Lawrence H. Schwartz

Lawrence H. Schwartz, MD

Radiologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Oncologic Imaging, Including CT and MRI
  • Validation of Imaging Biomarkers
  • Medical Informatics

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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Chair, Department of Radiology
  • Hedvig Hricak Chair in Radiology
Get To Know Me

As Chair of the Department of Radiology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), I oversee a team of radiologists renowned for their expertise in oncologic imaging across all disease areas and all diagnostic and therapeutic imaging modalities.

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In the more than two decades that I have practiced, I have cared for patients with many different types of cancer. Radiology and imaging studies are usually the gateways to decisions about the options that will best treat the patient’s disease. To that end, patients and their caregivers rely on the quality and timeliness of their imaging to shed light on the next steps of their cancer treatment journey. My mission — and the mission of our radiology department — is to provide expert consultation, diagnostic, interventional, and therapeutic imaging in as timely and as convenient a manner as possible. This is what all patients who require imaging can expect at MSK. Our goal is for patients to feel secure and supported by our expert radiologists, all of whom are dedicated to serving patient imaging needs accurately, quickly, and compassionately.

My path to radiology began during my third year of medical school. I became fascinated not only with the technology of the radiology equipment, but also with what these imaging devices could tell us diagnostically about a patient’s disease. Later, during my training as a cross sectional imaging fellow using imaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT), I came to realize how critical imaging is to cancer care, from screening to diagnosis to treatment planning. The fascination that I felt as I gained my early exposure to the field of radiology — and, by extension, the power of medical imaging — has carried throughout my career as a radiologist.

Radiologic technology has evolved rapidly in recent years, resulting in non-invasive imaging and treatment approaches that have revolutionized cancer care. To my leadership role at MSK I bring a deep appreciation for radiology’s dynamism. Medical imaging is always advancing technologically. These new developments create opportunities for us to integrate cutting-edge technology into cancer care to improve decision-making and patient outcomes. I have dedicated my career to exploring novel applications for new imaging technology, with a focus on refining clinical care and supporting drug discovery. My research has supported the development and validation of imaging biomarkers in cancer care. It has also led to the adoption of new techniques to evaluate and correlate imaging characteristics with molecular features of disease processes, such as disease progression.

I have published more than 300 studies and presently serve as the Chair of the Imaging Committee of the Southwest Oncology Group and of the Alliance for Clinical Trials. I am a founding member of the Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance and the Quantitative Imaging Network, and I also serve on other national-level boards dedicated cancer and its research.

My current work centers on the use of artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology in radiology. There is no field in medicine that is currently using AI more than radiology, and although AI is in its infancy, it has the potential to transform clinical decision-making. I am presently working with medical oncologists to carry out retrospective and prospective evaluations of this technology. The insights from these studies will help us create and use AI-supported tools in radiology. AI is one of the most exciting advances in medicine today, and I believe that its impact on patient care will be felt in the near future.

Another area of rapid growth and critical importance to our patients is theranostics (a combination of the words “therapy” and “diagnostics”). Theranostics uses diagnostic testing (frequently, imaging) to determine the presence of a molecular target for which a targeted drug can be used. Often, this can be done non-invasively through molecular imaging. This type of imaging allows us to detect and quantify tumor burden (the total amount of cancer in the body). The imaging aspect of theranostic testing provides crucial diagnostic information that first helps us to understand each patient’s cancer, down to a cellular level, and then helps us to select the most precise therapy possible.

MSK is a world leader in theranostics, and the advances in this emerging area are owed, in part, to the multidisciplinary nature of cancer care at MSK. Having “grown up” at MSK during the early stages of my career, I can fully appreciate what a special institution this is, with incredible scientists and clinicians working together to advance the field of oncology and the individual care of each patient. I always say that when one thinks of radiology, one immediately thinks of our high-tech machines, but it is truly the people — and in the case of cancer care, the team of clinicians — that are so vital to both diagnostics and therapeutics. We still have a lot to do in the field of radiology, and there is no better place in the world to advance our science than with the teams at MSK.

My Role at MSK

A radiologist is a doctor with special training in using imaging to diagnose and treat disease. Imaging includes X-rays, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Oncologic Imaging, Including CT and MRI
  • Validation of Imaging Biomarkers
  • Medical Informatics
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, Boston University School of Medicine

Residencies

  • Diagnostic Radiology - New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center
  • Internal Medicine (Internship) - Winthrop University Hospital, State University of New York at Stony Brook

Awards and Honors

  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)

Fellowships

  • Cross Sectional Imaging (MRI/US/CT) - Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Board Certifications

  • Diagnostic Radiology

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 retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield New York

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

Blue Cross Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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 Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

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

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

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

Request an appointment by logging on to MyMSK or calling your doctor’s office. If you aren’t registered for MyMSK, call 646-227-2593 for your Enrollment ID.

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.

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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

Dercle L, Zhao B, Gönen M, Moskowitz CS, Firas A, Beylergil V, Connors DE, Yang H, Lu L, Fojo T, Carvajal R, Karovic S, Maitland ML, Goldmacher GV, Oxnard GR, Postow MA, Schwartz LH. Early Readout on Overall Survival of Patients With Melanoma Treated With Immunotherapy Using a Novel Imaging Analysis. JAMA Oncol. 2022 Jan 20.

Maitland ML, Wilkerson J, Karovic S, Zhao B, Flynn J, Zhou M, Hilden P, Ahmed FS, Dercle L, Moskowitz CS, Tang Y, Connors DE, Adam SJ, Kelloff G, Gonen M, Fojo T, Schwartz LH, Oxnard GR. Enhanced Detection of Treatment Effects on Metastatic Colorectal Cancer with Volumetric CT Measurements for Tumor Burden Growth Rate Evaluation. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Dec 15

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Dercle L, Zhao B, Gönen M, Moskowitz CS, Connors DE, Yang H, Lu L, Reidy-Lagunes D, Fojo T, Karovic S, Maitland ML, Oxnard GR, Schwartz LH. An imaging signature to predict outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer using routine computed tomography scans. Eur J Cancer. 2022 Jan;161:138-147. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.10.029. Epub 2021 Dec 13. PMID: 34916122

Lu L, Dercle L, Zhao B, Schwartz LH. Deep learning for the prediction of early on-treatment response in metastatic colorectal cancer from serial medical imaging. Nat Commun. 2021 Nov 17;12(1):6654. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-26990-6. PMID: 34789774; PMCID: PMC8599694.

Seymour L, Bogaerts J, Perrone A, Ford R, Schwartz LH, Mandrekar S, Lin NU, Litière S, Dancey J, Chen A, Hodi FS, Therasse P, Hoekstra OS, Shankar LK, Wolchok JD, Ballinger M, Caramella C, de Vries EGE; RECIST working group. iRECIST: guidelines for response criteria for use in trials testing immunotherapeutics. Lancet Oncol. 2017 Mar;18(3):e143-e152. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30074-8. Epub 2017 Mar 2. Erratum in: Lancet Oncol. 2019 May;20(5):e242. PMID: 28271869; PMCID: PMC5648544.

Publications on PubMed

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

Lawrence H. Schwartz discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Merck & Co Inc.
    Professional Services and Activities

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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