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Dr. Lisa R. Allen

Lisa R. Allen, MD

Breast Surgeon

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Breast Surgical Oncology
  • Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery
  • Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy
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Dr. Allen's Office Information
Languages: English
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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Associate Attending Physician
Get To Know Me

I wanted to work in the field of medicine since I was a child and found inspiration after volunteering at a hospital as a teenager. From the very first time that I stepped into the operating room during my surgical rotation in medical school, I knew I was going to be a surgeon. I have also always been interested in art and have a degree in sculpture, so I am adept at working with my hands. Surgery and sculpture tie in nicely together.

I see patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth and Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge in New Jersey and also operate at the Josie Robertson Surgery Center in Manhattan. I treat both men and women for all types of breast cancer. I routinely use minimally invasive surgical techniques that involve making smaller incisions. Using the hidden scar approach, I can achieve excellent cosmetic results for my patients. I also perform surgery for high-risk lesions that carry a potential risk for breast cancer.

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I support my patients throughout the entire process of initial diagnosis and surgical treatment. I work to establish a trusting relationship and try to break down complex terminology so that patients can better understand their diagnosis and options for treatment.

Every patient is different. Not only is their cancer diagnosis different, but how they approach the diagnosis and treatment plan can differ from person to person. I tailor each patient’s treatment plan as well as my conversations with them in a way that best supports their needs and life circumstances.

I am a member of the ethics committee of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. I am also a site surveyor for the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and the Commission on Cancer, a group of professional organizations run by the American College of Surgeons, that are dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for people with cancer. As a site surveyor, I visit other institutions across the country to ensure that they are following the appropriate standards of care and quality metrics.

I have an interest in the social determinants of health and have worked with diverse populations of patients. I am also interested in examining how artificial intelligence can play a role in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. My goal is to make a global impact on the health of women with breast cancer, and working at an institution like Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center helps me achieve that goal.

Outside of work, I love reading and art. I also enjoy spending time with my children, hiking, and exploring the outdoors. 

My Role at MSK

A breast surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on breasts.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Breast Surgical Oncology
  • Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery
  • Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy
  • Hidden Scar Technique
Education & Honors

Education

  • Bachelor of Science, State University of New York, Binghamton
  • Doctorate of Medicine, State University of New York, Upstate Medical University

Residencies

  • General Surgery, Drexel University College of Medicine

Awards and Honors

  • Exceptional Women in Medicine, Philadelphia Magazine (2023, 2024)
  • Top Doctors New York Metro Area (digital guide): 2023
  • Jersey's Best - Top Doctors for Cancer (2023, 2024)
  • New York Magazine: Top Doctors (2023, 2024)
  • Jersey's Best Magazine Top Doctors & Top Doctors for Women's Health (2023)

Fellowships

  • Breast Surgical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • American Board of 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.

Make an Appointment

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New Patients
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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.

Contact and Location

Dr. Allen sees patients at three locations.

Location
Middletown, NJ
Basking Ridge, NJ
New York, NY
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth
480 Red Hill Road Middletown NJ 07748
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Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge
136 Mountain View Boulevard Basking Ridge NJ 07920
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Josie Robertson Surgery Center
1133 York Avenue New York NY 10065
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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.

See all Breast Service doctors

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

Allen LR, Lago-Toro CE, Hughes JH, Careaga E, Brown AT, Chernick M, Barrio AV, Frazier TG. Is there a role for MRI in the preoperative assessment of patients with DCIS? Ann Surg Oncol. 2010 Sep;17(9):2395-400. doi: 10.1245/s10434-010-1000-9. Epub 2010 Mar 9. PMID: 20217259.

Bedrosian I, Xing Y, Abdel Rahman S, Allen L, Le-Petross H, Whitman GJ, Meric-Bernstam F, Hunt KK, Babiera GV, Cormier JN. A Cost Analysis of Preoperative Breast MRI Use for Patients with Invasive Lobular Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2016 Jan;23(1):23-9. doi: 10.1245/s10434-015-4710-1. Epub 2015 Jul 9. PMID: 26156655.

Teller P, Nguyen TT, Tseng J, Allen L, Matsen CB, Bellavance E, Kaufman D, Hieken T, Nagel S, Patten C, Pomerenke L, Tevis SE, Sarantou T. Innovation in Breast Surgery: Practical and Ethical Considerations. Ann Surg Oncol. 2022 Oct;29(10):6144-6150. doi: 10.1245/s10434-022-12136-5. Epub 2022 Jul 19. PMID: 35854028.

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Allen’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