Meet Head and Neck Cancer Surgeon Bhuvanesh Singh

Bhuvanesh Singh, MD, PhD, FACS

Surgeon

Titles

Director, Laboratory of Epithelial Cancer Biology; Co-Director, Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Management Program

Clinical Expertise

Surgery for Head & Neck Cancers; Mouth Cancer; Salivary Gland Cancer

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646-497-9161
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (Eastern time)
Accepted Insurance Providers

Dr. Singh accepts the following list of insurance providers. Select your insurance provider to see more details.

Aetna

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (City of NY retirees only, starting 9/1/23)

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield New York

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS

Blue Cross Health Plus

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Carrum Health

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental

Cigna

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem Essential

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

Empire Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO, DSN

Empire Essential

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Fidelis

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

First Health

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Healthfirst

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO

Horizon Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Magnacare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental

MVP

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

Payor Type: Other
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): TBD

Oscar

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO/EPO

Oxford

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Qualcare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

UMR

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS

United Healthcare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Contact and Location

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Find a Convenient Location

Memorial Sloan Kettering has locations throughout New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester. These locations offer many services, including screening, chemotherapy, and medical testing.

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About Me

Education

MD, SUNY Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn

Residencies

General Surgery - SUNY Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn; Otolaryngology - SUNY Health Sciences Center at Brooklyn

Fellowships

Head and Neck Surgery - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

I am a surgeon who specializes in treating head and neck cancers. I have been practicing at MSK for more than two decades, and have performed over 6,000 procedures, including cancer removals and facial reconstructions. I have a particular focus on cancers of the mouth (tongue, floor of mouth, and buccal mucosa), skull base, and salivary and thyroid glands, as well as melanomas and skin cancers of the head and neck region. I provide my patients with comprehensive surgical care to effectively treat their cancer while also addressing any reconstruction needs. Once my team takes on the responsibility of your treatment, we will aggressively pursue all avenues to achieve a cure.

Read more

Treatment for head and neck cancer is constantly evolving. Once treated mainly with surgery, head and neck cancer treatment now involves cooperative, multidisciplinary teams to achieve the best possible outcome. Our treatment team includes surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, speech therapists, rehabilitative specialists, as well as additional support services. Our goal is to care for patients using the most effective tools.

As Co-Director of the Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Management Program, I work to bring together MSK’s world-renowned experts from each treatment discipline necessary for effectively treating challenging skin cancers. We pool our skills and experience to develop personalized treatment plans for people with advanced, unusual, or aggressive skin cancers. We are able to offer many services in a single location to help make treatment more efficient for our patients. My philosophy to care for the whole patient, not just the cancer, serves as the basis for our team approach.

Over the course of my career, I have learned that even though our current treatment approaches are effective, they do not work for every person with head and neck cancers. My desire to improve patient cure rates and quality of life has led me to study cancer genetics, with the goal of gaining a better understanding of head and neck cancers. I obtained a PhD to supplement my clinical knowledge, and I am actively involved in clinical and laboratory research aimed at improving treatments for people with cancer. Our research has helped to establish treatment approaches that serve as cornerstones for modern management of head and neck cancers.

Given the effectiveness of our treatment approaches and research efforts, I was appointed Director of the Laboratory of Epithelial Cancer Biology, and I have been asked to share my expertise at numerous national and international meetings. I have authored more than 250 articles and 30 book chapters related to head and neck cancers. In addition, the American Joint Committee on Cancer has asked me to help develop a new staging system for head and neck cancers, which will serve as the basis for state-of-the-art therapeutic decision making.

Once my team takes on the responsibility of your treatment, we will aggressively pursue all avenues to achieve a cure.

-Dr. Singh

Awards and Honors

  • Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: New York Magazine Top Doctors (2010-2020)

Colleagues

Doctors at Memorial Sloan Kettering work as teams, with specialists from all different areas. This allows us to consider all your needs together, and to give you the best possible care.

See all Head and Neck Service doctors

Clinical Trials

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Find a Clinical Trial for You

Memorial Sloan Kettering's doctors and scientists are constantly developing new treatments for cancer. MSK is typically running hundreds of clinical trials at a given time.

You may be able to participate in a clinical trial even if you are new to MSK. Search our online directory to find trial information and see more about who can participate.

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Research and Publications

Selected Books and Book Chapters
“Quality of life and rehabilitation.” Singh B. In: Cancer of the Head and Neck — American Cancer Society Atlas of Clinical Oncology. Shah JP, Patel SG, eds. London: BC Decker; 2001.

“Skin cancers of the head and neck.” Singh B. In: Cancer of the Head and Neck — American Cancer Society Atlas of Clinical Oncology. Shah JP, Patel SG, eds. London: BC Decker; 2001.

“Cervical lymph nodes and unknown primary.” Singh B. In: The Practice of General Surgery. Bland KI, Shah JP, eds. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2002: 279-297.

“Surgical approached to the oral cavity.” Carew J, Singh B, Shah JP. In: Oral Cancer. Shah JP, Batsakis JG, Johnson NW, eds. London: Martin Dunitz; 2003: 249-296.

“Basic science of head and neck cancer.” Singh B. In: Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology. 3rd ed. Shah JP, Patel S, eds. St. Louis: Mosby; 2003: 679-694.

“Quality of life and functional outcome in head and neck cancer.” Singh B. In: Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology. 3rd ed. Shah JP, Patel S, eds. St. Louis: Mosby; 2003: 673-678.

“Thyroid cancer: oncogenes and tumor markers.” Patel KN, Singh B. In: Practical Manual of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease. Arora A, Tuttle RM, Tolley N, eds. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010.

“What is the new concept of functional modified neck dissection?” Singh B. In: Pearls and Pitfalls in Head and Neck Surgery. Practical Tips to Minimize Complications. Cernea CR, et al.,  eds. Basel, Switzerland: Karger; 2008: 58-9.

“Nonepidermoid cancers of the head and neck.” Castro J, Kummer BR, Singh B. In: Plastic Surgery: Indications and Practice. Guyuron B, Eriksson E, Persing JA, Chung K, Disa J, Gosain A, Rubin JP, Kinney B, eds. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2009.

Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology. 4th ed. Shah JP, Patel S, Singh B, eds. St. Louis: Mosby; 2012.

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Singh’s journal articles. Pubmed is an online index of research papers and other articles from the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

See all on PubMed

Disclosures

Doctors and faculty members often work with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology, and life sciences companies, and other organizations outside of MSK, to find safe and effective cancer treatments, to improve patient care, and to educate the health care community.

MSK requires doctors and faculty members to report (“disclose”) the relationships and financial interests they have with external entities. As a commitment to transparency with our community, we make that information available to the public.

Bhuvanesh Singh discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • CinSano
    Intellectual Property Rights; Provision of Services (uncompensated)

If you’re a patient at MSK and would like more information about your doctor’s external relationships, please talk with your doctor.

The information published here is for a specific annual disclosure period. There may be differences between information on this and other public sites as a result of different reporting periods and/or the various ways relationships and financial interests are categorized by organizations that publish such data.

This page and data include information for a specific MSK annual disclosure period (January 1, 2021 through disclosure submission in spring 2022). This data reflects interests that may or may not still exist. This data is updated annually.

Learn more about MSK’s COI policies here. For questions regarding MSK’s COI-related policies and procedures, email MSK’s Compliance Office at [email protected].


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