Dr. David G. Pfister, MD, is a distinguished medical oncologist with more than 20 years of experience treating patients with a broad spectrum of head and neck malignancies, including tumors of the mouth, throat, thyroid, salivary glands, and skin. He serves as Attending Physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he previously held the role of Chief of the Head and Neck Oncology Service. In recognition of his longstanding contributions to patient care, he received Memorial Sloan Kettering's Willet F. Whitmore Award for Clinical Excellence in 2011. Throughout his career, Dr. Pfister has championed a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to cancer care, working closely with surgeons, radiation oncologists, nurses, and other specialists to deliver comprehensive treatment that addresses not only survival but also physical appearance, function, and quality of life.
Why they are a top doctor
Research papers · PubMed
161
Published, peer-reviewed work, the clearest public measure of expertise in a specialty.
Cited by other doctors
37.6k
How often other doctors and researchers build on their work.
Known for
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy
The distinction that sets them apart from other head and neck medical oncologists.
Specializes in
Chemotherapy
A narrow focus means they see far more of these cases than a general oncologist.
Background
Education
Medical school: MD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine - Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Fellowship: Clinical Epidemiology/Internal Medicine - Yale-New Haven Hospital/Yale University School of Medicine · Medical Oncology and Hematology - Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Medicine - Weill Cornell Medical College
Board certifications: Internal Medicine · Medical Oncology