Nadeem R. Abu-Rustum, MD, FACOG, FACS -- Director, Minimally Invasive Surgery, Gynecology Service; Chair Surgical Quality Assessment

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

Gynecologic Surgeon

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Cancers and Tumors of the Cervix, Uterus, Ovary, Vulva, and Vagina
  • Laparoscopic Surgery

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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Chief, Gynecology Service
  • Founder’s Chair
Get To Know Me

As Chief of the Gynecologic Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), I lead a team of 15 gynecologic surgeons that performs more than 3,000 gynecologic procedures each year. This includes surgical intervention for:

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 on the expertise of our gynecologic disease management team at large to provide the care that will get our patients the best possible outcomes.

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I spend two full days in the operating room each week. I also see patients in the clinic twice a week at the Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion on East 53rd Street (between Lexington and Third Avenues) in Manhattan. 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 non-cancerous diseases of the female reproductive system. My clinical expertise includes the treatment of cervical and endometrial (uterine) cancer and advanced gynecologic surgery for cancers of the ovary, uterus, vulva, and cervix. For women who are at an increased risk for ovarian or uterine 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. During surgery, being with my patients from the beginning to completion of their operation is one of my highest priorities to ensure everything is done to the best of my abilities. I have practiced this way for the past 30 years; it is the only way I treat all my patients.

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

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

My Role at MSK

A gynecologic (GY-neh-kuh-LAH-jik) surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the female reproductive system. This includes the cervix, endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterus, and vagina.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • 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
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, American University of Beirut

Residencies

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology - Greater Baltimore Medical Center

Awards and Honors

  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
  • Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
  • 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)

Fellowships

  • Gynecologic Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Gynecologic Oncology

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

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield New York

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

Blue Cross Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

MSK has a tentative agreement with Cigna to continue coverage in 2024.

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

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

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.

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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. Abu-Rustum sees patients at one location.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022

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.

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See all Gynecology 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

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.

Read more
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:

  • Eastern Virginia Medical School
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Elucida Oncology
    Intellectual Property Rights
  • Grail
    Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
  • Kliniken Essen-Mitte
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Nassau University Medical Center
    Professional Services and Activities
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network
    Professional Services and Activities
  • 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, 2022 through disclosure submission in spring 2023). 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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