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Memorial Sloan Kettering gastroenterologist Makoto Nishimura

Makoto Nishimura, MD

Gastroenterologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
  • Single Balloon Enteroscopy
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Dr. Nishimura's Office Information
Languages: English & Japanese
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About Me

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

I am a board-certified gastroenterologist who specializes in using minimally invasive endoscopic techniques to diagnosis and treat gastrointestinal cancers. I have particular expertise in performing endoscopic submucosal dissections (ESD) to safely remove gastrointestinal tumors. ESD allows patients to avoid extensive surgeries and the long recovery times they often require.

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ESD was originally developed in my home country of Japan in the early 2000s. Doctors are still learning how it can be best used to help people with gastrointestinal cancers. I am one of a few gastroenterologists in the United States who have extensive experience performing ESD. I have successfully treated more than 950 people with this technique.

When I meet with patients who have an early-stage cancer, they are often worried about having to undergo a big operation. In many cases, I reassure them that we can find an option that will effectively treat their disease without drastically interfering with their life. If necessary, I will perform additional endoscopic tests to ensure that we make the best treatment decisions together.

We can also use minimally invasive techniques to help people with more-advanced cancers. For example, for people who have stomach (gastric) submucosal tumors, I can work with a surgeon to perform combined endoscopic and laparoscopic surgery.

My research involves looking for more ways to use endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) to treat pancreatobiliary cancers. I am currently working on a clinical trial with my colleagues in Japan to study how we can use EUS to deliver new medicines directly to pancreatic tumors that cannot be removed.

My Role at MSK

A gastroenterologist (GAS-troh-EN-teh-RAH-loh-jist) is a doctor with special training in the gastrointestinal (GI) system. This includes the esophagus, intestines, stomach, bile ducts, gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
  • Single Balloon Enteroscopy
  • Colonoscopy
  • EUS-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration
  • EUS-Guided Celiac Plexus Neurolysis
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan

Residencies

  • Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital

Fellowships

  • Gastroenterology – Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
  • Gastroenterology – Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan
  • Oncology – Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
  • Advanced Interventional Endoscopy – University of California, Irvine Medical Center

Board Certifications

  • Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JGES)
  • Internal Medicine (JSIM)

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.

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Contact and Location

Dr. Nishimura sees patients at one location.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion
160 East 53rd Street New York NY 10022
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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 Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Service 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.

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Research and Publications

Publications on PubMed

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

Makoto Nishimura discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Boston Scientific
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Fujifilm Corporation
    Professional Services and Activities (Uncompensated)
  • Olympus
    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].


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