My interest on Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare but aggressive skin cancer, began during my dermatology residency at Washington University School of Medicine, when I encountered several patients with advanced MCC. Despite recently approved immunotherapies, the majority of MCC patients still succumb to metastasis and there is no definitive therapy to overcome resistance, or to serve as definitive treatments for MCC patients who are ineligible for immunotherapy due to comorbidities. As a physician scientist, my ultimate career goal is to address this critical need for MCC patients.