David H. Ilson, MD, PhD
Gastrointestinal Oncologist
My Role at MSKWe post reviews for MSK healthcare providers who have at least 30 patient experience surveys completed. If you do not see reviews for a provider, it may be because they do not yet have enough survey responses, or the provider may not be part of the group of healthcare providers included in the survey.
Only outpatient providers are included in the survey. Healthcare providers who only work in the hospital or in urgent care are not included in the survey. Pathologists or researchers who do not provide direct care to patients do not have reviews.
Areas of Expertise
My Specialties
- Colorectal, Esophageal, Pancreatic, Gastric, and Other Gastrointestinal Cancers
- Unknown Primary Tumors
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About Me
- Attending Physician
I am a medical oncologist with special interest and expertise in treating patients who have upper gastrointestinal cancers, particularly those with esophageal cancer.
My research focus is studying new agents to treat advanced disease and evaluating novel agents in combined-modality therapy to treat locally advanced disease.
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In 1992, I joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Gastrointestinal Oncology Service. I am an attending physician and member at Memorial Hospital and a professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. I completed a fellowship in medical oncology and hematology here at Memorial Sloan Kettering after receiving master’s and PhD degrees in basic science and an MD degree from New York University. I completed my internship and residency in internal medicine at Bellevue Hospital at NYU Medical Center. My undergraduate training was at the University of Connecticut.
I am a member of the GI committees of the national clinical research groups Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG). I am also a member of the Upper GI Cancer Guidelines Committee of National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and chairman of the Intergroup Esophageal and Gastric Cancer Task Force Committee.
A gastrointestinal (GAS-troh-EN-teh-RAH-loh-jist) oncologist is a cancer doctor with special training in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. This includes anal, colorectal, esophageal, gastric (stomach), liver, and pancreatic cancers, as well as GI stromal tumors and neuroendocrine tumors.
My Specialties
- Colorectal, Esophageal, Pancreatic, Gastric, and Other Gastrointestinal Cancers
- Unknown Primary Tumors
Education
- MD, PhD, New York University School of Medicine
Residencies
- NYU Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital
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 (2007-2009, 2016)
Fellowships
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board Certifications
- Internal Medicine
- Medical 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.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
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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New Patients
Current Patients
Contact and Location
Dr. Ilson sees patients at two locations.
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.
Clinical Trials
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 trialsResearch and Publications
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Ilson’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 PubMedPatient Reviews
Your trust is our main concern
We strive to keep reviews trustworthy, honest and fair. Learn more about our patient experience reviews.
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.
David H. Ilson discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
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Amgen
Professional Services and Activities -
Astellas
Professional Services and Activities -
Bayer
Professional Services and Activities -
Bristol-Myers Squibb
Professional Services and Activities -
Daiichi Sankyo
Professional Services and Activities -
Lilly Oncology
Professional Services and Activities
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MacroGenics, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities -
Merck & Co Inc.
Professional Services and Activities -
Natera Inc.
Professional Services and Activities -
Roche
Professional Services and Activities -
Taiho
Professional Services and Activities
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].
