
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)
New Patient Appointments
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Dr. Gerstle accepts the following list of insurance providers. Select your insurance provider to see more details.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with Aetna HMO, POS, and PPO plans. Aetna does not include us in any of the plans you can purchase through the insurance exchanges or through Medicare. Please ask your insurance if you need a one-time referral. MSK has an agreement with the Aetna Transplant Program for all Aetna's commercial products.
In New York State
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (Wellpoint) of New York HMO, EPO, PPO, and POS plans, with the following exceptions:
- Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield does not include us in any of the plans you can buy through the insurance exchanges.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering is not an in-network provider for Empire's Medicare Managed Care plan known as Mediblue).
- Memorial Sloan Kettering is a designated Center of Excellence by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
In New Jersey
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with some Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey plans for individuals, families, and small businesses. For example, the PPO plan is in-network with our Manhattan locations.
Horizon Blue Cross HMO is only in-network with our Basking Ridge, Bergen and Monmouth locations. It does not allow access to our Manhattan facilities.
Horizon Blue Cross PPO is in network with our Basking Ridge, Bergen, Monmouth and Manhattan locations.
OMNIA Plans: Tier I EPO based plan policy is only in-network with our Basking Ridge, Bergen and Monmouth locations and does not allow access to our Manhattan sites. Tier II EPO is only in-network with our Manhattan sites if it is a blue-card plan (there would be a suitcase logo indicating PPO on the front of the card).
Other plans may only be in-network at our Basking Ridge, Bergen or Monmouth locations.
Outside New York State and New Jersey
Some, but not all, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans outside of New York and New Jersey include Memorial Sloan Kettering as an in-network provider. Contact your insurance to find out if your plan provides in-network access to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
We understand that there may be many complexities involved with insurance coverage purchased through the health exchange network of the Affordable Care Act. We’re here to help. If you have questions about how your care will be covered by an insurance provider, or need help navigating a change in coverage, please call us at 646-227-3378; if you are not a resident of New York, you can call us at 866-248-1274. Our team is here to listen to your concerns and assist you in any way we can. We want our care to be as accessible and affordable for as many people as possible.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with CIGNA's HMO, POS, and PPO plans. CIGNA does not include us in any of the plans you can buy through the insurance exchanges.
- If you are a New York State resident: Please ask your insurance if you need a one-time referral.
- If you live outside of New York State: Please ask your insurance if you have in-network access to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with EmblemHealth’s PPO, EPO, POS, HMO plans and Medicare plans. Emblem Health does not include us in any of its Select Care network plans. EmblemHealth includes GHI, HIP, Vytra, and ConnecticCare (in NYS Only). You must bring a referral from your Emblem primary care doctor to your first appointment.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with HealthFirst’s commercial products; these commercial products are not purchased on the insurance exchanges.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with HealthSmart’s Accel, HSPC, and HPO networks.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is a designated Center of Excellence by Humana.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is a designated Center of Excellence by Interlink Health Services.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is a designated Center of Excellence by Lifetrac.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider for all MagnaCare health plans except those products you can buy through the insurance exchanges.
New York State Medicaid covers physician and hospital services at Memorial Sloan Kettering. Patients are responsible for co-payments. We also have contractual relationships involving Medicaid Managed Care plans.
Hospital and physician services at Memorial Sloan Kettering are covered by standard Medicare insurance. You are responsible for co-insurance and deductible costs.
In New York: Memorial Sloan Kettering’s New York locations are in-network with the Emblem Medicare Advantage Plans.
In New Jersey: Memorial Sloan Kettering’s New Jersey locations in Basking Ridge, Bergen and Monmouth are in-network with the Horizon Medicare Advantage Plan. This plan is not accepted for care provided at MSK’s New York locations.
If you are enrolled in any other Medicare Advantage plan, please contact your insurance carrier to determine your benefits and coverage at Memorial Sloan Kettering since your access may be limited.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with some Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS plans. Contact your insurance carrier to find out if your plan provides in-network access to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is a designated Center of Excellence by Multiplan.
If you are covered by more than one insurance plan, you will want to determine your benefits from both plans. First, you need to determine which one is your primary insurance provider by contacting your employee benefits office or your insurance carriers. After you find out which is your primary insurance provider, you should then contact your insurance carrier to determine if you have access to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with some MVP plans. Contact your insurance carrier to find out if your plan provides in-network access to Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider for New York State employees who have enrolled in UnitedHealthcare's Cancer Resource Services. If you have the Empire Plan, you should call Cancer Resources Services at 866-936-6002 to verify and enroll in this coverage.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is in-network with Oscar’s Circle Plus Network, a part of its Small Group Broad line that is offered only to select small business groups. Oscar does not include Memorial Sloan Kettering as an in-network provider for any of its individual plans. Please confirm eligibility with your insurance carrier.
We have agreements with several insurance companies that may provide additional coverage for cancer patients. These benefit programs include:
- AXA Assistance USA
- Beech Street
- Integrated Health Plans
- National Health Administrators
- National Preferred Provider Network
- UnitedHealthcare's Cancer Resource Services
- United Resource Network
- Veterans Choice Program
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with Oxford’s Freedom and Liberty plans as well as the Metro Plan (which is only offered to small business groups and no longer offered as individual plans). Please confirm with your insurance if you need a one-time referral. Note: Oxford’s Medicare Managed Care plan — Secure Horizon — does not include Memorial Sloan Kettering as an in-network provider. Oxford does not include us in any of the plans you can buy through the insurance exchanges.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with the World Trade Center Health Program.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with QualCare's PPO and HMO/POS network.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is a designated Center of Excellence by Specialty Care Management.
Hospital and physician services may be covered by TRICARE. Please call your TRICARE plan to confirm coverage at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is an in-network provider with UnitedHealthCare's HMO, POS, and PPO plans. Please confirm with your insurance if a one-time referral is needed.
UnitedHealthCare's Medicare Managed Care plan does not include Memorial Sloan Kettering as an in-network provider.
United does not include us in any of the plans you can buy through the insurance exchanges.
Memorial Sloan Kettering is a designated Center of Excellence by UnitedHealthcare.
Contact and Location
- Speaks English

Memorial Sloan Kettering has locations throughout New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester. These locations offers many services, including screening, chemotherapy, and medical testing.
See all locationsAbout 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.
Read more
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.
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
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.
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 PubMedDisclosures
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:
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, 2019 through disclosure submission in spring 2020). 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 ecoi@mskcc.org.