Snehal G. Patel, MD, FRCS

Head and Neck Surgeon

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

Head and neck cancers
Mouth (oral) cancer
Throat cancers and conditions

My Specialties

Minimally Invasive Surgery
Endoscopic surgery
Laser Surgery

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About Me

What I Do at MSK

Attending Surgeon

Get To Know Me

Dr. Patel is a surgeon who has particular expertise in the multidisciplinary treatment of tumors located in the head and neck area. He is especially interested in minimally invasive endoscopic laser treatment for tumors of the voice box and pharynx, with the goal of preserving the ability to speak and swallow.

At Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, he is an integral member of a team of professionals that strives to provide patients with top-quality cancer care, while also placing an emphasis on maintaining or enhancing quality of life. He recognizes that while curing cancer is the ultimate goal, issues such as the ability to speak and swallow and appearance after therapy are equally important to his patients’ well-being. He collaborates closely with his colleagues in radiation and medical oncology, plastic surgery, dentistry and prosthetics, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, endocrinology, nursing, and speech and swallowing rehabilitation to help his patients achieve this goal.

Dr. Patel has written many peer-reviewed scientific papers on various head and neck cancers and a link to a list of his publications in the PubMed database is available on this page. As part of his personal commitment to education, he has co-authored two major textbooks on head and neck surgery and oncology and written several book chapters. He also lectures at national and international meetings on head and neck cancer.

Dr. Patel has a strong research interest in evaluating the outcomes of therapy and quality of life in patients with head and neck cancer. With his colleagues in plastic surgery and psychiatry, he is involved in several ongoing projects to study these issues in patients who have been treated for head and neck cancer. He also believes strongly in educating patients and cancer survivors about their disease and the effects of treatment. With this in mind, he is leading the group’s effort to develop customized educational materials for patients that provide information about their type of cancer and its treatment. His goal is to develop treatment strategies that will improve outcomes for his patients, not only in terms of better cancer control, but also improved quality of life after treatment.

My Role at MSK

A head and neck surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the head and neck. This includes the larynx, lips, mouth, nose, salivary glands, and throat.

Conditions I Treat

Head and neck cancers
Mouth (oral) cancer
Throat cancers and conditions
Laryngeal (larynx) cancer
Thyroid cancer and conditions

My Specialties

Minimally Invasive Surgery
Endoscopic surgery
Laser Surgery

Education

MBBS, SSG Hospital & Medical College/The MS University of Baroda
MD, SUNY at Albany

Residencies

General Surgery - SSG Hospital & Medical College
Head and Neck Surgery - The Royal Marsden Hospital

Fellowships

Surgical Oncology/Head and Neck Surgery/Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery - Tata Memorial Hospital

Board Certifications

Surgery

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

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Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA and NYC retirees only)

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PPO

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Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

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Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

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Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

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Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

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Carrum Health

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Supplemental

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Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

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Connecticare

In Network Coverage Type
POS, EPO, HMO

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Emblem

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.

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Emblem Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Emblem Medicare Advantage (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

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Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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Fidelis

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Fidelis to learn more.

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Fidelis Managed Medicaid & HARP

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Fidelis Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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Healthfirst

In Network Coverage Type
EPO, HMO, PPO, POS

Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Healthfirst to learn more.

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Healthfirst Managed Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Healthfirst Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

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Healthsmart

In Network Coverage Type
PPO EPO

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (HMO)

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

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Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

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Horizon Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

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Husky CT Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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Magnacare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO

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Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

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Multiplan/Beech Street/PHCS

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

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MVP

In Network Coverage Type
PPO/OAP

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Non-Participating Plans with Out of Network Benefits

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

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NYC Medicare Advantage Plus for City Employees

In Network Coverage Type
TBD

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Oscar

In Network Coverage Type
HMO/EPO

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Oxford

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, EPO

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World Trade Center Health Program (WTC)

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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Qualcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

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Tricare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

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UMR

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS

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United Healthcare

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

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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. Patel sees patients at two locations.

Office Phone

212-639-3412

Location

New York, NY

Uniondale, NY

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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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Clinical Trials

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.

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Research and Publications

Textbooks
American Cancer Society Atlas of Head and Neck Tumors. Shah JP, Patel SG. Hamilton, Ontario, CA: BC Decker Publishing; 2001.
Named a Top Ten Bestseller in Oncology by Lancet Oncology in November 2002.

Head and Neck Surgery. 3rd ed. Shah JP, Patel SG. London, UK: Elsevier Science, 2003.
Received the George Davey Howells Memorial Prize from the University of London for the “most distinguished published contribution to the advancement of otolaryngology during the preceding five years.”

Jatin Shah’s Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology. 4th ed. Shah JP, Patel SG, Singh B. London, UK: Mosby 2012.

Chapters in Textbooks
“Tumors of the oropharynx.” Shah JP, Patel SG. In: American Cancer Society Clinical Atlas on Cancer of the Head and Neck. Hamilton, Ontario, CA: BC Decker Inc., 2001.

“Sentinel lymph node biopsy for head and neck.” Patel SG, Kraus DH. In: Sentinel Node Biopsy. Cody H, ed. London, UK: Martin Dunitz Ltd., 2001

“Tumours of the oral cavity.” Patel SG, Archer DJ, Henk JM. In: The Principles of Management of Head and Neck Cancer. Rhys Evans PH, Gullane P, Montgomery P, eds. London, UK: ISIS Publishing, 2003.

“Tumours of the oropharynx.” Rhys Evans PH, Patel SG, Henk JM. In: The Principles of Management of Head and Neck Cancer. Rhys Evans PH, Gullane P, Montgomery P, eds. London, UK: ISIS Publishing, 2003.

“Tumors of the larynx.” Patel SG, Rhys Evans PH. In: The Principles of Management of Head and Neck Cancer. Rhys Evans PH, Gullane P, Montgomery P., eds. London, UK: ISIS Publishing, 2003.

“Atlas of salivary gland surgery.” Patel SG. In: Salivary Gland Diseases. Witt RL, ed. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers, 2005.

“Epidemiology and prevention of head and neck cancer.” Ganly I, Patel SG. In Stell and Maran’s Textbook of Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology. 5th ed. Watkinson J and Gilbert RW, eds. London, UK: Hodder Arnold, 2012.

Publications on PubMed

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

Snehal G. Patel discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

Elucida Oncology
Intellectual Property Rights

Summit Biomedical Imaging, LLC
Equity; Intellectual Property Rights; 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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