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Memorial Sloan Kettering surgeon Karen L. Connolly

Karen L. Connolly, MD

Dermatologist & Mohs Surgeon

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Mohs Micrographic Surgery
  • Dermatologic Surgery
  • Laser Surgery
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Dr. Connolly's Office Information
Languages: English
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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Director of Dermatologic Surgery, MSK Basking Ridge
Get To Know Me

I am a dermatologist specializing in skin cancers and Mohs micrographic surgery. I have expertise in the treatment and management of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and early-stage melanoma of the head and neck.

My practice at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is based in the Basking Ridge, New Jersey, outpatient location.

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I completed my fellowship training in Mohs micrographic surgery at MSK. Mohs micrographic surgery is a precision technique that we use to surgically remove skin cancer. It is usually reserved for areas on the head and neck, or on other parts of the body where this delicate approach is appropriate. This surgical technique removes the cancerous tissue as carefully as possible, sparing other areas unaffected by skin cancer. Mohs surgery is also used for certain aggressive skin cancers; the higher cure rate associated with Mohs surgery can improve outcomes among patients with these types of skin cancer.

A skin cancer diagnosis can affect a patient’s quality of life in many ways. My mission is to help patients undergo treatment and return to their daily lives with as little disruption as possible. After I remove a patient’s skin cancer, I perform wound reconstruction, using specialized techniques to minimize scarring. I also take the time to discuss how to best manage the wound with my patients. Although removing the cancerous tissue is always my first priority, I am equally invested in ensuring that my patients are satisfied with how the area will look after surgery.

My clinical and research interests include the treatment of early-stage melanoma of the head and neck, also called lentigo maligna or lentigo maligna melanoma, and I have authored numerous articles and book chapters on this type of cancer. When treating these cancers, I use a staged excision technique (known as slow Mohs); this allows me to precisely map out the extent of the disease. Slow Mohs is a tissue-sparing approach that offers a very high cure rate for this patient population. This is important, given that the head and neck is a sensitive area and preserving as much normal tissue possible is a top priority.

I also study skin cancer management in the aging population and squamous cell carcinoma. My other dermatologic surgery interests include laser- and light-based treatment modalities. In addition, I give talks on skin cancer diagnosis and treatment at the local and national level.

Outside of work, my favorite activities include spending time with my family, reading, and horseback riding.

My Role at MSK

A dermatologist is a doctor with special training in skin, hair, and nails.

A Mohs surgeon is a doctor with special training in treating skin cancer with Mohs surgery. This surgery removes cancer while keeping healthy tissue safe.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Mohs Micrographic Surgery
  • Dermatologic Surgery
  • Laser Surgery
  • Photodynamic Therapy
  • Cutaneous Oncology
  • Basal Cell Carcinoma
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma
  • Early-Stage Melanoma
  • Dysplastic Nevi
  • Non-Surgical Treatment of Skin Cancer
  • Scar Treatment
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, Jefferson Medical College

Residencies

  • Dermatology - Henry Ford Hospital

Fellowships

  • Procedural Dermatology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center/Weill Cornell Medical College

Board Certifications

  • Dermatology - Mohs Micrographic Surgery

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 (MTA and NYC retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

See updates

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

See updates

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

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

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

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

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

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

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

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

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

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

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. Connolly sees patients at one location.

Office Phone
Location
Basking Ridge, NJ
Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge
136 Mountain View Boulevard Basking Ridge NJ 07920
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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 Medicine doctors

See all Dermatology Service doctors

See all Basking Ridge Dermatology Section 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.

Search clinical trials

Research and Publications

Publications on PubMed

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

Karen L. Connolly 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 a complement to other publicly reported data and 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, 2023 through disclosure submission in spring 2024). 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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