Tafadzwa Lawrence Chaunzwa, MD

Radiation Oncologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Lung Cancer
  • Metastases
  • Advanced Lung Cancer

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About Me

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

I am a radiation oncologist who specializes in treating people with lung cancer and cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. I see patients at the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in Manhattan.

I specialize in providing comprehensive treatment for lung cancer using external beam radiation therapy, a type of treatment that uses high-energy X-ray beams to destroy cancer cells in a tumor from outside the body.

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I have wanted to be a physician for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I witnessed the impact of disease in my community, which highlighted the need for compassionate and skilled medical care. I chose to specialize in oncology, specifically lung cancer, after a close family member’s diagnosis, which reinforced my commitment to serving others through medicine and advancing cancer care.

As I progressed through my education, I was eager to combine my passion for medicine with my natural aptitude for the physical and quantitative sciences. This drive to acquire and apply knowledge led me on an incredible journey to some of the world’s leading academic and research institutions, including Duke, Yale, Harvard, and now MSK. At MSK, I feel privileged to play a pivotal role in a multidisciplinary team, delivering the latest treatments to people with cancer.

When patients come to me for treatment, they can expect someone who will partner with them in their cancer care journey and prioritize their well-being and quality of life. I approach each patient with compassion, knowing that every journey through cancer is deeply personal. I am committed to listening to my patients and understanding their unique stories, concerns, and goals. I believe that effective cancer care is built on shared decision-making, empowering patients and their loved ones to actively participate in their care decisions and treatment journey. I aim to provide the most effective and personalized care possible by combining the latest technology with an evidence-based and tailored approach.

I am actively involved in research as a physician-scientist specializing in computational oncology. My research uses artificial intelligence and advanced modeling techniques to analyze data from diverse sources such as imaging, pathology, genomics, and clinical data. My goal is to use these analyses to uncover new insights into how cancers originate and progress and develop more precise, personalized treatment strategies. This has the potential to transform how we diagnose, monitor, and treat cancer, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Outside of work, I like to stay active and engaged with the world around me. I enjoy playing basketball and keeping up with international soccer. I also love traveling, which allows me to explore diverse cultures, cuisines, and architectures and immerse myself in the rich history of different destinations. I find joy in capturing these experiences through photography, preserving the unique moments and stories that each place has to offer. These interests keep me grounded and continually inspired, both personally and professionally.

My Role at MSK

A radiation oncologist is a cancer doctor with special training in using radiation therapy (RT) to treat cancer with radiation.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Lung Cancer
  • Metastases
  • Advanced Lung Cancer
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, Yale School of Medicine

Residencies

  • Harvard Radiation Oncology Program
  • Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham and Women's Hospital/Boston Children’s Hospital

Awards and Honors

  • Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology/Conquer Cancer Foundation (2023)
  • Research Resident Award, Radiological Society of North America (2023)
  • James D. Cox Research Award, Radiation Oncology Institute (2022)
  • Holman Pathway Fellowship, American Board of Radiology (2022)
  • Medical Research Fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2017)

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.

Make an Appointment

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. Chaunzwa sees patients at one location.

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 Radiation Oncology 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

Publications on PubMed

Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Chaunzwa’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