![Alan L. Ho, MD, PhD](https://www.mskcc.org/sites/default/files/styles/width_600_1x1/public/node/277/image/ho-alan.jpg?h=10d202d3)
Alan L. Ho, MD, PhD
Head and Neck Medical Oncologist & Cellular Therapist
My Role at MSKAreas of Expertise
Conditions I Treat
- Head and neck cancers
- Mouth (oral) cancer
- Salivary gland tumors
My Specialties
- Targeted therapy
About Me
- Chief, Head and Neck Oncology Service
- Associate Attending Physician
I am a medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of head and neck cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancer, thyroid cancer, and skin cancers other than melanoma. I see patients at the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK).
As a medical oncologist, I am drawn to the mission of serving others and caring for people during a vulnerable time in their life. I have dedicated my career to not only treating these diseases but also understanding their underlying biology with the overall goal of discovering and developing new, effective treatments that will improve outcomes for my patients.
I also serve as Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service within the Division of Solid Tumor Oncology in the Department of Medicine at MSK. My goal is to lead our team in delivering world-class care for people with head and neck cancers. Our objective is to treat our patients with the most innovative approaches and deliver cancer care that is focused on the patient and their individual needs.
We strive to offer as many treatment options as possible to patients, provide world-class expertise for managing the cancer diagnosis, and give them the information they need to feel comfortable and confident about their care and treatment plan.
At MSK, we want to ensure our research programs have the depth and breadth to focus on therapeutic breakthroughs for patients who have been diagnosed with both common and rare types of cancers. Our service has led the discovery of many targeted therapies for these cancers. We have internationally recognized research programs for developing personalized medicine approaches for all the cancers we treat. Our goal is to leave no patient behind.
A head and neck medical oncologist is a cancer doctor who specializes in head and neck cancers. This includes cancers of the larynx, lips, mouth, nose, salivary glands, and throat.
A cellular therapy specialist is a doctor with special training in using cell therapies to treat health conditions such as cancer. Therapies can include chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy.
Conditions I Treat
- Head and neck cancers
- Mouth (oral) cancer
- Salivary gland tumors
- Thyroid cancer and conditions
- Throat cancers and conditions
- Non-melanoma skin cancer
My Specialties
- Targeted therapy
Education
- MD, Washington University
Residencies
- Internal Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Fellowships
- Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Board Certifications
- Internal Medicine
- Medical 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.
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
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO
Offers a qualified health plan from the Health Insurance Marketplace. Call Emblem to learn more.
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, 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
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
PPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
EPO
In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government
In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, 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.
Make an Appointment
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Contact and Location
Dr. Ho sees patients at one location.
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Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.
Clinical Trials
- Clinical Trials Investigated by Dr. Ho
- A Phase 1 Study of REM-422 in People With Adenoid Cystic Cancer
- A Phase 1 Study of RGT-61159 in People With Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
- A Phase 1 Study of TILT-123 Plus Avelumab in People With Advanced Solid Tumors
- A Phase 2 Study of Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine in People With Salivary Gland Cancer
Read more
- A Phase 2 Study of Avutometinib and Defactinib in People With Thyroid Cancer
- A Phase 2 Study of Darolutamide in People With Testosterone-Driven Salivary Gland Cancer
- A Phase II Study of Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine Compared to the Usual Treatment for Advanced HER2-Positive Salivary Gland Cancer
- Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Dr. Ho
- A Phase 1a Study of AVA6000 in People with Solid Tumors
- A Phase 2 Study of Ozuriftamab Vedotin in People With Advanced Head and Neck Cancer
- A Phase II Study of Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine in Patients with Cancers Driven by HER2
![Smiling doctors in the lab](/themes/mskcc/images/clinicaltrials_small.png)
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
Patient Reviews
Your trust is our main concern
We strive to keep reviews trustworthy, honest and fair. Learn more about our patient experience reviews.
4.9 136 reviews
- 4.6 Provider's Explanations Easy to Understand
- 4.7 Trusts Provider with Care
- 4.7 Provider Listened Carefully
- 4.9 Likelihood of Recommending Provider
Dr Ho has been my Dr. for many years. He is one very important physician who has saved my life and has helped to keep me alive for many years now. He is also a very compassionate human being!
They are TERRIFIC!
I am always treated with care and respect at MSK.The only difficulties have to do with scheduling and wait times.
The doctors and all the staff always show empathy and care for each patient.
I always highly recommend MSKCC to friends and family.
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.
Alan L. Ho discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
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Affyimmune Therapeutics, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities -
Coherus BioSciences, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities -
Eisai
Professional Services and Activities -
Exelixis
Professional Services and Activities -
Kura Oncology
Professional Services and Activities
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National Cancer Institute
Professional Services and Activities -
Nested Therapeutics
Professional Services and Activities -
Northwestern University
Professional Services and Activities -
Physicians' Education Resource
Professional Services and Activities -
Rgenta Therapeutics Inc.
Professional Services and Activities
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 ecoi@mskcc.org.