Find an MSK Doctor or Cancer Specialist
Memorial Sloan Kettering medical oncologist Louise Connell

Louise Catherine Connell, MB BCh BAO, BMedSc

Gastrointestinal Medical Oncologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Colon Cancer
  • Rectal Cancer
  • Other Gastrointestinal Cancers
View all
Dr. Connell's Office Information
Languages: English
Request an Appointment
Our Care Advisors can answer many of your questions. They will connect you with the best healthcare provider for your needs.
Back to top
Share

About Me

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

I am a medical oncologist whose practice is dedicated to caring for people with gastrointestinal cancers. These include colon cancer, rectal cancer, and appendiceal cancer. I also have expertise in treating hepatobiliary cancers.

I specialize in systemic chemotherapy, where the treatment circulates throughout the body, and regional chemotherapy, meaning the drug is delivered directly to the liver or abdomen. I see patients at MSK’s Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion, in Manhattan.

Read more

The goal of my research is to develop new, more-personalized therapies for people with colorectal and hepatobiliary cancers. For example, we are working to develop immunotherapy and molecular-based approaches to effectively treat these diseases. I have a particular interest in advancing our understanding of colorectal cancers at the molecular level so that we can learn how and why they grow and spread.

As a medical student unsure of the exact path my career would take, my family was impacted by cancer. The journey that followed influenced me both in terms of my career choices and goals, and also how I care for patients today. My experience being on the other side of the consultation desk helped me to understand and appreciate what patients and their families go through after receiving a cancer diagnosis.

When caring for my patients, I aim to provide the best evidence-based treatments and to surround them with compassion. I place a great deal of emphasis on communication to help reduce their distress and maximize their quality of life.

My Role at MSK

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.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Colon Cancer
  • Rectal Cancer
  • Other Gastrointestinal Cancers
  • Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer
Education & Honors

Education

  • MB BCh BAO BMedSc, University College Cork, Ireland

Residencies

  • Internal Medicine - Royal College of Physicians of Ireland

Awards and Honors

  • Irish Society of Medical Oncology Scholarship Award (2013)
  • Ainsworth Scholarship (2014)
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Young Investigator Award (2016)

Fellowships

  • Medical Oncology - Royal College of Physicians of Ireland
  • Advanced Medical Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • Internal Medicine (Ireland)
  • Medical Oncology (Ireland and Europe)

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 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

Women talking
New Patients
Scheduling an appointment is easy. Click or call 646-497-9053— we’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Make an Appointment
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. Connell sees patients at one location.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion
160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022
Get Directions

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 Gastrointestinal Oncology Service doctors

Clinical Trials

Smiling doctors in the lab
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

Relevance of CEA and LDH in relation to KRAS status in patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases. Connell LC, Boucher TM, Chou JF, Capanu M, Maldonado S, Kemeny NE.J Surg Oncol. 2017 Mar;115(4):480-487. doi: 10.1002/jso.24536. Epub 2016 Dec 23.PMID:28008623

Response rates of hepatic arterial infusion pump therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer liver metastases refractory to all standard chemotherapies. Cercek A, Boucher TM, Gluskin JS, Aguiló A, Chou JF, Connell LC, Capanu M, Reidy-Lagunes D, D’Angelica M, Kemeny NE.J Surg Oncol. 2016 Nov;114(6):655-663. doi: 10.1002/jso.24399. Epub 2016 Aug 26.PMID:27566258

The Rising Incidence of Younger Patients With Colorectal Cancer: Questions About Screening, Biology, and Treatment. Connell LC, Mota JM, Braghiroli MI, Hoff PM. Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2017 Apr;18(4):23. doi: 10.1007/s11864-017-0463-3. PMID:28391421

Read more

Combined Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Connell LC, Harding JJ, Shia J, Abou-Alfa GK.Chin Clin Oncol. 2016 Oct;5(5):66. doi: 10.21037/cco.2016.10.02. PMID: 27829279 

Advanced Hepatocellular Cancer: The Current State of Future Research. Connell LC, Harding JJ,Abou-Alfa GK. Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2016 Aug;17(8):43. doi: 10.1007/s11864-016-0415-3. PMID:27344158

Toxicities of the anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint antibodies.  Naidoo J, Page DB, Li BT, Connell LC, Schindler K, Lacouture ME, Postow MA, Wolchok JD.  Ann Oncol. 2015 Dec;26(12):2375-91. PMID:27072927

Publications on PubMed

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

Louise Catherine Connell discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Intera Oncology, 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].


View all disclosures

Related topics: