Michelle Mierzwa, MD
Radiation Oncology
1500 E Medical Center Dr
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Manage Your Profile
About
Dr. Mierzwa has 13 years of clinical experience in treatment of head and neck cancer. Her clinical research interests have included novel chemoradiation regimens for head and neck cancers, as well as imaging markers and biomarkers of tumor response to radiation and toxicity. Specifically, she collaborates with the Departments of Otolaryngology and Medical Oncology to develop clinical trials to identify for oropharynx cancer patients who may be eligible for de-escalation of chemoradiation or may require intensified therapy. She is also the PI of an ongoing novel oropharynx cancer surveillance and survivorship protocol.
Administrative Assistant: Rebecca Roulo, [email protected]
Links
RadOnc Bio
Qualifications
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ResidencyUniversity of Cincinnati, Division of Radiology, Cincinnati, United States
2004 - 2008
Residency
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InternshipChrist Hospital, Internal Medicine, Cincinnati, United States
2003 - 2004
Internship
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MDUniversity of Cincinnati - College of Medicine, 231 Albert Sabin Way, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, United States
1999 - 2003
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MSVanderbilt Universtiy, 2201 West End Ave, Nashville, TN, 37240, United States
1997 - 1999
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BSVanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
1993 - 1997
Center Memberships
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Center MemberRogel Cancer Center
Research Overview
- Advanced imaging techniques and imaging markers of response to radiotherapy in head and neck cancer
- Development of prognostic and predictive biomarkers in head and neck cancer
- Outcome modelling for tumor control and toxicity in head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy Clinical trial development to de-escalate radiotherapy in oropharynx cancer
- Clinical trial development using imaging markers to improve tumor control in high-risk head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy
- Head and neck cancer
Recent Publications
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Cousins MM, Higgins L, Dykstra MP, Yin H, Griffith K, Schipper M, Dominello MM, Sharma R, Johnson-Olokesusi J, Bavireddy V, Mietzel M, Kendrick D, Dess RT, Heimburger DK, Jolly S, Vicini FA, Pierce LJ, Covington E, Mierzwa ML. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, 2026 Sep 27; 126 (1): e325 - e326.Journal ArticleCharacterization of Cannabis Use In Patients with Prostate, Lung, and Breast Cancer Enrolled in a Statewide Multicenter Cohort
DOI:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2026.06.1373 -
Higgins L, Suresh K, Wilkins S, Lyden T, Blakely A, Ambrose M, Elliott DA, Strohbehn G, Prince ME, Casper K, Shuman A, Stucken CL, Forner D, Heft-Neal ME, Yalamanchi P, Brenner C, Swiecicki PL, Worden F, Mierzwa ML, Shah JL. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, 2026 Sep 27; 126 (1): e689 - e690.Journal ArticleTwelve-Month Swallowing Outcomes in a Phase II Trial of PET-Adapted Radiation for HPV-Associated Oropharynx Squamous Cell Carcinoma
DOI:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2026.06.2147 -
Higgins L, Suresh K, Shah JL, Nasser B, Casper K, Prince ME, Forner D, Buchakjian M, Heft-Neal ME, Yalamanchi P, Rosen BS, Shuman A, Stucken CL, Brenner C, D'Silva N, Swiecicki PL, Worden F, Mierzwa ML. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, 2026 Sep 27; 126 (1): e689Journal ArticleUMCC 2023.006: A Pilot Phase II Trial of Individualized FDG-PET and DCE-MRI Directed Adaptive RT in HPV-related Stage III Oropharynx Cancer
DOI:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2026.06.2146 -
Coyle AH, Hutton DW, Buchakjian MR, Casper KA, Forner DW, Hawley ST, Heft Neal ME, Malloy KM, Mierzwa ML, Prince ME, Shah JL, Sweicicki PL, Shuman AG, Stucken CL, Veenstra CM, Worden FP, Yalamanchi P. JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, 2026 Sep 1; e262124 - e262124.Journal ArticleCombined Positive Score and Cost-Effectiveness of Perioperative Pembrolizumab for Head and Neck Cancer. Epub ahead of print
DOI:10.1001/jamaoto.2026.2124 -
Gau M, Su J, Huang SH, Alfaraj FA, Souied O, Mierzwa ML, Marta GN, Kowalski LP, Moraes FY, Xu W, Bayley A, Hahn E, Kim JJ, McPartlin A, O'Sullivan B, Hope A, Tsai CJ, Malik N, Waldron J, Bratman SV, Javed H, de Almeida JR, Yao CMKL, Hosni A. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 2026 Jul 1; 220:Journal ArticleRefining adjuvant radiation therapy decision using a nomogram in major salivary gland carcinoma
DOI:10.1016/j.radonc.2026.111528 PMID: 42001963 -
Gharzai LA, Liu Y, Sun Z, Garcia M, Rothrock NE, Cella D, Suresh K, Stepan K, Shaunfield S, Forner D, Casper K, Shah JL, Mayo C, Tang X, Rosen B, Mierzwa ML. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2026 May 29; 44 (16_suppl): 1579 - 1579.Journal ArticleAssociation of routine electronic symptom monitoring with reduced opioid use in patients with head and neck cancers.
DOI:10.1200/jco.2026.44.16_suppl.1579 -
Casper J, Prince A, Knill C, Lyden T, Hardenbergh A, Ambrose M, Mierzwa ML, Buchakjian M, Dave F, Prince ME, Heft-Neal ME, Yalamanchi P. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics, 2026 Apr 18; 125 (1): e40 - e41.Journal ArticleAccuracy and Safety of Patient-Facing GenAI Platforms in Post-Laryngectomy Care
DOI:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2026.02.080 -
Risch Z, Bellile E, Bughrara MS, Swiecicki PL, Casper K, Malloy K, Hogikyan N, Spector M, Shuman A, Stucken C, Chinn S, Chepeha DC, Jolly S, Mierzwa M, Bradford C, Eisbruch A, Carey T, Prince M, Wolf GT, Worden FP. Head and Neck, 2026 May 1; 48 (5): 1311 - 1318.Journal ArticleNeutrophil to Lymphocyte and Lymphocyte to Monocyte Ratios Predict Improved Survival and Response to Induction Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Larynx
DOI:10.1002/hed.70132 PMID: 41403153