Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa, MD
Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist
My Role at MSKWe post reviews for MSK healthcare providers who have at least 30 patient experience surveys completed. If you do not see reviews for a provider, it may be because they do not yet have enough survey responses, or the provider may not be part of the group of healthcare providers included in the survey.
Only outpatient providers are included in the survey. Healthcare providers who only work in the hospital or in urgent care are not included in the survey. Pathologists or researchers who do not provide direct care to patients do not have reviews.
Areas of Expertise
Conditions I Treat
- Gastrointestinal cancers and conditions
- Pancreatic cancer and conditions
- Gallbladder cancer
My Specialties
- Targeted therapy
About Me
- Attending Physician
I am a board-certified medical oncologist who treats patients with gastrointestinal cancers. My specialization is in primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma), pancreas, gallbladder, and bile duct tumors. As part of a multidisciplinary group, my colleagues and I offer patients a team approach to treating these cancers.
Read more
My research focuses on improving the effectiveness of cancer therapy by incorporating small novel biological molecules that target cancer into the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant gastrointestinal malignancies, particularly hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers.
A gastrointestinal (GAS-troh-in-TES-tih-nul) medical oncologist is a cancer doctor who specializes in gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. This includes anal, colorectal, esophageal, gastric (stomach), liver, and pancreatic cancers, as well as GI stromal tumors and neuroendocrine tumors.
Conditions I Treat
- Gastrointestinal cancers and conditions
- Pancreatic cancer and conditions
- Gallbladder cancer
- Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma)
- Primary liver cancer
My Specialties
- Targeted therapy
Education
- MD, American University of Beirut
Residencies
- Yale University School of Medicine
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)
Fellowships
- Yale University School of Medicine
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
PPO, HMO, DSN
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
Contact and Location
Dr. Abou-Alfa sees patients at one location.
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.
Clinical Trials
- Clinical Trials Investigated by Dr. Abou-Alfa
- A Phase 2 Study of MEDI5752 and AZD2936 With Standard Treatments in People With Advanced Liver, Biliary Tract, and Gallbladder Cancers
- A Phase I Study of AGEN1811 and Balstilimab Immunotherapy in People with Fibrolamellar Carcinoma or Another Type of Gastrointestinal Cancer
- Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Dr. Abou-Alfa
- A Phase 1 Study of TTI-101 in People With Advanced Liver Cancer
- A Phase 3 Study of Rilvegostomig Immunotherapy Plus Chemotherapy After Surgery for Biliary Tract Cancer
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
Visit PubMed for a full listing of Dr. Abou-Alfa’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 PubMedPatient Reviews
Your trust is our main concern
We strive to keep reviews trustworthy, honest and fair. Learn more about our patient experience reviews.
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.
Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa discloses the following relationships and financial interests:
-
AbbVie
Professional Services and Activities -
AstraZeneca
Professional Services and Activities -
AUTEM Medical, LLC
Professional Services and Activities -
Envision Communications
Professional Services and Activities -
HMP Oncology Learning Network
Professional Services and Activities -
Huahui Health Ltd.
Professional Services and Activities -
IDEOlogy Health, LLC
Professional Services and Activities -
Imedex, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities -
Ipsen Pharma
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated) -
J-Pharma Co., Ltd.
Professional Services and Activities
-
Merck & Co Inc.
Professional Services and Activities -
Research to Practice
Professional Services and Activities -
Roche
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated) -
Senhwa Biosciences, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated) -
Servier
Professional Services and Activities -
Shanghai Jo'Ann Medical Technology Co., Ltd
Professional Services and Activities -
WebMD
Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated) -
Yiviva, Inc.
Professional Services and Activities -
Zymeworks Inc.
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].