Bret Taback, MD
Breast & Soft Tissue Surgery
Cancer Care, Surgery, Surgical Oncology
Accepting New Patients
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
On the web
Overview
Dr. Bret Taback is a nationally recognized surgical oncologist in the New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center department of surgery. Dr. Taback is a leader in the clinical management of melanoma, sarcoma and skin/soft tissue tumor surgery. Dr. Taback is the Director of the Melanoma and Sarcoma Program and Director of the Breast Surgery Fellowship. Dr. Taback received his MD degree at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston , and completed his general surgery residency at Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital.
During that time he completed a Basic Science Research Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School in Boston. Following this, he completed a fellowship in Complex Surgical Oncology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, California. Dr. Taback is a member of a number of organizations and societies including Society of Surgical Oncology, American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has published and authored numerous peer review manuscripts, abstracts and presentations, as well as book chapters over the years in notable publications such as Annals of Surgery, Annals of Surgical Oncology, Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research and the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. He is a clinical investigator with SWOG and Alliance for clinical trials. Dr. Taback has served on numerous hospital committees including tumor boards, Institutional Review Boards, Oncology Operations Council and is the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer Physician Liaison for NYP Hospital. Most recently, Dr. Taback is a noted Castle Connolly Top Doctor.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Surgery
- Breast Disease
- Mastectomies
- Melanoma
- Melanoma Surgery
- Sarcoma
- Sentinel Node Biopsy For Breast
Academic Appointments
- Assistant Professor of Surgery at CUMC
Administrative Titles
- Director, Breast Surgery Fellowship
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
- NewYork-Presbyterian Allen Hospital
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Weill Cornell Medical Center
Gender
- Male
Schedule an Appointment
Virtual Visits/Telehealth
Virtual Visits allow you to connect with your provider from the comfort, convenience, and safety of your own home.
Phone Appointments
New and Existing Patients:
Connect Patient Portal
For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Location(s)
161 Fort Washington Avenue
New York, NY 10032
Primary
Phone:
Fax:
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- AETNA Westchester MG Local 1199
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Amida Care
- Amida Care Westchester MG HIV SNP
- Amida Care Westchester MG Medicaid Managed Care
- Special Needs
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG Anthem
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG Blue Access (Marketplace)
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG Blue Card
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG Connection
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG Direct HMO
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG Direct Share POS
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG EPO
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG FEP
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG HMO
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG Indemnity
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG POS
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG PPO
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Westchester MG Unicare
Cigna
- CIGNA Westchester MG FEP
- CIGNA Westchester MG HealthPartners
- CIGNA Westchester MG HMO
- CIGNA Westchester MG LocalPlus
- CIGNA Westchester MG Medical Indemnity
- CIGNA Westchester MG MVP
- CIGNA Westchester MG Open Access Plus (OAP)
- CIGNA Westchester MG POS
- CIGNA Westchester MG PPO
- CIGNA Westchester MG Priority Health
- CIGNA Westchester MG TPA
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Elderplan
- ElderPlan Westchester MG Medicare Managed Care
ElderServe
- Special Needs
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Emblem/HIP
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
EmblemHealth
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Access I/II
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Bridge Program
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Bridge Program
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Brooklyn Healthworks
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Child Family Health Plus
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG DC37 Med-Team
