Kishwer S. Nehal, MD
Dermatologist & Mohs Surgeon
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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
- Early-Stage Melanoma
- Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
- Basal Cell Carcinoma
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About Me
- Director, Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery
As Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery, I lead a team of highly accomplished Mohs surgeons who are experts in treating skin cancers. We care for people with basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, early-stage melanoma, lentigo maligna melanoma, and other complex skin cancers.
Our Mohs surgery program includes dedicated nurses and a highly specialized and experienced Mohs lab. We offer reconstruction after skin cancer removal, laser surgery, and other dermatologic surgery procedures. The whole team pays very close attention to each aspect of our patients’ care.
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I also lead MSK’s Multidisciplinary Skin Cancer Management Program, which brings together multiple specialists to care for skin cancers that are difficult to treat due to size, location, or other high-risk features. Our experienced team has the resources and the expertise to handle the most complex cases — and we do not shy away from challenges.
For many years, skin cancers were considered to be less concerning than other cancers. But with the dramatic rise in diagnoses worldwide, skin cancer is receiving more serious attention. At MSK, we have always emphasized skin cancer prevention, early diagnosis, and effective treatments. Fortunately, the overall prognosis is usually very good, but since most skin cancers occur in delicate areas of the face, this requires a precise and thoughtful surgical approach. We also recognize that the treatment decisions we make today can affect a person years later. This important understanding helps guide the treatment and reconstruction recommendations that I discuss with my patients. I strive to support my patients through each step of their care, tailoring surgical options to meet their needs and focusing on their quality of life now and in the future.
Along with caring for patients, I conduct clinical research on noninvasive imaging techniques, such as confocal microscopy. New technologies are helping us reduce unnecessary biopsies, find skin cancers sooner, and map skin cancer margins to guide surgery while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible. I also study melanomas that occur on the face to look for ways to improve treatment. With two decades of study, we published the first dedicated book on lentigo maligna melanoma to help physicians in managing this difficult skin cancer.
I serve on national committees working to improve the care of people with skin cancer. I work with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network to develop guidelines on managing skin cancers. I have also helped the American Joint Committee on Cancer to develop staging criteria for squamous cell carcinomas of the skin that have the potential for spread. I have shared my expertise at national and international meetings and written numerous journal articles and book chapters to improve our knowledge of challenging skin cancers. I also work with the Dermatology Foundation, an organization that awards grants to young dermatologists doing innovative research to advance patient care.
I knew from a young age that I was interested in medicine. But it wasn’t until medical school that I discovered the multifaceted nature of skin cancers and became intrigued by the challenges of Mohs and reconstructive surgery. I have been fortunate to have mentors who were passionate about improving skin cancer treatments and also caring and thoughtful in their approach to patients. These formative experiences shaped me as a physician and inspired me to be a dedicated mentor to tomorrow’s skin cancer specialists.
In my free time, I enjoy being with my family and friends, traveling, and exploring the great outdoors.
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.
My Specialties
- Early-Stage Melanoma
- Lentigo Maligna Melanoma
- Basal Cell Carcinoma
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer
- Dermatologic Surgery
- Mohs Micrographic Surgery
- Cutaneous Reconstruction
- Laser Surgery
Education
- MD, Boston University School of Medicine
Residencies
- Dermatology - New York University Medical Center
Awards and Honors
- Castle Connolly: Top AAPI Doctor (2024)
- Castle Connolly: Exceptional Women in Medicine (2024)
- Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
- Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
- Exceptional Women in Medicine Award, Castle Connolly (2023)
- Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)
- Castle Connolly: New York Magazine Top Doctors (2014-Present)
Fellowships
- Dermatologic Surgery - New York University Medical Center
Board Certifications
- Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery
- Dermatology
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
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS
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
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN
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
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
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. Nehal sees patients at one location.
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
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Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Nehal’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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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.
Kishwer S. Nehal 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].