Poonam Pai, MD, MS

Anesthesiologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Regional Anesthesia
  • Pain Management
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About Me

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

I am a board-certified anesthesiologist with special training in regional anesthesia and acute pain management. I specialize in providing anesthesia and pain management for surgeries for all types of cancer.

My main areas of clinical expertise are anesthetizing nerves and limbs using sonography, which result in faster recovery and pain control after surgery. I see patients at Memorial Hospital, the Josie Robertson Surgery Center, and the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

My Role at MSK

An anesthesiologist (a-nes-THEE-zee-AH-loh-jist) is a doctor with special training in medication to make you sleep during your surgery or procedure. They monitor your vital signs while you’re asleep.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Regional Anesthesia
  • Pain Management
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, MS, Ramaiah Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi University of Medical Sciences, India.

Residencies

  • Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Vijayanagar Institute Of Medical Sciences, India
  • Anesthesiology, Mount Sinai West-Morningside Hospital

Awards and Honors

  • Fellow of American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (2024)
  • Fellow of American Society of Anesthesiologists (2023)
  • Recognized by The Journal of Knee Surgery as a lead woman author as part of a showcase series, Women in Medicine (2023)
  • Spotlight member, American Society of Pain Medicine (2022)

Fellowships

  • Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship, Mount Sinai West-Morningside Hospital

Board Certifications

  • Anesthesiology

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

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

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

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.

Contact and Location

Dr. Pai sees patients at three locations.

Location
New York, NY

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 Anesthesiology 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

Poonam PBH, Bohaczuk S, Jinadu S, Hong J, Echevarria G, Lai YH, Chen J, Cagle PJ, Flatow EL, Rosenblatt M. Comparison Of Analgesic Efficacy of Continuous Perineural Catheter, Liposomal Bupivacaine, And Dexamethasone as An Adjuvant For Interscalene Block In Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Triple Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2024 Aug 26:S1058-2746(24)00547-0. doi: 10.1016/j.jse.2024.06.014. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39197650.

Pai P, Amor D, Lai YH, Echevarria GC. Use and Clinical Relevancy of Pericapsular Nerve Block (PENG) in Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Clin J Pain. 2024 May 1;40(5):320-332. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001196. PMID: 38268183.

Sikachi R, Oliver LA, Oliver JA, Pai B H P. Perioperative pain management for spine surgeries. Int Anesthesiol Clin. 2024 Jan 1;62(1):28-34. doi: 10.1097/AIA.0000000000000427. Epub 2023 Dec 8. PMID: 38063035.

Bh PP, Jinadu S, Okunlola O, Darkzali H, Lin HM, Lai YH. Integrating IPACK (Interspace between the Popliteal Artery and Capsule of the Posterior Knee) Block in an Enhanced Recovery after Surgery Pathway for Total Knee Arthroplasty-A Prospective Triple-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial. J Knee Surg. 2023 Oct;36(12):1289-1296. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1755355. Epub 2022 Aug 9. PMID: 35944566.

Pai B H P, Lai YH. Feasibility and Efficacy of Low Thoracic Ultrasound-Guided Erector Spinae Plane Blocks in Patients Undergoing Radical Total Mastectomy With Deep Inferior Epigastric Perforator Flap Reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg. 2022 Dec 1;89(6):656-659. doi: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000003290. Epub 2022 Oct 17. PMID: 36416694.

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Pai’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