Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Introduction to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, also known as MSK, is one of the oldest and largest private cancer centers in the world. For more than 130 years, MSK has been dedicated to excellence in patient care, innovative research, and medical education. It is now one of the comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute, and it continues to drive advances in science, clinical research, and cancer treatment.

One of MSK’s unique strengths is the close collaboration between physicians and scientists. While providing patients with advanced existing therapies, they also work together to discover more effective ways to prevent, control, and ultimately cure cancer. MSK’s medical education programs have trained generations of future physicians and scientists, helping to advance cancer care and biomedical research worldwide.

History and Milestones

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was founded in 1884. Its predecessor was the New York Cancer Hospital, established on the Upper West Side of Manhattan by John J. Astor and his wife, among others. In 1899, it was renamed General Memorial Hospital for the Treatment of Cancer and Allied Diseases. In 1916, the word “General” was removed, and the institution became Memorial Hospital for the Treatment of Cancer and Allied Diseases.

In 1936, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. donated a site on York Avenue, which is the current location of the hospital. The new Memorial Hospital officially opened in 1939, and its main hospital building, reconstructed between 1970 and 1973, still stands today.

In the 1940s, Alfred P. Sloan and Charles F. Kettering, two former executives of General Motors, jointly established the Sloan Kettering Institute, also known as SKI. Since its founding, SKI has been one of the leading biomedical research institutions in the United States. The Sloan Kettering Institute, which officially opened in 1948, is located adjacent to Memorial Hospital.

To coordinate and guide the overall policies and development of Memorial Hospital and the Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center was established in 1960. In 1980, the two institutions formally merged under the leadership of one president and chief executive officer.

Over the years, MSK has continued to expand its outpatient facilities and services to meet the growing needs of patients, physicians, and researchers.

Patient Care

According to U.S. News & World Report, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center has consistently ranked among the top two hospitals in the United States for cancer care for more than 25 years. It is also one of the nation’s leading hospitals for pediatric cancer treatment.

In addition, in New York Magazine’s 2015 “Best Doctors” list, more cancer physicians from MSK were recognized than from any other hospital in the New York metropolitan area.

MSK treats patients through a team-based approach. The center currently has more than a dozen multidisciplinary cancer care teams, bringing together the expertise and experience of specialists from multiple fields to ensure that patients receive the most comprehensive treatment possible. Based on each patient’s type of cancer, MSK assembles an expert team tailored to the patient’s needs, which may include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, psychiatrists, and nurses.

MSK physicians have extensive experience in diagnosing and treating all types of cancer, including both common and rare cancers. Each year, they treat more than 400 cancer subtypes. This high level of specialization often gives patients a greater opportunity for disease control or cure.

Advanced Diagnostic Technologies

MSK radiologists are highly skilled in using advanced imaging technologies to detect cancer. MSK pathologists are experts in accurately diagnosing cancer using advanced methods, and their experience in this area is exceptional. To determine an accurate cancer diagnosis and disease stage, they analyze approximately 40,000 tumor specimens each year. Accurate diagnosis and staging are essential for developing the most appropriate treatment plan.

Surgical Expertise

MSK surgeons perform one of the highest volumes of cancer surgeries in the United States. Because they focus exclusively on cancer, MSK surgeons are highly skilled in using advanced surgical techniques to improve patients’ quality of life. Over the years, they have pioneered many surgical innovations for cancer treatment, including minimally invasive procedures used to treat many types of cancer.

Pioneering Radiation Therapy

MSK radiation oncologists are experts in developing and applying radiation therapy methods and technologies. They pioneered intensity-modulated radiation therapy, a technique that delivers higher and more effective doses of radiation to tumor sites while minimizing exposure to surrounding healthy tissues and organs.