Daniel M Labow, MD

Daniel M. Labow, M.D., is the Executive Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery, and Vice Chair of Quality for the Department of Surgery, at the Mount Sinai Health System. He is a board-certified surgeon with a specialty in Surgical Oncology.

Dr. Labow began his career at Mount Sinai in 2004 as an Assistant Professor of Surgery after graduating from the Brown-Dartmouth Medical Program and completing a general surgery residency at the University of Chicago Hospitals and a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. In 2010, he became an Associate Professor and Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology. Two years later, he was appointed as the Vice Chair of Outpatient Services for the department. In 2016, he was promoted to Professor of Surgery and one year later, was appointed as Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West campuses. He received the Eugene W. Friedman endowed professorship in 2019.

During the length of his trainings, and during the two additional years post residency, Dr. Labow pursued extensive clinical and basic science research.  His clinical and research interests include the diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of both primary and metastatic malignancies including gastric and esophageal cancer, pancreatic neoplasms, primary and metastatic liver malignancies, biliary tract disease, colon and rectal cancer, sarcoma, and melanoma.  Dr. Labow’s devotion to research and training allow him to understand the entire spectrum of treatments for these cancers, including investigational approaches to help guide each individual patient along the appropriate treatment pathway built uniquely for them.  Moreover, he concentrates in the application of minimally invasive techniques and their role in cancer care.

While at The Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Labow established one of the busiest Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemoperfusion (HIPEC) programs in the country.  This technique, which combines surgery with chemotherapy, has revolutionized the treatment of cancers in the abdominal (peritoneal) lining that stem from colon, gastric, ovarian, and appendiceal cancers, as well as mesothelioma and pseudomyxoma peritonei.  HIPEC is essentially a chemotherapy "bath" that delivers heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity, where it penetrates the diseased tissue directly.  This targeted contact of the heated drug kills the tumor nodules, which increases absorption of the chemotherapy solution.  Dr. Labow, who has performed more than 600 HIPEC procedures since 2007, recognizes the vitality the combination procedure has in significantly extending patient survival rates whilst minimizing the known side effects of chemotherapy that are normally administered intravenously.  Additionally, it destroys undetected cancer cells after the tumor has been removed, preventing them from forming into new tumors and causing a reoccurrence of cancer. The HIPEC program has since been expanded to our Division of Pediatric Surgery, so this unique service may be offered to our most delicate patients.

Dr. Daniel Labow’s rapport with his patients, his extensive medical knowledge and his dedication as a physician contribute to his stellar reputation with patients and other physicians.  He is an active member in a number of physician organizations including the American College of Surgeons, American Hepatopancreaticobiliary Association, and Society of Surgical Oncology where he sits on the education committee.  As New York State Chair of the Commission on Cancer, Dr. Labow helps shape future cancer initiatives and policy, in addition to Co-Chairing the Gastrointestinal Disease Focus Group at Mount Sinai Hospital.  Dr. Labow has been awarded the Robert Paradny Teaching award and was recently named one of New York Metro Area’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly.

 

In the News:

• Dr. Labow speaks to The New York Times about the recovery journey Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg can expect after receiving treatment for pancreatic cancer.
   
• Dr. Labow explains the symptoms and prognosis for pancreatic cancer in the NY Post.

• Featured in Yahoo Travel, Dr. Labow identifies Seven Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Colon Cancer

• CBS Evening News interviews Dr. Labow about rising colorectal cancer cases in young adults

• Dr. Labow shares the incredible story of a Holocaust survivor who also beat cancer 

• Dr. Labow weighs in on the Alex Trebek’s Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer diagnosis and what his options for treatment are.

• Dr. Labow discusses the difficulties of diagnosing pancreatic cancer and the statistics of a late diagnosis, in The Washington Post.

• Dr. Labow discusses the link between obesity-linked cancers and the dangers certain types of diets bring.

• Dr. Labow comments on the FDA approving a new ovarian cancer drug treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer.

• Dr. Labow weighs in on the debate of lowering the age of your first colonoscopy.

• Dr. Labow weighs in on the increasing rates of colon cancer among younger people and the difference in treatment in racial disparities.

• Dr. Labow comments on the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her incredible grit when fighting cancer.

• Dr. Labow gives his perspective on a new colorectal cancer recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.