Dr. Pallawi Torka

Pallawi Torka, MD, is a hematologist-oncologist specializing in the care of patients with lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK). She trained at leading medical institutes in India before pursuing advanced training in the United States at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (RPCCC) in Buffalo, New York, one of the oldest cancer institutes in the country. She joined RPCCC as an assistant professor of oncology, where she spent seven years caring for patients with lymphoma and CLL, was recognized among the top doctors in Buffalo for three consecutive years, and served on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) panels for Hodgkin lymphoma, T-cell lymphoma, and primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma, contributing to national treatment guidelines for these diseases. At MSK, she brings her expertise and experience to continue delivering compassionate, state-of-the-art care to patients and families navigating a lymphoma diagnosis.

Dr. Torka's research is focused on developing novel therapeutic strategies for patients with aggressive lymphomas, with a particular emphasis on adults over 60 years of age. She has identified that older adults have not benefited from advances in cancer therapy to the same degree as younger patients, and her work is directed at understanding and systematically addressing those disparities. She believes that introducing newer treatment modalities such as targeted oral therapies and immunotherapy with bispecific antibodies early in the course of disease can help older patients achieve better outcomes while avoiding the toxicities of traditional chemotherapy. A central theme in her research is the concept of biological age versus chronological age, using comprehensive fitness assessments rather than a patient's actual age to guide treatment decisions. She intends to study aging biology to identify biomarkers of treatment response and tolerance, which may also predict long-term side effects of cancer therapy in lymphoma patients.

Beyond her clinical and research work, Dr. Torka is deeply committed to education and patient empowerment. She served as associate program director of the hematology-oncology fellowship program at Roswell Park/University of Buffalo, and she has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences. Her personal mantra, "treat every patient like family," reflects her belief that no two patients are the same and that the best care plans incorporate both cutting-edge science and each patient's individual values and beliefs. She is passionate about walking alongside patients and their families through what can be a complicated and confusing journey, ensuring they feel informed and supported at every step. Outside of medicine, she enjoys biking, yoga, fiction reading, and traveling with her family.