Memorial Sloan Kettering pediatric surgeon J. Ted Gerstle

J. Ted Gerstle, MD

Pediatric Surgical Oncologist

Titles

Chief, Pediatric Surgical Service

Clinical Expertise

Pediatric Solid Tumors; Wilms' Tumor; Neuroblastoma; Sarcomas; Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumors; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Ovarian and Testicular Tumors; Kidney Cancers in Children; Hepatic Tumors (Hepatoblastoma); Germ Cell Tumors; Chest Wall and Lung Cancers in Children; Lipoblastoma; Adrenocortical Carcinoma; Pheochromocytoma; Melanoma; Pancreatic Tumors in Children; Laparoscopy; Thoracic Surgery (Including Thoracoscopy)

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212-639-5954
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (Eastern time)
Accepted Insurance Providers

Dr. Gerstle 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 7/1/23)

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

Empire Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

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

First Health

Payor Type:
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:
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:
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

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

Payor Type:
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:
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

Qualcare

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

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

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

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

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

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, Dartmouth Medical School

Residencies

General Surgery – Pennsylvania State University

Fellowships

Pediatric General Surgery – University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children

Board Certifications

Surgery (USA and Canada); Pediatric Surgery

I am a pediatric surgeon and Chief of the Pediatric Surgical Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering. I have dedicated my life to caring for children, particularly those with cancer. I take care of children and teens with many types of tumors and cancers, performing about 200 surgeries each year as part of the MSK Kids team.

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I have been a pediatric surgeon for nearly two decades. In those years, I have refined new surgical methods for various cancers. I prefer a team approach in the operating room. Working with a group of highly skilled surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other experts enables us to achieve the best possible outcomes. The pediatric surgery team at MSK is developing new surgical approaches to patient care and patient safety. These include procedures that involve smaller incisions, less pain, higher precision, and less risk of potential complications. Our goal and focus is to make these changes in surgical procedures without compromising outcomes and overall survival.

I am very excited to continue my research on a treatment called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). This noninvasive procedure uses finely focused sound waves to pinpoint a tumor and destroy it. My lab is currently exploring ways to combine HIFU with other therapies to enhance its ability to kill tumor cells. HIFU has the potential to be a treatment option for children with tumors that cannot be removed through surgery. My hope is that in time, fewer children will need surgery. HIFU could reduce the incidence of surgical complications and improve overall survival, especially for children with cancer that has returned.

When I meet a child with cancer, I explain the situation as clearly as possible and talk about how we are going to handle it. Families deserve a considerable amount of time to digest all the new information coming their way. I am happy to speak with them as much as needed so everyone understands the plan and feels confident about it. When a child is old enough to understand what is going on, it is important to involve them in the decision-making as much as possible.

I recognize the tremendous level of trust that families place in us. It is very important to me that everyone feels comfortable and that they know they are in the best of hands.

I recognize the tremendous level of trust that families place in us. It is very important to me that everyone feels comfortable and that they know they are in the best of hands.

-Dr. Gerstle

Awards and Honors

  • Chief Surgical Residents’ Award for the Best Teacher, Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada (2018)

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 Pediatric Surgical Service doctors

See all Pediatric Surgical Service doctors

Clinical Trials

Smiling doctors in the lab
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

Fahy A, Roberts A, Nasr A, Irwin M, Gerstle JT. Long term outcomes after concurrent ipsilateral nephrectomy versus kidney-sparing surgery for high-risk, intraabdominal neuroblastoma. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2018.

Dziegielewski C, Contreras R, Weitzman S, Gerstle JT. Pediatric gastrointestinal post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder: incidence, clinical features, and impact of surgical intervention on overall survival. Accepted for publication in the Journal of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. 2018.

Fonseca A, Shaikh F, Ramphal R, Ng V, McGilvray I, Gerstle JT. Extreme hepatic resections for the treatment of advanced hepatoblastoma: are planned close margins an acceptable approach? Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018 Feb; 65(2).

Kkolin D, Duan K, Ngan B, Gerstle JT, Kryzkanoska M, Somers G, Mete O. Expanding the spectrum of colonic manifestations in tuberous sclerosis: L-cell neuroendocrine tumor arising in the background of rectal pecoma. Endocrine Pathology. 2017 Jul 21.

Romao RL, Weber B, Gerstle JT, Grant R, Pippi Salle JL, Bägli DJ, Figueroa VH, Braga LH, Farhat WA, Koyle MA, Lorenzo AJ. Comparison between laparoscopic and open radical nephrectomy for the treatment of primary renal tumors in children: single-center experience over a 5-year period. J Pediatr Urol. 2014 Jun 1;10(3):488-94.

Rogers EM, Casadiego Cubides G, Lacy J, Gerstle JT, Kives S, Allen L. Preoperative risk stratification of adnexal masses: can we predict the optimal surgical management? J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol. 2014 Jun 1;27(3):125-8.

Publications on PubMed

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

J. Ted Gerstle discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb
    Ownership / Equity Interests
  • Merck & Co Inc.
    Ownership / Equity Interests
  • Pfizer, Inc.
    Ownership / Equity Interests

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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