Your Kennebunk Care Teams

Can “John” Ilyas MD

Dr. Can (pronounced “John”) Ilyas came to the U.S. after graduating from medical school and completing a pathology residency training program in Turkey. He did an Internal Medicine Residency at NY Methodist Hospital, and became interested in Oncology during a rotation at Memorial Sloan Kettering. This led to a Fellowship in Hematology/Oncology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology.

Dr. Ilyas joined New England Cancer Specialists in 2008, and is on staff at Southern Maine Health Care and Maine Medical Center. He is a member of ASCO and ASH.

He feels incredibly privileged to be treating his patients and helping them during a difficult time in their lives. Dr. Ilyas is a strong believer in personalized care. As he notes, “Patients typically have so many treatment options for any given type of cancer. I try to guide them through this maze of options and educate them and their families to make sure that they understand the potential risks and benefits of one treatment versus another.”

Dr. Ilyas lives in Kennebunk with his wife and two daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, playing tennis and traveling.

Call (207) 303-3300

Melanie Cogan OCN, MSN, ANP-BC

Melanie grew up in Maine and attended Portland schools. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine in nursing and worked at Maine Medical Center on the oncology floor before moving to North Carolina, where she worked on the bone marrow transplant unit at Duke University Hospital for eight years. She went back to school and earned her Master of Science in Nursing at Duke while working full time, before she and her husband decided to move home to Maine to raise their family. They reside in Scarborough with their two daughters. Melanie enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Jonathan Proulx MD

Dr. Jonathan Proulx grew up in Western Massachusetts and attended Western New England University. Following the completion of his undergraduate degree, he taught high school chemistry before attending medical school at St. George's University. He went on to complete his residency at the Jefferson University affiliate in Morristown, NJ where he received a graduate certificate in Medical Humanities and the A. Lester Granet Humanitarian Award for the Atlantic Health System. Dr. Proulx completed his fellowship at the University of Massachusetts Baystate medical campus in Springfield, MA.

Dr. Proulx recently relocated to New Hampshire with his wife. He enjoys exploring the many restaurants as well as hiking and biking trails that the seacoast region has to offer.

Call (207) 303-3300

Elizabeth Dennis DO

Medical Director, High-Risk Cancer Genetics and Survivorship

Dr. Dennis is passionate about improving the lives of her patients. She leads two clinical programs at NECS: a high-risk program that focuses on early detection and risk reduction, and our survivorship program for patients who have moved past their cancer treatment and are focusing on their long-term health and any lifestyle adjustments that may be needed.

Dr. Dennis completed her medical education at Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Illinois, followed by an Internal Medicine residency at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital, which is affiliated with Columbia University in upstate New York. She most recently served as the director of an adult cancer survivorship program before joining NECS.

Dr. Dennis is married with two sons and two dachshunds. Away from the office, you're likely to find her outdoors, traveling, or indulging in her passion for ballroom dancing.

Call (207) 303-3300