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Memorial Sloan Kettering neurosurgeon Viviane Tabar

Viviane Tabar, MD

Neurosurgeon

4.8 | 68 reviews

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Primary brain tumors
  • Pituitary and skull base tumors
  • Metastatic cancers

My Specialties

  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Intraoperative imaging
  • Brain mapping
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Dr. Tabar's Office Information
Languages: English, Arabic, and French
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Get to Know Me

I am a neurosurgeon and a stem cell biologist. I care for patients with primary brain tumors (such as glioblastomas and astrocytomas); tumors of the skull lining or skull base (meningiomas and chordomas); tumors of the pituitary gland; and tumors that have spread to the brain from other parts of the body (brain metastases). I see several hundred patients and perform more than 250 procedures each year.

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I also specialize in “mapping” the brain during surgery to identify the regions that control language, movement, and memory. This allows me to remove tumors more precisely while sparing as much tissue as possible near these important areas.

I helped establish the Multidisciplinary Pituitary & Skull Base Tumor Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering. It brings together surgeons, endocrinologists (doctors who study hormones), and neuro-ophthalmologists (neurologists who specialize in vision problems) to care for patients using state-of-the-art nonsurgical techniques. We also perform MRI during surgery, which makes operations safer and more thorough.

My goal is to provide the best possible surgical care for my patients. I listen intently to them and their family members so I can help relieve their anxiety. After a comprehensive discussion, I aim to provide a clear plan of action as well as a hopeful outlook. I work with a terrific nurse and office assistant who ensure that any plans are implemented efficiently and properly followed up on.

I am also a scientist. In my research laboratory at Memorial Hospital, I study the potential use of stem cells to repair brain tissue after the brain is injured by radiation or degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. My lab also models brain tumors.

Outside of the office, I like to read, ski, listen to or attend classical music and opera, and spend time with my family.

What I Do at MSK

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

  • Chair, Department of Neurosurgery
  • Theresa Feng Chair in Neurosurgery
Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Primary brain tumors
  • Pituitary and skull base tumors
  • Metastatic cancers

My Specialties

  • Minimally invasive surgery
  • Intraoperative imaging
  • Brain mapping
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, American University of Beirut

Residencies

  • General Surgery - Case Western Reserve University
  • Neurosurgery - University of Massachusetts

Fellowships

  • Neurosurgical Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Neurological Surgery

Awards and Honors

  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2025)
  • Castle Connolly: Exceptional Women in Medicine (2024)
  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
  • Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
  • Exceptional Women in Medicine Award, Castle Connolly (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)
  • American Brain Tumor Association Young Investigator Award (2016)
  • Preuss Award Tumor section, American Association of Neurological Surgeons (2010)
  • Castle Connolly: New York Magazine Best Doctors (2014-2020)
  • Castle Connolly: Top Doctors New York Metro Area (2012-2020)
  • Super Doctors, New York Times Magazine (2011-2016)
  • Member, National Academy of Medicine

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

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

First Health

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Straight NJ Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

Straight NY Medicaid

In Network Coverage Type
State Government

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

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

Medicare Part A&B (traditional Medicare)

In Network Coverage Type
Federal Government

Metroplus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

City Employee Health Plans (Gold and Gold Care)

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. Tabar 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

View Dr. Tabar's Lab

Publications on PubMed

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

4.8 68 reviews

  • 4.8 Provider's Explanations Easy to Understand
  • 4.8 Trusts Provider with Care
  • 4.8 Provider Listened Carefully
  • 4.8 Likelihood of Recommending Provider
Mar 6, 2025

Having Dr. Tabar added to the list of Healthcare Providers at MSK that are treating me is an honor and a privilege . I am very fortunate!

Mar 6, 2025

Informative and took her time to explain options and answered all our questions

Feb 27, 2025

We were calling to get a second opinion. My wife has a surgical or I mean tumor, brain cancer. And didn't really seem like much time was spent analyzing the scans that we set with any recommendations. Although I have to say we were already planning to do surgery at NYU and we were just looking for a second opinion because we weren't sure if surgery was quite the right idea. But yeah, so it just seemed a little like the neurosurgeon was a little impatient with us. It was a virtual visit so that might have contributed to it. That's my understanding. I'm [patient name removed]'s husband and was just doing research and trying to get answers.

Feb 18, 2025

The doctor calmed me down considerably

Feb 6, 2025

Sense of care and professionalism

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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.

Viviane Tabar discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • American University of Beirut
    Fiduciary Role / Position
  • BlueRock Therapeutics
    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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