Skip to main content
Joe S. Mendez
( out of 83 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 University 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 University followed by his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed his neurology residency at Washington University 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 University of Utah.

    Board Certification

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

    Patient Rating

    4.9 /5
    ( out of 83 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.
    Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    June 15, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    He is great he asks me a few times if I have questions or anything else to say.

    June 13, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr. Mendez was very patient. He took lots of time to answer our questions, and I trust his expertise.

    June 06, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Explains things very well and listens to what we have to say and seems genuinely concerned and ready to tackle whatever we need to do

    May 16, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr Mendez as usual delivers excellent care. He is very caring in all aspect of my medican needs. I am very blessed to him as my oncologist and will definitely thanking God all days of my life for putting him my way to a medical miracle

    May 16, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr. Mendez is an outstanding, excellent doctor.

    May 12, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Brain cancer is a no Brainer with Dr Joe Mendez on my treatment and recovery team.

    May 02, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    He has been a great addition to my treatment and has my best interest at the outcome for my treatment .

    April 27, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    I¿ve been seeing Dr. Mendez for 3 years, and it¿s been a great experience. He is a wonderful doctor, very attentive to his patients. I appreciate how he always is able to give a ¿why¿ behind his medical recommendations, and I feel that he respects my desire to make informed medical decisions.

    April 25, 2024
    HUNTSMAN CANCER CENTER

    Dr. Mendez is awesome. We love him.

  • Joe Mendez, MD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the University 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 University followed by his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed his neurology residency at Washington University 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 University of Utah.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Neurosurgery -Primary
    Neurology -Adjunct
    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
    Neurology - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Administrative Chief Resident
    Residency Neurology - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Resident
    Internal Medicine - Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis/Barnes-Jewish Hospital Intern
    Professional Medical Medicine - University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine M.D.
    Environmental Engineering and Science - Rice University B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. 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. (Read full article)
    2. 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.
    3. 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. (Read full article)
    4. 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. (Read full article)
    5. 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. (Read full article)
    6. 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. (Read full article)
    7. 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. (Read full article)
    8. 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. (Read full article)
    9. Parsons MW, Whipple NS, Poppe MM, Mendez JS, Cannon DM, Burt LM (2020). The use and efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in children and adults with pilocytic astrocytoma. J Neurooncol, 151(2), 93-101. (Read full article)
    10. 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.
    11. 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. (Read full article)

    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. (Read full article)
  • News & Podcasts