Northwell’s Phelps Hospital has appointed Keyur B. Thakar,
MD, MPH, as medical director of hematology and medical oncology. A board-certified
and fellowship-trained cancer specialist with a decade of clinical experience, Dr. Thakar
was also named director of lifestyle medicine, a new comprehensive program that
integrates evidence-based lifestyle interventions and therapeutics into clinical care and
everyday life.
Since joining Phelps in 2017, Dr. Thakar has been instrumental in the growth of the
hospital’s oncology program, which has expanded from two physicians to a team of six
oncologists and hematologists, caring for a high volume of patients. He specializes in a
wide range of malignancies, including breast, gastrointestinal, gynecologic and lung
cancers, as well as various benign and malignant hematologic conditions. In his new
role, Dr. Thakar will oversee both inpatient and outpatient hematology and oncology
services, with a focus on broadening advanced treatment options in Westchester to
enhance clinical outcomes and elevate the overall patient experience.
In addition to oncology services, Dr. Thakar will spearhead the new lifestyle medicine
program, designed to benefit patients across all subspecialties, support employee well-
being and improve community health. Inspired by his own health journey, Dr. Thakar
strives to help patients address the root causes of chronic illness, not just the
symptoms. The program, which focuses on six key pillars of lifestyle medicine —
nutrition, physical activity, stress management, restorative sleep, avoidance of risky
substances and meaningful social connections — aims to embed therapeutic lifestyle
interventions into clinical care, the workplace and community settings.
“I am deeply honored by these appointments and committed to advancing patient-
centric cancer care at Phelps Hospital,” Dr. Thakar said. “My focus will be on ensuring
our patients have access to state-of-the-art treatments and the latest clinical trials, all
while fostering a compassionate and supportive environment. I also look forward to
integrating holistic approaches that will empower individuals to take control of their
health while fostering a more resilient community for generations to come.”
Dr. Thakar is a member of the American Society of Hematology, American Society of
Clinical Oncology and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and he frequently
publishes in leading medical journals. In addition, he regularly presents at academic
conferences and community events including for groups like ENERGIZE 2025 and
Coalition for Health School Food, where he educates food service directors nationwide
on promoting healthy and balanced nutrition for children. A passionate advocate for
community health, he also serves on the advisory board of Plant Powered Metro New
York (PBMNY), an organization that empowers people to improve their health through
whole-food, plant-based nutrition.
“A large portion of cancer diagnoses are linked to modifiable lifestyle factors, making
prevention and proactive wellness critical to our mission,” said Anna Wanda
Komorowski, MD, regional director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute in
Westchester. “Dr. Thakar innovative leadership in integrating a comprehensive lifestyle
medicine program directly within Phelps Hospital empowers not only our cancer
patients, but the entire community to build resilience, reduce risk, and achieve optimal
health.”
Born and raised in India, Dr. Thakar received his medical degree from Lokmanya Tilak
Municipal Medical College in Mumbai and his master’s in public health, with a focus in
epidemiology and biostatistics, from SUNY Albany. He completed his internal medicine
residency and hematology oncology fellowship at New York Medical College at
Westchester Medical Center.