Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum, MD, FACOG, FACS
Gynecologic Surgeon
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Areas of Expertise
My Specialties
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Cancers and Tumors of the Cervix, Uterus, Ovary, Vulva, and Vagina
- Laparoscopic Surgery
Meet Gynecologic Surgeon Nadeem Abu-Rustum
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About Me
- Chief, Gynecology Service
- Founder’s Chair
As Chief of the Gynecologic Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), I lead a team of 15 gynecologic surgeons that performs more than 3,000 gynecologic procedures each year. This includes surgical intervention for:
- Approximately 600 new cases of uterine (endometrial) cancer
- 500 new cases of ovarian cancer
- 100 cases of cervical cancer, and
- 75 cases of vulvar cancer annually
Our group of surgeons is highly collaborative in nature and meets weekly to discuss care strategies for all complex and challenging gynecologic cancer cases at MSK. We draw on the expertise of our gynecologic disease management team at large to provide the care that will get our patients the best possible outcomes.
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I spend two full days in the operating room each week. I also see patients in the clinic twice a week at the Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion on East 53rd Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues) in Manhattan. In addition to my role as Chief of our Gynecologic Service, I am a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
I have a special interest in minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopy) for the treatment of cancerous and non-cancerous diseases of the female reproductive system. My clinical expertise includes the treatment of cervical and endometrial (uterine) cancer and advanced gynecologic surgery for cancers of the ovary, uterus, vulva, and cervix. For women who are at an increased risk for ovarian or uterine cancer — such as those with a strong family history of breast and ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome, or mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes — we offer laparoscopic prophylactic surgery, if desired, to reduce their risk for disease development.
I also have extensive experience in treating endometrial and cervical cancer. Over the past 20 years, I have pioneered many of the surgical approaches that we use to treat stage 1 cervical cancer, such as radical trachelectomy, a procedure that can preserve fertility in select patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Additionally, I led the effort to investigate and utilize sentinel lymph node mapping — a novel approach for cervical and uterine cancer management that is now being adopted by many oncology practices nationally and internationally. This procedure may improve the detection of cancer that has spread to lymph nodes and limit the side effects of radical surgery.
My clinical research focuses on surgical therapy for gynecologic cancers and innovative surgical approaches to treating gynecologic disorders, such as:
- Sentinel node mapping
- Improved localization of tumors, and
- Fertility-sparing surgery
I am actively involved in the development and improvement of surgical techniques and oversee our surgical research programs. It is my responsibility to ensure that quality surgical care and patient safety are maintained for all gynecologic patients at our institution. Providing this level of service is the utmost priority in my own practice. During surgery, being with my patients from the beginning to completion of their operation is one of my highest priorities to ensure everything is done to the best of my abilities. I have practiced this way for the past 30 years; it is the only way I treat all my patients.
Outside of MSK, I have served as a member of the Gynecologic Oncology Group’s Cervix Committee and the American College of Surgeons’ Committee on Emerging Surgical Technology and Education. I currently chair the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Uterine Neoplasms, Cervical Cancer, and Vulvar Cancer Committees.
When I am not caring for patients with gynecologic cancers, I enjoy traveling, carpentry, astronomy, and spending time with family.
A gynecologic (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik) surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the female reproductive system. This includes the cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, and vagina.
My Specialties
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Cancers and Tumors of the Cervix, Uterus, Ovary, Vulva, and Vagina
- Laparoscopic Surgery
- Fertility-Sparing Surgery (Radical Trachelectomy)
- Prophylactic Laparoscopic Oophorectomy for High-Risk Patients
Education
- MD, American University of Beirut
Residencies
- Obstetrics and Gynecology - Greater Baltimore Medical Center
Awards and Honors
- Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
- Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
- Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)
- International Gynecologic Cancer Society IGCS Excellence in Teaching Award (2021)
- Castle Connolly: New York Magazine Top Doctors (2002, 2005-2020)
- Austria AGO Wertheim Award (2019)
- Society of Gynecologic Oncology SGO Innovation Award (2017)
Fellowships
- Gynecologic Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board Certifications
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Gynecologic Oncology
Insurance Information
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Contact and Location
Dr. Abu-Rustum 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
- Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Dr. Abu-Rustum
- Choosing Ovarian Preservation or Removal before Surgery for Endometrial Cancer
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
Gynecologic Tumor Board. Dizon Don, Abu-Rustum NR. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett; 2008.
100 Questions and Answers about Ovarian Cancer. 2nd ed. Dizon Don, Abu-Rustum NR. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers; 2006.
Read more
“Innovative 21st century therapies.” Rowinsky EK, Mundt AJ, Abu-Rustum NR. In: Principles and Practice of Gynecologic Oncology. 5th ed. Barakat RR, Markman M, Randall ME, eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009.
“Schauta radical vaginal hysterectomy and laparoscopic radical hysterectomy.” Sonoda Y, Abu-Rustum NR. In: Operative Gynecologic Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy. 3rd ed. Nezhat C, Nezhat F, Nezhat C, eds. New York: Cambridge UP; 2008.
“Port site metastasis and pneumoperitoneum.” Are C, Abu-Rustum N. In: Operative Gynecologic Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy. 3rd ed. New York: Cambridge UP; 2008.
“Cancer of the cervix.” Chi DS, Abu-Rustum NR, Plante M, Roy M. In: TeLinde’s Operative Gynecology. 10th ed. Rock JA, Jones HW, eds. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2008: 1227.
“Cervical cancer.” Abu-Rustum NR. In: Surgical Oncology: An Algorithmic Approach. Saclarides TJ, Millikan KW, Godellas CV, eds. New York: Springer-Verlag; 2003: 502-513.
DVDs
Easy Learning Hysterectomy. Cibula D, Querleu D, Morrow P, Tamussino K, Bader A, Leblanc E, Benedetti-Panici P, Andou M, Abu-Rustum N. European Prague: Society of Gynaecological Oncology; 2010.
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Abu-Rustum’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.
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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.
Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
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Eastern Virginia Medical School
Professional Services and Activities -
Elucida Oncology
Intellectual Property Rights -
Grail
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated) -
Kliniken Essen-Mitte
Professional Services and Activities
-
Nassau University Medical Center
Professional Services and Activities -
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Professional Services and Activities -
University of Balamand
Fiduciary Role / Position
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].