David G. Pfister, MD

Head and Neck Medical Oncologist

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

Head and Neck Cancers (Larynx/Upper Aerodigestive, Thyroid, Salivary Gland, Skin)
Lung Cancer
Genitourinary Malignancies

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English

About Me

What I Do at MSK

Associate Deputy Physician-in-Chief, Strategic Partnerships

Get To Know Me

I am a medical oncologist with more than 20 years of experience in treating patients with a broad spectrum of head and neck malignancies including tumors of the mouth, throat, thyroid, salivary glands, and skin. For these years of service, I was honored to receive Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s Willet F. Whitmore Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011.

As former Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service, I worked closely with an esteemed and highly coordinated group of medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to provide our patients with the very best care possible.

Collaborative, multidisciplinary care is especially important for cancers of the head and neck because, generally speaking, treatment not only involves a potentially deadly disease but also issues related to physical appearance, function, and quality of life. An approach that I pioneered with Memorial Sloan Kettering colleagues — known as combined modality organ preservation therapy — uses a combination of chemotherapy and radiation to avoid certain surgical procedures feared by patients such as removal of the voice box, with the intent of preserving function and cosmetic appearance without compromising survival.

My current research is focused on evaluating new forms of chemotherapy called targeted therapies, which selectively kill cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. I am also developing customized combined modality therapies based on prognostic risk, and assessing healthcare outcomes.

I have published extensively, previously serving as an associate editor for Clinical Cancer Research and on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and have been principal investigator on multiple studies.

In addition to being a member of the board of directors for the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, I chair the organization’s head and neck cancer practice guidelines panel. I am also on the board of directors for the International Thyroid Oncology Group, and am co-chair of the Head and Neck Cancer Recurrent/Metastatic Disease Task Force at the National Cancer Institute. Here at Memorial Sloan Kettering, I chair the Committee on Metrics of Care Quality and Outcome.

My Role at MSK

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.

My Specialties

Head and Neck Cancers (Larynx/Upper Aerodigestive, Thyroid, Salivary Gland, Skin)
Lung Cancer
Genitourinary Malignancies
Larynx/Organ-Preserving Therapies
Immunotherapy
Outcomes Research

Education

MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Residencies

Internal Medicine - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

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)
Castle Connolly: New York Magazine Top Doctors (2005-2008, 2010-2018)

Fellowships

Clinical Epidemiology/Internal Medicine - Yale-New Haven Hospital/Yale University School of Medicine
Medical Oncology and Hematology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Medicine - Weill Cornell Medical College

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.

Aetna

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS, Transplant

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Aetna Medicare Advantage (MTA retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
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

In Network Coverage Type
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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New Patients

Scheduling an appointment is easy. Click or call 646-497-9161— we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

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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. Pfister sees patients at one location.

Office Phone

646-608-3760

Location

New York, NY

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 Head and Neck Oncology Service doctors

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

Publications on PubMed

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

David G. Pfister discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

MeiraGTx, LLC
Professional Services and Activities
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Fiduciary Role / Position; Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)

Open Medical Institute
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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