
Highlights
Age Groups Seen
- Adults
- Geriatrics
Languages
- Spanish
- English
Gender
MaleAbout Ross David Merkin
Ross Merkin, MD is a medical oncologist in the Center for Head and Neck Cancers at Mass General Cancer Center. He is also an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Merkin graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts in 2011 with a BS in biology. He then earned his MD degree from SUNY Stony Brook University School of Medicine in Stony Brook, New York in 2016. During medical school he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA), the medical honors society for outstanding achievement and earned accolades for his translational research. He completed his internal medicine residency at Montefiore Medical Center (Moses and Weiler Campuses) in Bronx, NY in 2019 and was subsequently invited to serve as Chief Resident, which he completed in 2020. He went on to complete his hematology/oncology training at Yale University and Yale Cancer Center / Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT in 2023. He joined Mass General Cancer Center / Harvard Medical School in 2023 as a medical oncologist.
Dr. Merkin’s clinical interests are in cancers of the head and neck, with a focus on mucosal squamous cell carcinoma, HPV-related head and neck cancer, salivary gland cancer, and advanced thyroid cancer. He also works with a multidisciplinary team to deliver care to patients with complications of immunotherapy.
Locations
- Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute Center for Head and Neck Cancer Medical Oncology
- 32 Fruit Street, Yawkey Building, 7th Floor, Suite 7b, Boston, MA 02114
- Get Directions
- phone: 617-724-4000
- fax: 617-726-0453
- Mass Eye and Ear Head and Neck Cancer Program
- 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114
- Get Directions
- phone: 617-573-4226
- fax: 617-573-4131
Expertise
Education
- Fellowship: Yale Cancer Center, Hematology/Oncology, 2023
- Residency: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Internal Medicine - Chief Residency, 2020
- Internship: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Internal Medicine, 2017
- Medical Education: Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Medicine, 2016
Board Certifications
- Hematology: American Board of Internal Medicine, 2023
- Medical Oncology: American Board of Internal Medicine, 2023
- Internal Medicine: American Board of Internal Medicine, 2023
Insurance
- Aetna
- Beech Street
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Cigna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Community Health Options
- Coventry
- Fallon Health
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- MassHealth
- Medicaid CT
- Medicaid ME
- Medicaid RI
- Medicare
- Medicare ACO
- Multiplan
- Senior Whole Health
- TriCare
- Tufts Health Plan
- Tufts Medicare Preferred
- Tufts Public Health Plan
- United Health Care
- Wellpoint
- WellSense
Ratings & Reviews
4.9 out of 5
98 ratings, 37 reviewsThe Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.
- Reviewed on 1/12/2026
Extremely satisfied with his friendly and down to earth demeanor. He listens closely to my questions and concerns. Answers my questions so that it's easy to understand. His attitude and genuine concern for my health is gratifying. He is a very knowledgeable professional, and an outstanding doctor in the true sense of the word .
- Reviewed on 12/31/2025
I feel confident about my health plan under his leadership
- Reviewed on 12/24/2025
Outstanding
- Reviewed on 12/19/2025
The experience is very good. Thank you.
- Reviewed on 11/28/2025
I was very satisfied with my visit. The doctor was very concerned, very well educated, explained everything 100%, answered any question I had, and I felt very, very comfortable working with him. I'd recommend him to anybody.
- Reviewed on 11/16/2025
First visit with Dr Merkin. He was prepared, patient and explained thinks thoroughly. I look forward to his treatment.
- Reviewed on 11/14/2025
Yes, this is in reference to Dr. Merkin. I find him very able, very intelligent, very easy to talk with and his explanations are easy to understand and he appears to be very much concerned with my situation. I couldn't recommend him more highly. He's a terrific individual.
- Reviewed on 11/7/2025
Hi, I met with Ross, [redacted], and the entire oncology team at Mass General. I found them all to be very professional, friendly, and informative.
- Reviewed on 11/5/2025
Dr. Merkin is more than a doctor- he is a lifeline, a steady hand through the storm. His care was exceptional-deeply human, profoundly skilled and always reassuring.
- Reviewed on 10/23/2025
It was courteous, friendly, attentive, knowledgeable, great experience overall.
- Reviewed on 10/12/2025
Very friendly, compassionate and eager to help. Very comfortable talking with him as though we long time friends.
- Reviewed on 10/5/2025
Should be located in a more convenient location
- Reviewed on 10/2/2025
This is the best I've received
- Reviewed on 10/1/2025
They addresses ny fear (soon death) excellently
- Reviewed on 9/22/2025
Dr. Merkin was very kind and gentle in his approach to my medical issues. He clearly explained everything and was honest yet reassuring. His guidance in my treatment was very respectful and kind. I feel comfortable with him and look forward to working with him throughout this process.
