Dean Elhag, MD

Dean Elhag, MD, is a triple board-certified hematologist and medical oncologist (ABIM) specializing in the care of patients with hematologic disorders and solid tumors. His clinical practice focuses on breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancers, with additional expertise in malignancies of the genitourinary tract and other complex cancers. Dr. Elhag earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, where he conducted research in stem cell biology and tissue engineering. He received his medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and completed fellowship training in Hematology and Medical Oncology at the University of Iowa, where he served as Chief Fellow. Prior to joining AdventHealth, Dr. Elhag was a founding oncologist of the medical oncology program at The Iowa Clinic, helping build the service line from the ground up while advancing clinical protocols, research initiatives, and patient safety standards. He also served as Medical Director at Mercy Hospital Des Moines, where he helped establish the internal MercyOne medical oncology program, contributed to the development of multidisciplinary tumor boards, and participated in oncology program accreditation efforts. Dr. Elhag is the Founder and President of the HLRCC Foundation, a nonprofit organization advancing research and patient advocacy for hereditary kidney cancer syndromes, and chairs the HLRCC Alliance, an international collaboration of physicians and researchers dedicated to improving care for patients with rare cancers. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in journals including JAMA Oncology, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology, and JACC: Basic to Translational Science, and has delivered invited presentations at hematology and oncology conferences nationwide.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Elhag enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball and soccer, and supporting his children as they pursue their interests and activities.

Dr. Elhag believes in treating every patient with the same compassion, dedication, and attention he would want for his own family. He is committed to going the extra mile to ensure each patient receives the most thoughtful and effective treatment pathway while collaborating closely with the multidisciplinary oncology team to provide coordinated, patient-centered care.