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Emblem Health
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG EPO
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG EPO
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Federal Employee Benefit (FEHB)
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Healthcare Partners (HCP)
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG HMO
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Indemnity
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Medicaid Managed Care
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Medicare Managed Care
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Millennium (Essential Plan 1-4
- 200-250)
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG NYCE PPO
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG POS
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG POS
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG PPO
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG PPO
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Prime Network
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Select Care (Exchange)
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Select Care Network
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Somos
- EmblemHealth Westchester MG Vytra
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HealthPlus
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Individual Network (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Fidelis Care Westchester MG Ambetter (Exchange)
- Fidelis Care Westchester MG Essential Plan
- Fidelis Care Westchester MG Medicaid Managed Care
- Fidelis Care Westchester MG Medicare Dual Advantage
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthfirst
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Healthfirst Westchester MG Child Family Health Plus
- Healthfirst Westchester MG Essential Plan
- Healthfirst Westchester MG Exchange (Leaf Metal Plans)
- Healthfirst Westchester MG Medicaid Managed Care and HARP
- Healthfirst Westchester MG Medicare Managed Care
- Healthfirst Westchester MG NY Life Improvement Plan (SNP-DUAL Only)
- Healthfirst Westchester MG Qualified Health Plan
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Healthplus
- Healthplus Westchester MG Child Family Health Plus
- Healthplus Westchester MG Essential Plan
- Healthplus Westchester MG Exchange (Gatekeeper)
- Healthplus Westchester MG Managed Long Term Care (MLTC)
- Healthplus Westchester MG Medicaid Managed Care (Healthplus
- Amerigroup
- Wellpoint)
Healthspring
- Healthspring Westchester MG Medicare Managed Care
Healthspring (Cigna Medicare)
- Medicare Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
- Magnacare (National) Westchester MG ASC
- Magnacare (National) Westchester MG PPO
Medicaid
- Medicaid Westchester MG Traditional
Medicare
- Medicare Westchester MG Railroad
- Medicare Westchester MG Traditional
- Traditional Medicare
Molina Healthcare
- Molina Healthcare Westchester MG Medicare Managed Care (Senior Whole Health)
Multiplan
- Multiplan
- Multiplan Westchester MG EPO
- Multiplan Westchester MG HMO
- Multiplan Westchester MG PHCS
- Multiplan Westchester MG POS
- Multiplan Westchester MG PPO
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- MVP Health Care Westchester MG
UnitedHealthcare
- Empire Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- Oxford Freedom
- Oxford HMO
- Oxford Liberty
- POS
- PPO
- UnitedHealthcare Westchester MG EPO
- UnitedHealthcare Westchester MG HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Westchester MG Oxford Freedom
- UnitedHealthcare Westchester MG Oxford HMO
- UnitedHealthcare Westchester MG Oxford Liberty
- UnitedHealthcare Westchester MG Oxford Metro
- UnitedHealthcare Westchester MG POS
- UnitedHealthcare Westchester MG PPO
VNS Health
- VNS Health Westchester MG Medicaid Managed Care
- VNS Health Westchester MG Medicare Managed Care
VNSNY CHOICE
- Medicare Managed Care
- SelectHealth
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- WellCare Westchester MG American Progressive Life
- WellCare Westchester MG New Jersey Services (Medicare Managed Care)
- WellCare Westchester MG NJ Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)
- WellCare Westchester MG NJ Medicaid
- WellCare Westchester MG NY Medicare
World Trade Center Health Plan
- World Trade Center Health Plan
*Before your appointment, please contact the doctor’s office or your insurance provider to verify that your insurance is accepted. This list of insurances can change, and the insurance plans listed may not be accepted at all office locations for this provider.
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- Tufts University School of Medicine
- Residency: Brown University Rhode Island Hospital
- Residency: Northwestern University Hospital
