William F. Pirl, MD, MPH
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Areas of Expertise
Conditions I Treat
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety
- Existential distress
My Specialties
- Psycho-oncology
Get to Know Me
I am a psychiatrist with more than two decades of experience in psycho-oncology, which focuses on the mental and emotional well-being of people affected by cancer. I help people manage their mood, anxiety, and existential distress both during and after their diagnosis and treatment for cancer.
At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), I am also Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. In this role, I oversee our psychiatry services and help train the next generation of psychiatrists. My research looks at new ways to better deliver care to support patients and families. My goal is to help increase access to psychiatry and psychological services at MSK for people with cancer and their families.
I treat all types of psychiatric disorders, but my specialty is psychiatric care for people with cancer who are receiving palliative or end-of-life care. This involves focusing on managing symptoms and improving quality of life.
As a psychiatrist, I enjoy building relationships with my patients and getting to know them over time. My approach is to listen closely to my patients and then see how I can best help them with the knowledge and skills I have.
I completed my psychiatry training at the Massachusetts General Hospital followed by a fellowship in psycho-oncology at MSK in 1999. I chose to become a psychiatrist because of the opportunity to have an impact on the patient and their family at a difficult time in their life.
I have published many papers, including some in journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, New England Journal of Medicine, and Cancer. I have also served on numerous committees and panels supporting research and academic advancements, including for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and National Cancer Institute.
I'm a psychiatrist (sy-KY-uh-trist), which is a doctor with special training in mental, emotional, and behavioral health. I can prescribe medicine to help with these issues.
- Chair, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Conditions I Treat
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety
- Existential distress
- Depression
- Coping with cancer
My Specialties
- Psycho-oncology
Education
- MD, Harvard Medical School
- MPH, Harvard School of Public Health
Residencies
- Massachusetts General Hospital
Fellowships
- Psycho-oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board Certifications
- Psychiatry
- Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
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.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government
In Network Coverage Type
HMO
City Employee Health Plans (Gold and Gold Care)
In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental
In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
TBD
In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO
In Network Coverage Type
State Government
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.
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
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
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Pirl’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 PubMedPatient Reviews
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