Kenric Tam, MD
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Areas of Expertise
Conditions I Treat
- Head and neck cancers
- Laryngeal (larynx) cancer
- Mouth (oral) cancer
My Specialties
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Endoscopic surgery
- Laser surgery
Get to Know Me
I am a head and neck surgeon dedicated to caring for people with both cancerous and noncancerous tumors affecting the head and neck. These include:
- Mouth (oral) cancer
- Throat cancer
- Laryngeal cancer
- Salivary gland cancer
- Nasal cavity and sinus cancers
- Esophageal cancer
- Head and neck skin cancer
- Thyroid cancer
I have training in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the ears, nose, and throat. I am also trained in head and neck surgery, including microvascular free flap reconstruction, a surgical procedure for head and neck reconstruction that moves tissue and blood vessels from one part of the body to another. My specialized training in these areas allows me to provide the highest level of care for my patients.
I see patients at Memorial Hospital and the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and perform surgery at the Josie Robertson Surgery Center in Manhattan. I also see patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge in New Jersey.
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Head and neck cancer presents unique challenges, as it can affect integral aspects of our daily lives such as speaking and eating. I am committed to providing my patients and their families with compassionate and expert care. I collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team of world-renowned specialists, including radiation and medical oncologists, plastic surgeons, dentists, speech and swallow therapists, pathologists, and radiologists. Together, we aim to not just remove the tumor or cancer but achieve the best possible functional and cosmetic outcomes while prioritizing quality of life.
In addition to treating head and neck and thyroid cancers, I work with neurosurgeons to address sinus (nasal), spine, skull base, and pituitary tumors. Whenever possible, we use minimally invasive and endoscopic techniques to speed recovery and reduce side effects.
My research focuses on strategies to ensure complete cancer removal during surgery while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible. I have authored numerous textbook chapters on head and neck cancer and published research in leading basic science, translational, and clinical journals.
Before pursuing medicine, I was a classically trained concert pianist and earned a master’s degree in piano performance. I continue to enjoy playing the piano and attending concerts in my free time.
I'm a head and neck surgeon, which is a doctor with special training in surgery on the head and neck. This includes the larynx, lips, mouth, nose, salivary glands, and throat.
- Assistant Attending Surgeon
Conditions I Treat
- Head and neck cancers
- Laryngeal (larynx) cancer
- Mouth (oral) cancer
- Nose (nasal) cancer and sinus tumors
- Salivary gland tumors
- Skin cancer and conditions
- Throat cancers and conditions
- Thyroid cancer and conditions
- Tongue cancer
- Pituitary and skull base tumors
- Melanoma
My Specialties
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Endoscopic surgery
- Laser surgery
- Robotic surgery
- Thyroid surgery
- Thyroidectomy
- Lymph node dissection
Education
- BA, Harvard College
- Master of Music, New England Conservatory of Music
- MD, Stanford University School of Medicine
Residencies
- Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles
Fellowships
- Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK)
- Plastic and Reconstructive Microsurgery, MSK
Awards and Honors
- Hoopes Prize for Outstanding and Original Thesis, Harvard College (2012)
- Medical Scholars Discovery Grant, Stanford University (2014)
- Medical Scholars Research Fellowship (2016-2017)
Insurance Information
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In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
TBD
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
City Employee Health Plans (Gold and Gold Care)
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
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Contact and Location
Dr. Tam sees patients at four 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
- Tam, K., Huang, S., Mukdad, L., Alhiyari, Y., Krane, J., Shori, R., Stafsudd, O. and St. John, M. (2023), Real-Time Intraoperative Detection of Margins for Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 169: 1390-1392.
- Tam, K., Alhiyari, Y., Huang, S. et al. Label-free, real-time detection of perineural invasion and cancer margins in a murine model of head and neck cancer surgery. Sci Rep 12, 12871 (2022).
- Tam K, Schoppy DW, Shin JH, et al. Assessing the Impact of Targeting CEACAM1 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2018;159(1):76-84.
- Tam, K., Orosco, R.K., Dimitrios Colevas, A., Bedi, N., Starmer, H.M., Beadle, B.M. and Holsinger, F.C. (2019), Cost comparison of treatment for oropharyngeal carcinoma. The Laryngoscope, 129: 1604-1609.
- Orosco RK, Tam K, Nakayama M, Holsinger FC, Spriano G. Transoral supraglottic laryngectomy using a next-generation single-port robotic surgical system. Head & Neck. 2019; 41: 2143–2147.
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Tam’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
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