I was raised in Colorado Springs and originally planned to pursue a career in sports medicine, but during my fist clinical experiences I was immediately drawn to oncology. I feel privileged to support patients both medically and emotionally, and I view our relationships as a strong partnership throughout the journey.

I believe that caring for the whole person requires medical expertise, clear communication, compassion, and empathy for the patient as well as their family, friends, and caregivers. My philosophy is to create an individualized care plan for each person I meet and to treat every patient as I would want my own family to be treated.

I enjoy teaching and research, and I was honored to serve as Internal Medicine Chief Resident at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and later as a Chief Fellow during my oncology training at the University of Colorado. After fellowship, I joined the faculty at Emory University, where I primarily treated head, neck, and lung cancers. Following the birth of our first child, my wife and I decided to return to Denver. I spent the next seven years practicing at Kaiser Permanente, where I served as Area Specialty Chief of Oncology. I was honored to be recognized as a 5280 Magazine Top Doctor in 2019.

Given my passion for research, teaching, and patient-centered care, I am excited to join UCHealth and serve patients in the Denver metro area. As part of UCHealth, I collaborate with an exceptional team of primary care clinicians, medical and surgical specialists, pharmacists, and nurses. Together, we share a common goal: to combine knowledge, communication, and empathy to provide the very best care for patients in their fight against cancer.

My wife and I have two sons, and spending quality time with family is incredibly important to me. We enjoy downhill skiing in the winter, and during summer we can often be found running, biking, hiking, playing tennis, or untangling fishing lines together.
I value having time to reflect whether through physical activity or reading for enjoyment as it brings balance to my life and helps me be a better physician.

Locations

UCHealth Cancer Care and Hematology Clinic - Cherry Creek (Primary)

Phone Icon720.516.9413
Fax Icon720.516.9441
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100 Cook Street
Suite 202
Denver, CO 80206
Monday: 8am - 5pm
Tuesday: 8am - 5pm
Wednesday: 8am - 5pm
Thursday: 8am - 5pm
Friday: 8am - 5pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Qualifications and experience

Specialties
Hematology and Oncology, Cancers - Anal Cancer, Cancers - Biliary Cancer, Cancers - Bladder Cancer, Cancers - Breast Cancer, Cancers - Gastroenterologic Cancer (Colon, Stomach, Esophageal, Liver), Cancers - Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Cancers - Kidney Cancer, Cancers - Lung Cancer, Cancers - Pancreatic Cancer, Cancers - Prostate Cancer
Gender
Male
Languages spoken
English
Education
Fellowship
University Of Colorado - Denver (2010)

Residency
University of Kansas Medical Center School of Medicine (2007)

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (2003)

Masters of Science
University of Colorado - Boulder

Board Certification
Certification Agency Specialty Year
American Board of Internal Medicine Medical Oncology 2010
Clinical interest for patients

My clinical interests center on providing excellent, compassionate care for every patient I serve. I continue to maintain a strong interest in breast, gastroenterology, neuroendocrine, lung, and genitourinary cancer. I value the multidisciplinary nature of oncology – not only collaborating with medical and surgical specialists, but also working closely with social workers and other support services to address the emotional needs of patients and their families.

I believe the most effective care comes from treating the whole person, both medically and emotionally, and ensuring that each patient feels supported throughout their cancer journey.

Research interest for patients

I have served as the principal investigator on multiple clinical trials and plan to continue my research efforts at UCHealth. I believe that a strong clinical trials program enhances the quality of cancer care we can offer, providing patients with access to innovative therapies and advancing the field as a whole. UCHealth has a robust and well-established clinical trials program, and I am excited to contribute to this work to help improve cancer care across the Denver-metro area and surrounding communities.

Published works

Published and Accepted Research Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals

Review Articles

Müller S, Khuri FR, Kono SA, Beitler JJ, Shin DM, Saba NF. HPV positive squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx. Are we observing an unusual pattern of metastases? Head Neck Pathol. 2012 Sep;6(3):336-44.

Behera M, Owonikoko TK, Chen Z, Kono SA, Khuri FR, Belani CP, Ramalingam SS. Single agent maintenance therapy for advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Lung Cancer. 2012 Aug;77(2):331-8.

Kono SA, Haigentz M Jr, Yom SS, Saba N. EGFR Monoclonal Antibodies in the Treatment of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A View beyond Cetuximab. Chemother Res Pract. 2012;2012:901320.

