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Memorial Sloan Kettering radiation oncologist Christopher Barker

Christopher A. Barker, MD

Radiation Oncologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Skin Cancer (Melanoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans, Cutaneous Angiosarcoma, Cutaneous Sarcoma, Adnexal Carcinoma, Sweat Gland Carcinoma, Kaposi Sarcoma)
  • Soft Tissue Sarcomas
  • Keloid Scar
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Dr. Barker's Office Information
Languages: English

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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Vice-Chair, Clinical Research, Department of Radiation Oncology
  • Director, Skin Cancer and Melanoma Radiation Oncology
Get To Know Me

I am a board-certified radiation oncologist who specializes in the treatment of skin cancer (including melanoma) and eye cancer with radiation therapy.

I am one of a few radiation oncologists in the country who focus on these diseases. I work closely with a dedicated team of experts. We use advanced radiation techniques to deliver the best possible care to our patients. Some of these techniques include superficial radiation therapy (SRT), electronic and radioisotope-based brachytherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and proton therapy.

A common question patients ask is whether I have seen or helped manage a cancer problem like theirs. The answer is usually yes. At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), our philosophy is to come up with the best solution for even the most rare and challenging problems.

I have been a member of the MSK team since 2006. I see patients at Memorial Hospital in Manhattan and MSK Westchester. 

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I am an active biomedical researcher. My goal is to develop more effective cancer treatments using radiation therapy (RT). Prior to joining MSK, I was a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Research Scholar in the Radiation Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute. There, I developed an interest in combining cancer medicines with RT to make treatment more effective.

Along with my colleagues in the Immunology Program and the Departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Pathology at MSK, I have developed several clinical trials. Many of these combine novel targeted and immune therapies with radiation therapy for different cancers.

Another major goal of my research is to find better ways to protect our patients from potential side effects of RT. To do this, I work closely with the Medical Physics Department to give more focused forms of RT. I also work with our Dermatology Service to use special types of skin imaging to more precisely guide RT.Some of these new techniques are more convenient for our patients because fewer treatment sessions are required. We have several clinical trials in this area.

My research has been supported by the American Society for Radiation Oncology, the Lymphoma Research Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. I have authored chapters in major medical textbooks as well as peer-reviewed research studies in journals. These include the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Clinical Cancer Research, Radiation Research, and the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, and Physics.

As Vice-Chair for Clinical Research, I lead the Department of Radiation Oncology’s clinical research program. This program supports our study of cutting-edge radiation treatments for all types of cancers, as well as targeted and immune therapies with RT. These clinical research studies offer unique opportunities for our patients.

In addition to taking care of patients and conducting research, I teach others about radiation oncology and skin cancer. I frequently give invited presentations on these subjects at national and international meetings.

Outside of work, I spend most of my time with my wife and three children. We enjoy traveling and various sports activities (as participants and spectators!).

My Role at MSK

A radiation oncologist is a cancer doctor with special training in using radiation therapy (RT) to treat cancer with radiation.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Skin Cancer (Melanoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Basal Cell Carcinoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans, Cutaneous Angiosarcoma, Cutaneous Sarcoma, Adnexal Carcinoma, Sweat Gland Carcinoma, Kaposi Sarcoma)
  • Soft Tissue Sarcomas
  • Keloid Scar
  • Eye Cancer
  • Ocular Melanomas (Melanoma of the Eye), Uveal Melanoma
  • Orbital Tumors
  • Breast Cancer
  • Lymphoma
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, University of Florida

Residencies

  • Radiation Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Awards and Honors

  • Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: New York Magazine Top Doctors (2019-2022)
  • Castle Connolly Top Doctors New York Metro Area (2016-2022)
  • Super Doctors: New York Super Doctors (2019-2020)
  • Super Doctors: New York Rising Stars (2016-2018)

Fellowships

  • National Cancer Institute
  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • Radiation Oncology

Insurance Information

Understanding your insurance options is an important part of managing your cancer care. We have relationships with many common healthcare providers and plans.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

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

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield New York

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

Blue Cross Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

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

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

Don't see your carrier or plan? We can help you understand your coverage.

If you don't have health insurance or are worried that your care may not be fully covered, our financial assistance programs may be able to help.

If you have questions about insurance, call us at 646-497-9176.

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Current Patients

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Contact and Location

Dr. Barker sees patients at two locations.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
West Harrison, NY
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue New York NY 10065
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester
500 Westchester Avenue West Harrison NY 10604
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Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.

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 External Beam Radiotherapy Service, Manhattan doctors

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See all Proton Therapy doctors

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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.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Barker’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.

Christopher A. Barker discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

No disclosures meeting criteria for time period


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, 2022 through disclosure submission in spring 2023). 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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