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MSK surgeon and Orthopedic Service Chief John Healey

John H. Healey, MD, FACS, FAAOS

Orthopaedic Surgeon & Pediatric Surgeon

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma
  • Benign Bone Tumors
  • Prosthetic Reconstruction
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Dr. Healey's Office Information
Languages: English

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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Stephen McDermott Chair in Surgery
Get To Know Me

I am an orthopaedic surgeon who cares for people with sarcomas and non-cancerous tumors of the bones and soft tissue. I specialize in removing tumors while preserving limbs (arms and legs). I also have a special interest in treating children who have bone cancers, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.

I have been at MSK since 1984. During this time, I served as Chief of the Orthopaedic Service for 32 years, treating more of these tumors than any other center in the country. I have also researched the cause of these diseases and have published more scientific articles on the subject than any other surgeon.

When I was in high school, I lost a dear friend to sarcoma. This inspired me to help people with cancers of the musculoskeletal system. Today, I’m proud to be part of a team whose passion is to treat people with these diseases and help them continue to have productive lives.

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When patients meet with me for the first time, they often have many questions and concerns about their diagnosis, treatment options, and how their quality of life will be affected. My approach to care is highly personalized, and I listen carefully to the patient’s needs and objectives. I take whatever time is necessary to educate them about their condition and explain how our team of experts will take care of them. This helps them understand their disease and gain the confidence they need to make informed decisions about their treatment. I ask each person to “take my hand” and I help them find the hope and courage to confront this rare diagnosis successfully. We then creatively work together to choose the best solution to cure the disease and reach their lifestyle goals. 

Limb reconstruction has become an important part of treatment. My expertise includes rebuilding bones and joints with bone transplants and joint replacements. I perform limb-preserving surgeries and am experienced in customized techniques to restore function using biologic and man-made materials.

My research involves understanding the biological makeup of sarcoma cells and how they behave. I also develop new ways to deliver chemotherapy to tumors and explore strategies to use the immune system and tumor environment to kill cancer.

In addition, I work to improve the durability and function of joint replacements. I have invented four joint replacement systems. I also lead clinical trials to study different surgical reconstructions, 3-D printed implants, and ways to reduce surgical complications.

I am a professor of orthopaedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. I am a founding board member of the pediatric osteosarcoma organization, Make it Better (MIB) Agents. Nationally, I have served as chair of the Children’s Oncology Group Orthopaedics Section, president of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, the International Society of Limb Salvage, and the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons. I am also on the boards of several musculoskeletal and orthopaedic organizations. I am an advisor to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Education is also an important part of my job. I directed the Orthopaedics Fellowship Program at MSK for 20 years and am proud to have trained leading specialists in this field in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. My academic career has allowed me to spend time abroad. I was the first American traveling fellow in Japan, and I studied at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.

I played Division 1 baseball at Yale University and continue to love and follow the game.

My Role at MSK

An orthopaedic (OR-thuh-PEE-dik) surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on the musculoskeletal system. This includes the bones, joints, tendons, and muscles.

A pediatric surgeon is a doctor with special training in surgery on fetuses, infants, children, and adolescents.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma
  • Benign Bone Tumors
  • Prosthetic Reconstruction
  • Metabolic Bone Disease
  • Pediatric Sarcomas
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, University of Vermont College of Medicine

Residencies

  • General Surgery - Tufts-New England Medical Center
  • Orthopaedic Surgery - Hospital for Special Surgery

Awards and Honors

  • Castle Connolly: America’s Top Doctor (2024)
  • Top Doctors New York Metro Area, Castle Connolly (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: America's Top Doctors (2023)
  • Castle Connolly: New York Magazine Top Doctors (2002–2020)
  • the Sarcoma Foundation of America’s Nobility in Science Award
  • inaugural recipient of the Dominican Health Care Ministry of New York’s Spe Salvi Award

Fellowships

  • Musculoskeletal Oncology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Metabolic Bone Disease - Hospital for Special Surgery

Board Certifications

  • Orthopaedic 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

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Contact and Location

Dr. Healey 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 Pediatric Surgical Service doctors

See all Orthopaedic 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

Books
Osteosarcoma: From Our Family to Yours. Ann Graham, Jim Reilly, Alanna Church, John Healey, Matteo Trucco, Maureen Smart. 2023 mibagents.org, PO Box 858, Barnard, Vermont.

Diagnosis and Management of Pathologic Fractures. Lane JM, Healey JH, eds. New York, NY: Raven Press; 1993.

Selected Book Chapters
“Bone tumors.” Healey JH. In Sabiston Textbook of Surgery: The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice. 16th ed. Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2001: 519-532.

“Bone and soft tissue tumors around the knee.” Healey JH. In Surgery of the Knee. 3rd ed. Insall JN, Scott WN, eds. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 2001: 1997-2028.

“Sarcomas of bone.” Lin PP, Healey JH. In: Surgical Oncology. Bland KI, Daly JM, Karakousis CP, eds. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2001: 1015-1053.

“Bone and soft tissue tumors about the knee.” Healey JH, Kennedy JG.  In: The Adult Knee. Callaghan JJ, Rosenberg AG, Rubash HE, Simonian PT, Wickiewicz TL, eds. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2003: 495-520.

Read more

“Soft tissue sarcomas and bone tumors.” Healey JH. In: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery: The Biological Basis of Modern Surgical Practice. 17th ed. Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2004: 815-832.

“Metastatic cancer to the bone.” Manoso MM, Healey JH. In: Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 7th ed. DeVita VT Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005: 2368-2380.

“Bone tumors.” Nathan SS, Healey JH.  In: Pediatric Surgery. 6th ed. Grosfeld JL, O’Neill JA Jr, Fonkalsrud EW, Coran AG, eds. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby; 2006: 649-670.

“Cancer pain management in orthopedic surgery.” Healey JH. In: Encyclopedia of Pain. Schmidt RF, Willis WD, eds. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 2007: 359-361.

“The role of orthopaedic surgery in the palliative care of patients with cancer.” Healey JH, Tyler WK. In: Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine. 4th ed. Hanks G, Cherny NI, Christakis NA, Fallon M, Kaasa S, Portenoy RK, eds. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2009: 558-572.

“Bone tumors.” Nathan SS, Healey JH. In: Pediatric Surgery. 7th ed. Coran AG, Adzick NS, Krummel TM, Laberge JM, Shamberger RC, Caldamone AA, eds. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2012: 577-590.

Publications on PubMed

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

John H. Healey discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • Deciphera
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Stryker
    Intellectual Property Rights; 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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