- Reviewed on 9/10/2025
Dr. Merkin made me feel comfortable from the moment he entered the room due to his manner of greeting me and my family members. He showed a genuine concern over my particular problem and clearly outlined a plan that he would undertake in order to remediate my cancer. He reminded me that I was the boss, and it was my decision and not anyone else's of how to proceed with my care. Based on what he outlined for me And correlating with the questions that I had formulated prior to seeing him, I determined that he was the best doctor to be in charge of my treatment program. Just the fact that he initially was ready to consult with other physicians within the hospital to gather more information about the relationship Between the particular therapy that was going to be used and my MS convinced me that he was the person I wanted to be with.
- Reviewed on 8/13/2025
I was treated like I was reality no matter who I saw from doctor nurse receptionist. It was awesome That's why I fight the traffic to come here
- Reviewed on 8/5/2025
Excellent
- Reviewed on 8/5/2025
My wife and I thought the three Doctors we saw were great. They eased our concerns and answered all our questions and concerns.
- Reviewed on 7/18/2025
Left feeling confident in my providers and next steps. Could not have asked for a better. He also worked seemingly with the other doctor in the appointment.
- Reviewed on 7/17/2025
Ross is the Boss. I have had other life-threatening issues since I beat my cancer in [redacted]. once I alerted him about them, he quickly scanned through my medical record with my permission to make a quick assessment as to how the events might have affected the cancer he and my team helped me beat. That showed me genuine concern for me as his patient and as a fellow human.
- Reviewed on 7/15/2025
Kind, Concerned,& always positive about the cancer treatment & results.
- Reviewed on 7/14/2025
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is never easy to hear. This life's journey is not easy but with all the support and care I've received and continue to receive from my oncologist Dr. Merkin, his staff and everyone else I am in contact with at MGH I know I am in good hands. Excellent care all around and I thank everyone for this including my surgeon Dr. Cowen and her staff. At this time I am cancer free and will continue with my scans and dr. appointments as long as needed. Life is full of journeys. I feel blessed to have these professional and caring people with me during this particular journey. Thank you for everything you do. Sincerely... CRB
- Reviewed on 7/4/2025
Awesome guy. I hope when biopsy results come in I can stay with his team. Dr. Merkin really was laid back and easy to talk to and answered all my and my wife's questions as did the rest of his team. If I need to go through this [redacted], I hope it's with this team. Thanks in advance. Very confident we will succeed with the task at hand. [redacted]
- Reviewed on 6/30/2025
I felt that i was in the hands of professional and could not receive better care.
- Reviewed on 6/29/2025
first visit for what may be a lenghty experience
- Reviewed on 6/29/2025
He has great knowledge about my diagnosis. [redacted] Dr. Merkin is professional he has completely reviewed my medical history from linked accounts & makes you feels comfortable & most of all does not sit infront of a computer screen but face to face with eye contact & offers good advice
- Reviewed on 6/23/2025
Dr Merkin was very thorough and caring
- Reviewed on 6/7/2025
The facility and doctor were excellent-very helpful in our stressful situation. Now we have to help my dad decide whether he is willing to persue the he recommended treatment at the age of [redacted]
- Reviewed on 6/5/2025
Did a good job
- Reviewed on 5/26/2025
Dr. Ross Merkin and his team are top notch. I'd give them a 10 [redacted] I think Dr. Merkin and Dr. [redacted] are as good at their professions as one can possibly find anywhere in the world.
- Reviewed on 5/11/2025
very nice people
- Reviewed on 5/2/2025
They made me feel comfortable. Their knowledge of the medical field that they're in, they're outstanding. They told me about my upcoming appointments very clearly. I just thank God that I got into that team, all that Mass General. These guys are great, Dr. [redacted] Dr. Merkin, Dr. [redacted] and all them guys. I feel comfortable with them. I feel I'm going to be cured. My cancer is going to be a success because of them. Very good team.
- Reviewed on 4/14/2025
I think my care providers and this one were excellent. I felt very reassured, which is good because I have a little cancer blob on my eyelid. So everything went really reassuringly.
- Reviewed on 4/14/2025
The care provider clearly understood this was my first visit related to a cancer condition. He had the empathy I needed and was responsive to my emotions.
- Reviewed on 4/10/2025
Very happy with the care, very happy with the amount of time spent with me. It left me with a good feeling and felt like I was in good hands. Very happy.
- Reviewed on 4/9/2025
Very professional and friendly