- Fellowship: John Wayne Cancer Institute , Santa Monica CA
- Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
- American Board of Surgery
- Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners
- American Society of General Surgeons
- American Association for Cancer Research
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
- American College of Surgeons
- American Medical Association
- American Society for Investigative Pathology
- American Society of Clinical Oncology
- Association for Academic Surgery
- Society for Surgical Oncology
- Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgery
Board Certifications
- Surgery
Honors & Awards
- Member, International Scientific Committee, The 4th International Sentinel Node Congress, Los Angeles, CA (2004)
- Co-Chairman, The 3rd International Conference on Circulating Nucleic Acids in Plasma and Serum & Serum Proteomics (CNAPS III), Santa Monica, CA (2003)
- Young Investigator Award, The 3rd International Sentinel Node Congress, Yokohama, Japan (2002)
- Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Orlando, FL (2002)
- Elected to Associate Member Council, American Association for Cancer Research, Philadelphia, PA (2001-2004)
- Scholarship Award to attend Epidemiology and Biostatistics Conference, Berlex Oncology Foundation, Hackensack, NJ (2001)
- Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Fellowship Award, Santa Monica, CA (2000)
- Merit Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology, New Orleans, LA (2000)
America's Top Doctor
NY Top Doctor
Research
Research Interests
- Circulating nucleic acids in plasma and serum
- Micrometastasis and minimal residual disease surveillance
- Tumor genetics and profiling
Selected Publications
- Fine RE, Gilmore RC, Tomkovich KR, Dietz JR, Berry MP, Hernandez LE, Columbus KS, Seedman SA, Fisher CS, Han LK, Manahan ER, Hicks RD, Vaidya RP, Curcio LD, Sevrukov AB, Kenler AS, Taback B, Chen M, Miller ME, Gold L, Anglin BV, Aoun HD, Simmons RM, Feldman SM, Boolbol SK. Cryoablation Without Excision for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: ICE3 Trial 5-Year Follow-Up on Ipsilateral Breast Tumor Recurrence. Ann Surg Oncol. 2024 Oct;31(11):7273-7283. doi: 10.1245/s10434-024-16181-0. Epub 2024 Sep 16.PMID: 39283572
- Reyes A, Sun L, Ha R, Desperito E, Brown M, Francescone MA, Ugras S, Wiechmann L, Rao R, Taback B. A Comprehensive Assessment of Radial Scars on Core Needle Biopsy in Patients with or Without Breast Cancer: Upgrade Rate and Implications on Management. Clin Breast Cancer 2024 Jun;24(4):e273-e278. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2024.01.020. Epub 2024 Feb 1. PMID: 38402106.
- Levy AS, Murphy AI, Ishtihar S, Peysakhovich A, Taback B, Grant RT, Ascherman JA, Feldman S, Rohde CH. Lymphatic microsurgical preventive healing approach for the primary prevention of lymphedema: A 4-year follow-up. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2023 Feb 1;151(2):413-420
- Mojahed D, Applegate M, Guo H, Taback B, Ha R, Hibshoosh H, Hendon C. Optical coherence tomography holds promise to transform the diagnostic anatomic pathology gross evaluation process. J Biomed Opt. 2022 Sep;27(9):096003
- Brown A, Buss EJ, Chin C, Liu G, Lee S, Rao R, Taback B, Wiechmann L, Horowitz D, Choi JC, Katz LM, Connolly EP. Targeted Intraoperative Radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) for Early-Stage Invasive Breast Cancer: A Single Institution Study. Front Oncol. 2022 Jun 29;12:788213
- Cogan JC, Accordino MK, Beauchemin MP, Spivack JH, Ulene SR, Elkin EB, Melamed A, Taback B, Wright JD, Hershman DL. Efficacy of a password-protected, pill-dispensing device with mail return capacity to enhance disposal of unused opioids after cancer surgery. Cancer. 2022 Sep 15;128(18):3392-3399
- Koelmeyer LA, Gaitatzis K, Dietrich MS, Shah CS, Boyages J, McLaughlin SA, Taback B, Stolldorf DP, Elder E, Hughes TM, French JR, Ngui N, Hsu JM, Moore A, Ridner SH: Risk factors for breast cancer-related lymphedema in patients undergoing 3 years of prospective surveillance with intervention. Cancer. 2022 Sep 15;128(18):3408-3415
- Iwai Y, Prigoff J, Sun L, Wiechmann, L, Taback B, Rao R, Ugras SK: Shaves off the Cavity or Specimen in Lumpectomy for Breast Cancer. J Surg Res. 2022 Sep; 277:296-302
- Lifrieri A, Fuzesi S, Desperito E, Taback B: When the clipped node goes missing, CT guided SAVI SCOUT placement: A novel approach for localizing soft tissue targets. Clin Imaging. 2022 May;85:115-117
- Wu V, Colquhoun M, Fuzesi S, Sun L, Ugras S, Wiechmann L, Rao R, Taback B, Omitting Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Postmenopausal Hormone Receptor Positive Stage I Breast Cancer has no Adverse Impact on Outcomes or Regional Recurrence Despite Current Predictors of Nodal Positivity. Ann Surg Oncol Vol 22. 2022 (suppl 1: abstract E35)