Dr. Michael Wu

Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Head and neck cancers
  • Mouth (oral) cancer
  • Throat cancers and conditions

My Specialties

  • Head and neck surgery
  • Head and neck reconstruction
  • Robotic surgery
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Get to Know Me

I am a fellowship-trained surgeon who specializes in head and neck cancers and also benign (non-cancerous) tumors of the head and neck. These include head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, salivary gland cancer, skin cancers, and thyroid cancers.

In addition to surgical removal of these tumors, I also perform complex head and neck reconstruction. I am an expert in surgical and reconstruction techniques, including microvascular free tissue transfer and transoral robotic surgery. Transoral robotic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical technique that uses a robot to remove tumors in the throat and mouth.

I see patients at the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York City, and MSK Bergen in New Jersey.

People with a new diagnosis of head and neck cancer often ask how this will affect their quality of life. My goal is to help them not only understand their treatment options, but also what these treatments mean for important functions of the head and neck, including appearance, speaking, eating, and breathing.

I love being a surgeon because of the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives.  I feel a tremendous responsibility and opportunity to provide the best surgical care possible to my patients.

With dual training in head and neck surgical oncology and reconstruction, my goal is to achieve the best results while preserving or reconstructing normal structures to maintain function and quality of life. I trained in robotic surgery during my fellowship and I’m also able to offer transoral robotic surgery as a treatment option for patients with throat cancers. This helps reduce negative side effects from treatment.

Many people with head and neck cancer require multiple types of treatment, such as surgery followed by radiation or chemotherapy, or treatments such as immunotherapy that help the immune system fight cancer. I strongly believe in a team-based approach to cancer care and work closely with experts across teams who are involved in a patient’s care. It is a privilege to be part of an expert team at MSK working to deliver the best patient care possible.

My research focuses on the quality of life of head and neck cancer survivors. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy running and spending time with my wife and two sons.

What I Do at MSK

I'm a head and neck surgeon, which is a doctor with special training in surgery on the head and neck. This includes the larynx, lips, mouth, nose, salivary glands, and throat.

I'm a plastic and reconstructive surgeon, which is a doctor with special training in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. These procedures make your body work better or look better.

  • Assistant Attending Surgeon
Areas of Expertise

Conditions I Treat

  • Head and neck cancers
  • Mouth (oral) cancer
  • Throat cancers and conditions
  • Salivary gland tumors
  • Skin cancer and conditions
  • Thyroid cancer and conditions

My Specialties

  • Head and neck surgery
  • Head and neck reconstruction
  • Robotic surgery
Education & Honors

Education

  • MD, Harvard Medical School/Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program

Residencies

  • Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard/Massachusetts Eye and Ear

Fellowships

  • Head and Neck Surgical Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction, Washington University in Saint Louis

Insurance Information

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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
Request an appointment by calling your Care Team or messaging them in MSK MyChart.

Contact and Location

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
Montvale, NJ

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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.

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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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