The Northwell Health Cancer Institute has recently appointed Noah D. Kauff, MD, chief of cancer genetics for the health system. He joined the Cancer Institute on Aug. 14.
Kauff, a gynecologist and geneticist, has specialized in cancer genetics for 20 years. Prior to joining Northwell, he served as director of clinical cancer genetics at the Duke Cancer Institute in Durham, NC, part of the Duke University Health System. From 2006-15, Kauff directed the Ovarian Cancer Screening and Prevention program at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in Manhattan. He also was an attending physician for MSK’s Clinical Genetics and Gynecology Services.
In his role at the Northwell Cancer Institute, Kauff, will provide leadership, strategy and management of cancer genetics, incorporating clinical care, research and education across the health system’s cancer centers. Kauff also will help integrate cutting-edge understanding of the molecular basis of individual cancers to provide more targeted therapy to Northwell’s oncology patients as well as better characterize cancer risks and methods to reduce these risks in patients with a family history of cancer. Kauff also will be appointed professor of OB/GYN at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
“With Dr. Kauff’s extensive clinical and research expertise, he will be critical in developing a comprehensive and robust adult cancer genetics program at Northwell,” said Richard Barakat, MD, physician-in-chief and director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute, and senior vice president of the health system’s Cancer Service Line. “Dr. Kauff will expand and standardize cancer genetics throughout our entire cancer network in New York City, Long Island and Westchester.”
Kauff’s research interests include the role of genetic counseling on the evaluation and management of individuals with an inherited predisposition to cancer. His clinical focus includes cancer risk counseling, screening for and prevention of inherited cancers and the gynecologic care of patients with cancer. Kauff was the lead investigator of the first prospective study evaluating the efficacy of removing ovaries and fallopian tubes to prevent breast and gynecologic cancer in women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations.
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and led to a change in the international standard of care for women with these mutations.
Kauff received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He completed his residency at New York Medical College and his fellowship in clinical genetics from MSKCC/New York Presbyterian Hospital. He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of several medical organizations, including: the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists, among others.
A frequent lecturer at medical meetings, Kauff has been invited to give nearly 100 presentations on inherited breast and gynecological cancer and other related topics. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed publications, scientific book chapters, practice guidelines and journal editorials.
—Submitted by Northwell Health Cancer Institute
