Memorial Sloan Kettering pediatric neuro-oncologist Matthias Karajannis

Matthias A. Karajannis, MD, MS

Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist

My Role at MSK

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
  • Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Neurofibromatosis

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About Me

What I Do at MSK
  • Chief, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Service
Get To Know Me

I am a pediatric neuro-oncologist who cares for children with brain tumors, spinal cord tumors, and neurofibromatosis, as I have for the past two decades. As Chief of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, I feel privileged to be part of a community of some of the most dedicated clinicians and scientists in the world. On the MSK Kids team, we are all committed to our young patients and share a drive to improve their diagnosis and treatment.

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I went to medical school during a time when rapid progress was being made to treat children with cancer using chemotherapy, particularly children with leukemia. I witnessed how collaboration, laboratory research, and clinical research turned once-deadly cancers into curable diseases. After completing my pediatric residency training and a fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology, I decided to pursue additional training in pediatric neuro-oncology. I realized that despite the progress that had been made, many children with brain tumors were not doing well. There is an urgent need for new therapies that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

At MSK, we have the most skilled and experienced medical and surgical experts caring for children with brain tumors. First and foremost, we rely on one another to make the most accurate diagnosis. Because of advances in our understanding of the molecular roots of cancer, we now have the unprecedented ability to distinguish brain tumors that may look alike under the microscope but behave and respond to treatment differently. This enhanced understanding also lets us identify weaknesses in tumors that we can target with special drugs. This approach, called precision medicine, is changing the way we care for children with brain tumors and has tremendous potential.

Once we have learned what kind of tumor a child has, our team of experts — together with our patients and their families — creates a personalized care plan. Some children with low-grade or noncancerous tumors may only need to be watched. Those with more aggressive cancers may need surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or immunotherapy. All of these treatments are available at MSK. We also have a strong clinical trials program for children with brain tumors. These patients may be able to receive promising new treatments. Our goal for every child is a cure while minimizing the side effects of treatment.

In addition to caring for patients, I conduct research. My research translates clinical observations and findings from the laboratory into better ways to diagnose and treat children and young adults with brain tumors. I am currently the principal investigator of several early-phase clinical trials to find new treatments for people with neurofibromatosis. This inherited condition predisposes people to nervous system tumors. I am also serving in leadership roles and as study chair in multicenter clinical trial groups, such as the Children’s Oncology Group, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium, and the Neurofibromatosis Clinical Trials Consortium.

I recognize that a cancer diagnosis is perhaps the most difficult and challenging time in the life of a child and their family. Each situation is unique. To that end, all patients and families can rest assured that our experts will be with them throughout the entire experience — from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship. We are a team, and we are here to make sure that our patients receive the very best care available. 

My Role at MSK

A pediatric neuro-oncologist is a doctor with special training in cancers of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. They treat children and adolescents.

Areas of Expertise

My Specialties

  • Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors
  • Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
  • Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, Neurofibromatosis
Education & Honors

Education

  • MS, New York University School of Medicine
  • MD, Free University Berlin

Residencies

  • Pediatrics – Duke University Medical Center

Fellowships

  • Pediatric Hematology/Oncology – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
  • Pediatric Neuro-Oncology – Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Board Certifications

  • General Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

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 retirees only)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, PPO

Blue Cross Blue Shield New York

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, EPO, HMO

Blue Cross Blue Shield states outside of NY/NJ

In Network Coverage Type
HMO, EPO PPO, POS

Blue Cross Health Plus

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Carrum Health

In Network Coverage Type
Supplemental

Cigna

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, POS, HMO

MSK has a tentative agreement with Cigna to continue coverage in 2024.

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

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO

Empire Blue Cross Medicare Advantage

In Network Coverage Type
PPO, HMO, DSN

Empire Essential

In Network Coverage Type
HMO

Empire Plan / NYSHIP (Blue Cross/UnitedHealthcare split plan)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

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

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey (PPO)

In Network Coverage Type
PPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier I (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield New Jersey Omnia Tier II (EPO)

In Network Coverage Type
EPO

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

Request an appointment by logging on to MyMSK or calling your doctor’s office. If you aren’t registered for MyMSK, call 646-227-2593 for your Enrollment ID.

Contact and Location

Dr. Karajannis sees patients at one location.

Office Phone
Location
New York, NY
1275 York Avenue New York NY 10065

Looking to see a doctor at a different location? See all MSK locations.

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 Pediatrics doctors

Clinical Trials

Research and Publications

Publications on PubMed

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

Matthias A. Karajannis discloses the following relationships and financial interests:

  • 3M
    Equity
  • Doximity, Inc.
    Equity
  • Medscape
    Professional Services and Activities
  • Physicians' Education Resource
    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 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, 2022 through disclosure submission in spring 2023). 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 [email protected].


View all disclosures