Memorial Sloan Kettering plastic and reconstructive surgeon Jonas Nelson

Jonas A. Nelson, MD, MPH

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon

4.9 | 340 reviews

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

Breast cancers and conditions
Head and neck cancers

My Specialties

Microsurgical breast reconstruction
Abdominal wall reconstruction
Hernia repair

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English

Get to Know Me

I am a plastic surgeon specializing in complex reconstruction after surgery for breast cancer, head and neck cancers, and abdominal wall hernia. I have special expertise in microsurgical breast reconstruction and complex abdominal wall reconstruction.

While our primary goal at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) is to cure cancer, appearance and quality of life are essential components of life after cancer. That’s why I strive to help my patients look and feel like themselves as much as possible after their cancer treatment.

I was drawn to a career in oncology after I watched a close family member confront cancer when I was young. The experience of working with a plastic surgeon on several medical trips led me to plastic surgery. I saw that surgeon’s ability to help patients regain a sense of normalcy after cancer, and later in my education, I discovered just how critical reconstructive surgery can be, both functionally and psychologically.

As a former college athlete, form and function have always been important to me. I am especially interested in helping people recover quickly and safely after surgery. I also want to help them achieve a similar degree of function so that they can get back to doing the things they love. My research interests focus on patient-reported outcomes after reconstruction, particularly breast reconstruction. I hope to better understand what leads to improved satisfaction and quality of life outcomes following reconstructive procedures, particularly by using the BREAST-Q, a well-established breast reconstructive outcome measure. We use this tool at MSK in routine clinical care to help guide decision-making. This data allows us to achieve better overall results for people with cancer. Translating research to care is a critical aspect of our mission.

A cancer diagnosis and the procedures needed to treat the disease can cause anxiety and stress. When I meet with patients and their families, I hope to help alleviate some of their anxieties by answering their questions and clearly laying out a plan of action. At MSK, it is our job to care for our patients. We take extraordinary pride in providing top-level care. I want my patients to walk away from their consultation feeling reassured that they are in good hands.

In addition to my clinical duties, I serve as Director of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinical Research Fellowship and as Assistant Director of the Hernia and Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Program at MSK, a multidisciplinary team focused on optimizing hernia repair.

When not at work, I am with my wife and three daughters, often enjoying some aspect of the city — food, music, or cycling.

What I Do at MSK

A plastic and reconstructive surgeon is a doctor with special training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. These procedures restore function and appearance.

Assistant Director, Hernia and Abdominal Wall Reconstruction Program
Director, Plastic Surgery Service Clinical Research Fellowship Program

Conditions I Treat

Breast cancers and conditions
Head and neck cancers

My Specialties

Microsurgical breast reconstruction
Abdominal wall reconstruction
Hernia repair
Head and neck reconstruction
Autologous flap reconstruction
DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery

Education

MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine
MPH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
BA, Johns Hopkins University

Residencies

Plastic Surgery – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
General Surgery – Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania

Fellowships

Breast Reconstruction & Microsurgery – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship – Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Awards and Honors

Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2025)
Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)

Insurance Information

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New Patients

Scheduling an appointment is easy. Click or call 646-608-8040— we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

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Current Patients

Request an appointment by logging in to MSK MyChart or calling your Care Team. If you are not enrolled in MSK MyChart, ask your Care Team to send you an invitation. You can also go to MSK MyChart and select “Sign up now.”

Contact and Location

Dr. Nelson sees patients at two locations.

Office Phone

646-608-8040

Location

Commack, NY

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 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Service doctors

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials Co-Investigated by Dr. Nelson
A Study of Presurgical Radiotherapy, Then Mastectomy, Then Immediate Breast Reconstruction in Women with T4 Breast Cancer

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. Nelson’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

Patient Reviews

Your trust is our main concern

We strive to keep reviews trustworthy, honest and fair. Learn more about our patient experience reviews.

4.9 340 reviews

4.8 Provider's Explanations Easy to Understand
4.8 Trusts Provider with Care
4.9 Provider Listened Carefully
4.9 Likelihood of Recommending Provider

Mar 5, 2025

I was very happy that Dr Nelson continued to follow up with my care 6 years after my surgery. He was happy with my progress as am I and let me know he is available if I have any problems. Thank you Dr Nelson and team.

Feb 26, 2025

I feel like I have a team that prioritizes my care

Feb 19, 2025

I would like for doctors to read messages on portal and respond. Only Dr. mark Robson communicates readily.

Feb 19, 2025

Everyone was wonderful!

Feb 19, 2025

Doctor and staff were very informative and caring

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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.

Jonas A. Nelson discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

RTI Surgical
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.

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