Courtney E. Mellen, MSN-Ed, AGNP-C, OCN

Courtney E. Mellen, MSN-Ed, AGNP-C, OCN

Biography

Courtney Mellen is an experienced hematology-oncology Nurse Practitioner with a specialized focus on GI malignancies and Melanoma. Her clinical journey spans leading institutions, including HonorHealth Research Institute, Mayo Clinic, and Huntsman Cancer Institute, where she has consistently combined scientific excellence with compassionate care.

At HonorHealth Research Institute, Courtney supports early phase clinical trials, applying her expertise in complex oncology patient management and translational oncology.

Prior to this, she served as a Sub-Investigator and frontline Nurse Practitioner at Mayo Clinic, managing high-volume care for over 50 oncology patients weekly in collaboration with renowned medical oncologists. Her work involved disease progression monitoring, imaging interpretation, and toxicity management in a fast-paced clinical environment.

Earlier in her career at Huntsman Cancer Institute, Courtney’s focus included advanced care for patients undergoing a wide spectrum of clinical trials and therapies. Her involvement in multidisciplinary tumor boards and collaboration with oncology pharmacists underscored her dedication to team-based precision care.

Courtney’s work is distinguished by her commitment to health literacy, cultural sensitivity, and patient empowerment. She is especially passionate about creating educational resources that simplify complex treatments and encourage active participation in care — strengthening outcomes and enhancing the patient experience.

Research Interests & Focus

Courtney’s research interest centers on gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, with a primary focus on colorectal, gastric, rectal, and neuroendocrine cancers.
She is deeply engaged in Phase 1 clinical trials, contributing to the early evaluation of novel therapeutics and precision-based approaches. Her interests also include tissue organoid development, which allows for personalized modeling of tumor biology and therapeutic response.
These efforts reflect a broader commitment to translational oncology and drug development aimed at improving outcomes for patients facing complex GI cancers.