Ansa B, Goodman M, Ward K, Kono SA, Owonikoko TK, Higgins K, Beitler JJ, Grist W, Wadsworth T, El-Deiry M, Chen AY, Khuri FR, Shin DM, Saba NF. Paranasal sinus squamous cell carcinoma incidence and survival based on Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data, 1973 to 2009. Cancer. 2013 Jul 15;119(14):2602-10 PMID: 23674262.

Ellington CL, Goodman M, Kono SA, Grist W, Wadsworth T, Chen AY, Owonikoko T, Ramalingam S, Shin DM, Khuri FR, Beitler JJ, Saba NF. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck: Incidence and survival trends based on 1973-2007 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data. Cancer. 2012 Sep 15;118(18):4444-51.

Kono SA, Doebele R, Heasley LE, Camidge DR. Adding to the mix – The emerging role of FGFR and PDGFR as relevant tumor- and vasculature-associated targets for non-small lung cancer. Curr Cancer Drug Targets. Oct. 27, 2011.

Kono SA, Weyant M, Franklin W, Gaspar L, Camidge DR. Surprised by Stage III: Unexpected N2 Lymph Node Involvement Found During Surgery for Early-Stage NSCLC. Oncology. 2009; 23 (5): 424-429. PMID: 19476267 [no DOI]

Kono SA, Marshall ME, Ware KE, Heasley LE. The fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling pathway as a mediator of intrinsic resistance to EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer. Drug Resistance Update. 2009 Aug-Oct;12(4-5):95-102. PMID: 19501013

Kono SA, Nauser TD. Contemporary Empyema Necessitatis. American Journal of Medicine, 120, 303-305, 2007. PMID: 17398220

Book Chapters

“Systemic Chemotherapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer” Chapter in Cardiothoracic Board Review. Kenneth L. Franco, Vinod Thourani. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. December 16, 2011 | ISBN-10: 1609132351

Published Abstracts

  1. Scott Kono, Jammie Reichel, Alex Menter, Stephen Mayer, Lillian Klancar, Keren Sturtz, Vignesh Narayanan, Rebecca Crank, Brenda Elliot, William Grimes, Jeromie Barden, Kylee Virdi. Implementing and analyzing a distress screening tool (DST) in a community oncology setting: Breaking down barriers to comprehensive medical and psychosocial (PS) care—the Kaiser Permanente Lone Tree, CO (KP-LT) experience. J Clin Oncolo 35, 2017 (Abstract e21553)
  2. Behera M, Ramalingam S, Saba N, Kono SA, Shin D, Owonikoko T, Khuri F. Single agent maintenance therapy for advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis. Abstract #7553. American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL, June 4-8, 2011.
  3. Marileila Varella-Garcia, Antonella Flacco, Yong Gon Cho, Aik-Choon Tan, Scott Kono, Wilbur A. Franklin, Federico Cappuzzo, Lucio Crino, Robert C. Doebele, D. Ross Camidge. Lack of Intra-tumoral Heterogeneity in Lung Adenocarcinoma Supports Gene Fusions Involving ALK as Early Clonal Events. Abstract # 6042. AACR Meeting, Washington, D.C., April 17-21, 2010.
  4. Kono SA, Tan AC, Bunn PA, Davies A, Doebele RC, Oton AB, Hirsch FR, Varella-Garcia M, Franklin W, Camidge DR. Increased EGFR gene copy number is variably associated with both EGFR and KRAS Mutation (Mt) status and influences Progression Free Survival (PFS) to first line chemotherapy in EGFR/KRAS wildtype (WT) patients. Poster presentation, abstract #117. EORTC-NCI-ASCO Annual Meeting on “Biomarkers in Cancer”, Brussels, Belgium, October 15-17, 2009
  5. Marshall ME, Kono SA, Bishon B, Marek L, Frederick BA, Raben D, Heasley LE. Autocrine Signaling by FGFs and FGFRs in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells. AACR Poster Presentation, April 2009
  6. Roberts RR, Reschke DT, Prioleau K, Schaider JJ, Kono S, Kampe LM. Improved Cardiac Testing Using Risk Assessment and Non-Invasive Tests in a Series, Abstract: Academic Emergency Medicine, Vol 8 No. 5, May 2001.
  7. Roberts RR, Schaider JJ, Reilly B, Evans A, Das K, Reschke DT, Prioleau K, Sebollena J, Kono S, Kampe LM. Feasibility and Predictive Value of Combining Two Chest Pain Algorithms Using Bayesian Theory, Abstract: Academic Emergency Medicine, Vol 8 No. 5, May 2001.

 

 

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