5 of 5
    Jun 11, 2023
  • Dr. Jen was wonderful! Very knowledgeable and very caring.

    5 of 5
    Jun 01, 2023
  • thank you .we are very satisfied with the staff service

    5 of 5
    Apr 16, 2023
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About the Patient Experience Rating System

The Patient Experience Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown above from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score. We are committed to true transparency. However, to ensure the comments are fair and correctly attributed, we review each one before posting to the website. We exclude entire comments that disclose patient’s protected health information, are off-topic, or include other confidential or inappropriate content. Comments will appear on provider bios only if providers have a minimum number of comments. Comments are shared internally for education purposes to ensure that we are doing our very best for the patients and families for whom we are privileged to care. The comments are submitted by patients and families and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not reflect the views of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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