The mission of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology—part of NYU Langone Health’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Perlmutter Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center—is threefold: to serve as leaders and mentors to physicians-in-training and providers in the field of women’s health; to engage in innovative research that improves our patients’ lives; and to provide our patients with outstanding and compassionate cancer care.

Our exceptional surgical program is led by Leslie R. Boyd, MD, division director. Procedures we perform cover the spectrum from minimally invasive surgery for diagnosis and staging to more aggressive procedures, such as radical cytoreduction, in patients with advanced cancers. The clinical trials we undertake explore the newest chemotherapy regimens and targeted therapies, as well as novel prevention strategies for gynecologic cancer. Nanotechnology and precision medicine are integral to our translational research program in ovarian and uterine malignancies.

Our Role in Education

Being a part of the Perlmutter Cancer Center sets us apart from other academic institutions in the field. Our medical students, residents, and fellows learn innovative surgical techniques, including minimally invasive and open procedures to maximize cancer control and patient outcomes. They also receive training in complex anatomy, cancer biology, cancer prevention, principles of chemotherapy, and palliative care.

Training for Medical Students

All medical students rotate through our division to learn the basics of gynecologic cancer biology, principles of oncologic surgery, cancer staging and treatment, and personalized chemotherapy. There is ample opportunity for medical students to participate in clinical research, and many have presented their work at national meetings. Learn more about medical student education in obstetrics and gynecology.

Training for Residents

Obstetrics and gynecology residents rotate through our division in their second, third, and fourth years, exploring the clinical and biological aspects of gynecologic oncology and honing their surgical techniques during comprehensive procedures for aggressive cancers. Residents also provide a broad range of outpatient cancer care. Many trainees participate in clinical research and quality improvement projects and present their results at national meetings.

Residents planning on careers as gynecologic oncologists may pursue more intensive clinical and research training in the specialty. Many of our residents have gone on to match in top gynecologic oncology fellowship programs. Learn more about the residency program in obstetrics and gynecology.

Training for Fellows

In our fellowship program, laboratory and clinical research are combined with extensive mentored and independent clinical training. Our program is one of the few that provides care for a diverse patient population in both public and private hospitals and has a fully integrated gynecologic oncology translational research laboratory. Fellows also master a range of treatment approaches, including robotic-assisted and laparoscopic surgery, aggressive cytoreductive procedures, chemotherapy administration, and radiation therapy. Learn more about the fellowship program in gynecologic oncology.

Our Role in Research

Our dedication to clinical and translational science is seen through our wide-ranging and integrated approaches to cancer treatment and prevention; our clinical leadership in the NRG Oncology Clinical Trials cooperative group; and our grant-funded research laboratories investigating ovarian and uterine cancers.

Clinical Trials

We are part of Perlmutter Cancer Center’s extensive clinical trials program, which includes a host of novel therapeutic studies, with more on the way. Our studies combine new agents with the standard of care to improve outcomes in women with newly diagnosed cancer. We also investigate precision oncology drugs to treat patients with recurrent cancers. Each clinical trial offers the opportunity for a more successful treatment than would otherwise be available through routine care.

Our division conducts numerous prevention trials. One of our goals is to reduce the number of women who develop gynecologic cancer in the first place by expanding genetic testing and cancer prevention efforts to all parts of New York City, regardless of patients’ socioeconomic status. Learn more about our clinical trials.

Translational Research

The Gynecology Research Laboratory uses genomic biology to increase our understanding of disease processes and improve treatments for women with ovarian and uterine malignancies. We focus on four key research areas: cancer prevention, early detection, precision medicine, and rare tumors with few available treatments. Our goal is to accelerate the translation of laboratory findings to clinical care.

Specifically, we are developing nanotechnology to revolutionize early detection of ovarian cancer with real-time biosensors. Our work in precision oncology has led to the identification of biomarkers that can predict which drugs are most likely to work against tumors with specific genetic mutations. We have also discovered vulnerabilities in several rare tumors for which we are developing new tactics to destroy cancer cells and improve patient response.

Our Role in Patient Care

Women who have recently been diagnosed with gynecologic cancer, including cervical, endometrial, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar cancer, receive treatment in our division, which is located at Perlmutter Cancer Center.

Our surgeons are experts in gynecologic cancer surgery, as well as minimally invasive cancer prevention surgery and complex pelvic surgery. The advanced surgical approaches we use offer a chance of a cure and optimal quality-of-life outcomes. We also offer genetic testing, advanced imaging techniques, and support services that include pelvic rehabilitation and occupational and physical therapy, both during and after treatment.

We maintain a busy clinical and surgical presence at Perlmutter Cancer Center and the Robotic Surgery Center. We also offer gynecologic oncology services at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn and NYC + Health Hospitals/Bellevue. Our division offers most chemotherapy treatments in an outpatient setting without the need for overnight hospital stays; this applies to both standard treatments and investigational agents prescribed as part of our clinical trials program.

Our Faculty

Our faculty are leaders in the field of gynecologic oncology.

Leslie R. Boyd, MD
Whitfield B. Growdon, MD
Kari E. Hacker, MD, PhD
Michelle D. Lightfoot, MD
Bhavana Pothuri, MD
Marina Stasenko, MD

Contact Us

For more information about the Division of Gynecologic Oncology or the fellowship program in gynecologic oncology, please contact Deirdre Stieglitz, administrative coordinator, at 212-263-5198 or Deirdre.Stieglitz@NYULangone.org.