Meet Gynecologic Surgeon Nadeem Abu-Rustum

Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum, MD, FACOG, FACS

Gynecologic Surgeon

Titles

Chief, Gynecology Service; Avon Chair in Gynecologic Oncology Research; Founder’s Chair

Clinical Expertise

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

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Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., (Eastern time)
Accepted Insurance Providers

Dr. Abu-Rustum accepts the following list of insurance providers. Select your insurance provider to see more details.

Aetna

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

Aetna Medicare Advantage (City of NY retirees only, starting 9/1/23)

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield New York

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO PPO, POS

Blue Cross Health Plus

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Carrum Health

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental

Cigna

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Connecticare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Emblem Essential

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Emblem Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

Empire Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO, DSN

Empire Essential

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

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

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Fidelis

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, EPO

Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Fidelis Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

First Health

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

Healthfirst

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO, PPO

Healthsmart

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO

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

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO

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

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): EPO

Horizon Medicare Advantage

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

Husky CT Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Magnacare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

Payor Type: Medicaid/Managed Medicaid
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): Federal Government

Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): Supplemental

MVP

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO/OAP

Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

Payor Type: Other
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

Payor Type: Medicare/Medicare Advantage
In Network Coverage Type(s): TBD

Oscar

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): HMO/EPO

Oxford

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, EPO

World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): State Government

Qualcare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Tricare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, HMO

UMR

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS

United Healthcare

Payor Type: Commercial
In Network Coverage Type(s): PPO, POS, HMO

Contact and Location

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Memorial Sloan Kettering has locations throughout New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Westchester. These locations offer many services, including screening, chemotherapy, and medical testing.

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About Me

Education

MD, American University of Beirut

Residencies

Obstetrics and Gynecology - Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Fellowships

Gynecologic Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

Obstetrics and Gynecology; Gynecologic Oncology

I am a board-certified gynecologic oncologist who specializes in the surgical treatment of gynecologic cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

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As Chief of MSK’s Gynecologic Service, I lead a team of surgeons that performs close to 3,000 gynecologic procedures each year, providing surgical intervention for approximately 600 new cases of endometrial cancer and 500 new cases of ovarian tubal peritoneal cancer, 100 cases of cervical cancer, and 75 cases of vulva 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 upon the expertise of our disease management team at large to provide the care that will get our patients the best possible outcomes. 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 noncancerous diseases of the female reproductive system. My clinical expertise includes minimally invasive and advanced gynecologic surgery for cancers of the ovary, uterus, vulva, and cervix. For selected women who are at an increased risk for ovarian 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.

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, and I chair the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Uterine Neoplasms, Cervical Cancer, and Vulvar Cancer Committees.

I spend two full days in the operating room each week. I also see patients in the clinic twice a week at MSK’s Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion on East 53rd Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues) in Manhattan.

When I am not caring for patients with gynecologic cancers, I enjoy traveling, carpentry, astronomy, and spending time with family.

Awards and Honors

  • 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)

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

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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.

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Research and Publications

Selected Books
Atlas of Procedures in Gynecologic Oncology. 3rd ed. Abu-Rustum NR, Levine DA, Barakat RR, eds. London: Informa Healthcare; 2013.

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.

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Selected Book Chapters

“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.

Publications on PubMed

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.

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.

Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Elucida Oncology
    Intellectual Property Rights
  • Grail
    Provision of Services (uncompensated)
  • Kliniken Essen-Mitte
    Provision of Services
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network
    Provision of Services
  • 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 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, 2021 through disclosure submission in spring 2022). 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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