Dr. Garrett M. Nash

Dr. Garrett M. Nash, MD, is a surgical oncologist specializing in cancers of the colon, rectum, anus, appendix, and peritoneum at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). He also serves as Vice President of Quality and Safety at MSK, where he oversees clinical quality, patient safety, and infection control. Dr. Nash brings specialized expertise in the treatment of peritoneal cavity cancers, including pseudomyxoma peritonei and mesothelioma, and has advanced training in the latest surgical techniques for colorectal cancer, including robotic surgery. He is known for his patient-centered approach, taking time to listen carefully to each patient's concerns, address questions about prognosis and quality of life, and develop individualized care plans that reflect the specific details of each person's diagnosis and preferences.

Dr. Nash is an active clinical researcher with a primary focus on understanding how cancer spreads to the peritoneal region and developing more effective treatments for peritoneal disease. He serves as principal investigator of the ICARuS Trial (Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy After cytoReductive Surgery), a landmark randomized clinical trial investigating the benefit of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for patients with appendiceal or colorectal cancer. The trial represents the first prospective study measuring the efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy for appendix cancer worldwide, and the first randomized trial of this approach for colorectal cancer completed in the United States. He also leads ICARuS II, opened in 2023, which studies intraperitoneal therapy for peritoneal mesothelioma. In collaboration with colleagues in medical oncology and the Sloan Kettering Institute, Dr. Nash is developing novel therapies using SADA (Self-Assembling and Disassembling) antibodies to deliver radioactive isotopes or chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, with plans to advance this work into first-in-human clinical trials.

In his role as Vice President of Quality and Safety, Dr. Nash is committed to building a culture of safety and transparency at MSK through data analysis, staff education, and continuous process improvement. Beyond his clinical and administrative responsibilities, he is a dedicated supporter of cancer research fundraising through Fred's Team, having raised over $150,000 by completing multiple NYC Half Marathons and 10 NYC Marathons between 2010 and 2023. His combination of surgical expertise, research leadership, institutional commitment to patient safety, and personal dedication to the cancer research mission reflects a career built around improving outcomes for patients with some of the most complex gastrointestinal and peritoneal malignancies.