Dr. Richard Barakat

Dr. Barakat serves as Physician-in-Chief and Executive Director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute while holding professorships at the Zucker School of Medicine and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He previously led the Gynecology Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering, experience that shaped his current focus on complex cytoreductive surgery and team-based oncologic care.

 

His research defined sentinel-node mapping algorithms for endometrial cancer and evaluated minimally invasive versus open staging in a landmark randomized study. Recent projects investigate heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy and predictive markers that guide secondary debulking in recurrent ovarian disease. Findings from these efforts inform cooperative-group protocols and update national guidelines.

 

Leadership and mentorship underpin his academic profile. Dr. Barakat has served as President of both the Society of Gynecologic Oncology and the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, and he directs Northwell’s gynecologic-oncology fellowship. These roles highlight a commitment to surgical innovation, trainee development, and equitable access to high-quality cancer services.