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Avi Leader

Avi Leader, MD

Hematologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
  • Anticoagulation
  • Blood Count Disorders (e.g., Anemia, Low or Elevated Platelet Count)
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Dr. Leader's Office Information
Languages: English
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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Assistant Attending Physician
Get To Know Me

I am a hematologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of benign (non-cancerous) blood disorders. This includes:

  • Abnormalities in blood counts such as anemia and platelets (low or elevated counts)
  • Bleeding disorders, and
  • The prevention and treatment of blood clots, among other disorders

These abnormalities and disorders are especially common among people with cancer. Sometimes they are pre-existing; in other cases, they are a result of cancer and its treatment. Although they are not malignant (cancerous), these conditions may impact the cancer journey and even prognosis. For example, abnormal blood counts may prevent patients from receiving life-saving cancer therapy, including surgery.

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I often care for people with cancer who have a blood clot in their lungs and/or legs. Blood clots can be life-threatening if they are not appropriately treated with blood thinners and may reduce a patient’s quality of life. Because blood clots occur frequently in patients with cancer, some patients can benefit from low-dose blood thinners to prevent clots from happening in the first place.

While I have vast experience in treating people without cancer, I have special expertise in managing these conditions in patients with cancer. My job is to make sure that the blood disorders that cancer and its treatment can cause don’t impact a person’s cancer care or quality of life. This allows our patients and their world-leading providers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to focus on curing cancer.

When I meet with patients, I not only try to put myself in their shoes, but also try to understand their unique values and preferences. I am a strong believer in shared decision-making. This means that in addition to providing my professional opinion, I take the time to explain the disorder and the pros and cons of all the therapeutic options. This enables us to make a shared decision regarding the treatment path that best fits the patient.  

In addition to caring for patients with benign blood disorders, I study the treatment of clots in people with cancer who are at high risk of bleeding from blood thinners, such as patients with brain cancer and low platelet counts. I have led and published multinational studies in this field. I am also developing a strategy to prevent blood clots in certain types of blood cancers. I currently serve as a Co-Chair of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Inc.’s (ISTH) subcommittee on hemostasis and thrombosis. Through research and leadership in professional organizations dedicated to thrombosis, I hope to improve the prevention and treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis.

When I am not working, I can be found watching my favorite English football team on TV and spending time with my family exploring the parks and streets of the city. Yoga is also an important part of my lifestyle, giving me balance, focus, and energy.

My Role at MSK

A hematologist (HEE-muh-TAH-loh-jist) is a doctor with special training in blood disorders.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
  • Anticoagulation
  • Blood Count Disorders (e.g., Anemia, Low or Elevated Platelet Count)
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School

Residencies

  • Internal Medicine, Meir Medical Center (Tel Aviv University)

Fellowships

  • Hematology, Rabin Medical Center (Tel Aviv University)

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 and NYC retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Anthem BCBS and other BCBS licensee plans

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

See updates

Anthem BCBS Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

See updates

Anthem Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

See updates

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

See updates

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

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 (Medicare Choice PPO Network and VIP Prime Network Only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

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

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

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

See updates

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

See updates

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

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

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

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

See updates

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.

Make an Appointment

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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. Leader sees patients at two locations.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue New York NY 10065
Get Directions
David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
530 East 74th Street New York NY 10021
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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.

See all Hematology Service doctors

Clinical Trials

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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

Soff G, Leader A, Al-Samkari H, Falanga A, Maraveyas A, Sanfilippo K, Wang TF, Zwicker J. Management of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia: guidance from the ISTH Subcommittee on Hemostasis and Malignancy. J Thromb Haemost. 2023 Oct 11:S1538-7836(23)00734-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.09.031. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37827380.

Leader A, Mendelson Cohen N, Afek S, Jaschek R, Frajman A, Itzhaki Ben Zadok O, Raanani P, Lishner M, Spectre G. Arterial Thromboembolism in Patients With AF and CHA2DS2-VASc Score 0-2 With and Without Cancer. JACC CardioOncol. 2023 Jan 17;5(2):174-185. doi: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2022.08.014. PMID: 37144112; PMCID: PMC10152191.

Falanga A, Leader A, Ambaglio C, Bagoly Z, Castaman G, Elalamy I, Lecumberri R, Niessner A, Pabinger I, Szmit S, Trinchero A, Ten Cate H, Rocca B. EHA Guidelines on Management of Antithrombotic Treatments in Thrombocytopenic Patients With Cancer. Hemasphere. 2022 Jul 13;6(8):e750. doi: 10.1097/HS9.0000000000000750. PMID: 35924068; PMCID: PMC9281983.

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Leader A, Dagan N, Barda N, Goldberg I, Raanani P, Spectre G, Balicer R, Gafter-Gvili A. Previously undiagnosed cancer in patients with arterial thrombotic events - A population-based cohort study. J Thromb Haemost. 2022 Mar;20(3):635-647. doi: 10.1111/jth.15600. Epub 2021 Dec 8. PMID: 34818468.

Leader A, Hamulyák EN, Carney BJ, Avrahami M, Knip JJ, Rozenblatt S, Beenen LFM, Yust-Katz S, Icht O, Coppens M, Raanani P, Middeldorp S, Büller HR, Zwicker JI, Spectre G. Intracranial hemorrhage with direct oral anticoagulants in patients with brain metastases. Blood Adv. 2020 Dec 22;4(24):6291-6297. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003238. PMID: 33351124; PMCID: PMC7756985.

Publications on PubMed

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

Avi Leader discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • LEO Pharma 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 [email protected].


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