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Rachel Niec

Rachel Niec, MD, PhD, MS

Gastroenterologist & Physician-Scientist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • GI Complications of Immunotherapy
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Dr. Niec's Office Information
Languages: English
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About Me

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

I am a gastroenterologist and physician-scientist who cares for people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). I specialize in the treatment of:

  • People with IBD
  • People with IBD who have cancer or are at risk for developing cancer
  • People who experience immune-related side effects of cancer therapy

People who are receiving certain types of immunotherapies as part of their cancer treatment plans have a chance of experiencing immune-related side effects, including IBD-like illness. I am an expert in treating IBD and the gastrointestinal side effects of immunotherapy.

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At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), I work closely with our medical oncologists to effectively treat and manage side effects throughout our patients’ cancer treatment journeys. I also collaborate with MSK’s nurses, colorectal surgeons, nutritionists, mental health professionals, and other specialists to care for the whole person.

I strive to provide the highest-quality care for my patients, informed by cutting-edge research and a desire to help each person live their life to their fullest potential. I believe the best outcomes are achieved when physicians and patients work closely together and communicate openly about the patient’s individual priorities, expectations, and goals. I am intentional about creating an environment where patients can feel comfortable expressing themselves and speaking honestly about any aspect of their care.

As a physician-scientist, I am actively involved in basic and translational immunology and oncology research. My laboratory performs research focused on understanding the gastrointestinal complications of immunotherapy and the environmental and inflammatory risk factors for IBD and colorectal cancer. Our ultimate goal is to improve the field’s understanding of the factors that drive inflammatory disease, colorectal cancer, and the gastrointestinal-related side effects of immunotherapy to develop safe, effective therapies and preventive approaches.

My Role at MSK

A gastroenterologist (GAS-troh-EN-teh-RAH-loh-jist) is a doctor with special training in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. This includes the esophagus, intestines, stomach, bile ducts, gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.

A physician-scientist is a doctor who also is a researcher.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Crohn’s Disease
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • GI Complications of Immunotherapy
  • Colorectal Cancer
  • Colon Dysplasia Surveillance
  • Colonoscopy
  • Polypectomy
  • Chromoendoscopy
  • Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
Education & Honors

Residencies

  • Internal Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Awards and Honors

  • Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award for Medical Scientists (2021)
  • American Society for Clinical Investigation Emerging Generation Award, (2021)
  • Arnold Weg Prize in Gastroenterology, Weill Cornell Medicine (2017)
  • Fullbright Scholarship in Medical Science (2006)
  • Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society, Mills College (2006)

Fellowships

  • Gastroenterology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology

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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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. Niec sees patients at three locations.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue New York NY 10065
Get Directions
David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
530 East 74th Street New York NY 10021
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Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion
160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022
Get Directions

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 Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition 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

View Dr. Niec's Lab

Niec RE, Rudensky AY, Fuchs E. Inflammatory adaptation in barrier tissues. Cell. 2021 Jun 24;184(13):3361-3375. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.05.036. PMID: 34171319; PMCID: PMC8336675.

Niec RE, Chu T, Schernthanner M, Gur-Cohen S, Hidalgo L, Pasolli HA, Luckett KA, Wang Z, Bhalla SR, Cambuli F, Kataru RP, Ganesh K, Mehrara BJ, Pe’er D, Fuchs E. Lymphatics act as a signaling hub to regulate intestinal stem cell activity. Cell Stem Cell. 2022 Jul 7;29(7):1067-1082.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2022.05.007. Epub 2022 Jun 20. PMID: 35728595; PMCID: PMC9271639.

Cheong JG, Ravishankar A, Sharma S, Parkhurst CN, Grassmann SA, Wingert CK, Laurent P, Ma S, Paddock L, Miranda IC, Karakaslar EO, Nehar-Belaid D, Thibodeau A, Bale MJ, Kartha VK, Yee JK, Mays MY, Jiang C, Daman AW, Martinez de Paz A, Ahimovic D, Ramos V, Lercher A, Nielsen E, Alvarez-Mulett S, Zheng L, Earl A, Yallowitz A, Robbins L, LaFond E, Weidman KL, Racine-Brzostek S, Yang HS, Price DR, Leyre L, Rendeiro AF, Ravichandran H, Kim J, Borczuk AC, Rice CM, Jones RB, Schenck EJ, Kaner RJ, Chadburn A, Zhao Z, Pascual V, Elemento O, Schwartz RE, Buenrostro JD, Niec RE, Barrat FJ, Lief L, Sun JC, Ucar D, Josefowicz SZ. Epigenetic memory of coronavirus infection in innate immune cells and their progenitors. Cell. 2023 Aug 31;186(18):3882-3902.e24. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.07.019. Epub 2023 Aug 18. PMID: 37597510.

Read more

Rubtsov YP, Niec RE, Josefowicz S, Li L, Darce J, Mathis D, Benoist C, Rudensky AY. Stability of the regulatory T cell lineage in vivo. Science. 2010 Sep 24;329(5999):1667-71. doi: 10.1126/science.1191996. PMID: 20929851; PMCID: PMC4262151.

Josefowicz SZ, Niec RE, Kim HY, Treuting P, Chinen T, Zheng Y, Umetsu DT, Rudensky AY. Extrathymically generated regulatory T cells control mucosal TH2 inflammation. Nature. 2012 Feb 8;482(7385):395-9. doi: 10.1038/nature10772. PMID: 22318520; PMCID: PMC3485072.

Publications on PubMed

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

Rachel Niec discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • EpiStemyx, Inc.
    Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)

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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