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Memorial Sloan Kettering Neurosurgeon Kenny Kwok Hei Yu

Kenny Kwok Hei Yu, MBBS, PhD, FRCS

Neurosurgeon

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Gliomas
  • Brain Metastases
  • Malignancy-Related Hydrocephalus
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Dr. Yu's Office Information
Languages: English & Cantonese
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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Instructor
Get To Know Me

I am a neurosurgeon and scientist interested in the immunobiology and treatment of brain tumors, including tumors that have arisen from the brain (primary tumors) and tumors that have spread to the brain from another area in the body (metastatic brain tumors). I have expertise in cutting-edge surgical adjuncts (a treatment or therapeutic strategy that is used with the primary treatment), such as intraoperative MRIs, awake mapping, intraoperative ultrasound, and Raman spectroscopy, and use these modalities to improve outcomes for my patients.

I am also a PhD-trained scientist and use this background to understand the underlying biology of the diseases I treat. My research focuses on the role that immune cells play within the tumor microenvironment. Through research, I have an opportunity to get “face-to-face” with the tumors I treat. This provides me with a unique perspective on tumor behavior and biology—and an improved understanding of the fundamental disease processes will ultimately lead to better treatments.

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A tumor diagnosis often comes as a surprise, accompanied by anxiety and fear. But I assure my patients that they are entrusting their care to an experienced team that is fluent in the clinical, diagnostic, treatment, and scientific aspects of managing brain tumors. I strongly believe that an informed and compassionate approach to patient care is essential. This is precisely what I offer my patients at each step of their treatment journey.

My colleagues in the Department of Neurosurgery and I also believe in the power of collaboration and are passionate about working together to get our patients the best results. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center pioneered the concept of the multidisciplinary tumor board, which refers to a group of specialists that works closely to discuss the optimal treatment strategies for different cancer cases at a hospital. This team ethos is at the core of how we treat patients.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and following football (soccer)—when the time allows.

 

My Role at MSK

A neurosurgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves).

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Gliomas
  • Brain Metastases
  • Malignancy-Related Hydrocephalus
  • Experimental Drug/Agent Delivery
Education & Honors

Education

  • MBBS, Imperial College

Residencies

  • Neurosurgery, North Western Deanery

Fellowships

  • Neurosurgical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • Neurological Surgery

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.

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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. Yu sees patients at one location.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue New York NY 10065
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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 Neurosurgery 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

Publications on PubMed

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

Kenny Kwok Hei Yu discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Aptorum Group Limited
    Equity

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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