Memorial Sloan-Kettering, New York

The world-renowned Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City has served cancer patients for more than a hundred years. Memorial Sloan-Kettering's staff of dedicated surgeons and oncologists has extensive experience treating mesothelioma. The hospital is dedicated to cancer research and many new innovations in mesothelioma care have begun at Sloan-Kettering.

Mesothelioma patients are treated by a multi-discipline care team, consisting of thoracic surgeons, oncologists, radiation specialists and chemotherapy specialists. The surgeons have wide experience performing extrapleural pneumonectomy, an extensive surgery that includes removal of the lung and reconstruction of the diaphragm; this procedure offers the best hope for many pleural mesothelioma patients.

The radiation specialists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering were among the first to target nonresectable mesothelioma tumors with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). IMRT can target the pleura while sparing surrounding vital organs. Sloan-Kettering keeps an extensive patient database, allowing the staff to track patient outcomes and learn which treatments are most effective in combating mesothelioma. The center has established a Mesothelioma Working Group, a group that allows experts from around the world to share their findings in mesothelioma research.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering is dedicated to the emotional support of mesothelioma patients and their families as well. The newly-diagnosed patient support program focuses on the needs of newly-diagnosed cancer patients who are often overwhelmed and need help coming to terms with the diagnosis and understanding their treatment options. The patient program offers help for patients undergoing treatment, while the caregiver program offers emotional support and information for family members of patients (as well as services like respite care).

Memorial Sloan-Kettering also offers a wide range of services for cancer patients over age 65, including a social work program for counseling and help to find needed services. Special rehabilitation, nutrition and psychiatric programs are also available for the geriatric cancer patient. These services can be particularly important for mesothelioma patients, who are often over 65 when diagnosed.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Mesothelioma Specialists

Valerie M. Rusch, FACS, Surgeon - Dr. Rusch is Chief of Thoracic Service at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. She earned her medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and fulfilled her residency at the University of Washington's Affiliated Hospitals. Rusch also undertook a fellowship at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Rusch is certified in both general surgery and thoracic surgery. She is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS) and has extensive experience in all types of chest cancers, including mesothelioma.

Dr. Rusch is studying the involvement of genetics in lung cancer and mesothelioma. She hopes her research may uncover genetic markers that will predict how well a mesothelioma patient will react to a particular form of treatment. Knowing which type of treatment would work best for a particular patient would lead to more effective treatment of mesothelioma. Rusch is also researching early detection methods for lung cancer and she has been involved in many clinical trials for the treatment of thoracic (chest) cancers.

Dr. Rusch may be contacted at (212) 639-5873.

Prasad S. Adusumilli, M.D., Surgeon - Dr. Adusmilli received his medical degree from Guntur Medical College and undertook residencies at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (New Delhi, India), Southhampton University Hospitals (UK) and Lenox Hill Hospital. He also undertook fellowships at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the University of Pittsburgh.

Dr. Adusmilli is board certified in general surgery. His clinical expertise includes mesothelioma, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, thymoma and minimally invasive thoracic surgery. He is involved in immunotherapy research, which uses the body's own resources to fight cancer and may prove helpful for mesothelioma.

Dr. Adusmilli may be contacted at (212) 639-8093.

Robert J. Downey, FACS, Surgeon - Dr. Downey received his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was a resident at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and undertook fellowships at the Mayo Clinic and Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Downey is board-certified in general surgery, surgical critical care and thoracic surgery.

Dr. Downey's clinical expertise includes mesothelioma, lung cancer, mediastinal tumors, pulmonary metastases, critical care medicine and video-assisted thoracic surgery. He is interested in finding the best combination of surgical care and other treatments for cancer patients.

Dr. Downey may be contacted at (212) 639-8124.

Raja M. Flores, M.D., Surgeon - Dr. Flores received his medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and fulfilled his residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He undertook fellowships at Brigham and Women's Hospital and at Harvard Medical School. Flores is board-certified in general surgery and thoracic surgery. His clinical expertise includes extrapleural pneumonectomy for mesothelioma, along with thoracoscopy and tracheobronchial resection, among other lung surgery procedures.

Dr. Flores may be contacted at (212) 639-2806.

Other surgeons with mesothelioma expertise:

• James Huang, M.D. (646) 888-3055
• Manjit S. Bains, FACS (212) 639-7450
• Nabil Pierre Rizk, M.D. (212) 639-8357
• Radiation Oncologist:
• Kenneth Rosenzwieg, M.D.

Dr. Rosenzwieg, M.D. - Dr. Rosenzwieg earned his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine and fulfilled his residency at the Joint Center for Radiation Therapy at Harvard Medical School. He is experienced in treating all forms of chest cancer, including mesothelioma with radiation. He is researching safer ways to effectively target lung cancer with radiation.

Dr. Rosenzwieg may be contacted at (212) 639-6025.

Mark G. Kris, M.D., Medical Oncologist - Dr. Kris is Chief of Thoracic Oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. He earned his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College and fulfilled residencies at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Kris is board certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. He has done extensive research on safer, more effective cancer treatment and he is especially interested in determining clinical factors that may indicate the best type of cancer treatment for a particular patient.

Dr. Kris may be contacted at (212) 639-7590.

For an appointment to see Dr. Kris as a new patient, please call (866) 675-5864.

General Contact Information

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065
(212) 639-2000

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