Dr. Mercedes Castiel, MD, FRCSC, FACOG, NCMP

Areas of expertise and specialization

Faculty Titles & Positions

• CMO and Founder Cancer Care Concierge LLC 2021 - Present
• Medical Director Hereditary Cancer Natera Genetics 2022 - 2023
• Director Women’s Cancer Survivorship University of Chicago Medicine 2018 - 2021
• Medical Director Columbus Circle Gynecology 2017 - 2018
• Director NYU School of Medicine 2015 - 2017
• Attending Gynecologist; Department of OBGYN Weill Cornell Medicine - 2015
• Attending Surgeon Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 2012 - 2014
• Head, General Gynecology; Department of Surgery Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 1998 - 2012
• Assistant Professor UCLA School of Medicine 1993 - 1995
• instructor Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1996 - 1996
• Assistant Professor Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1997 - 1997
• Assistant Member Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 1997 - 2002
• Clinical Assistant Professor Weill Cornell Medical College 1998 - 2003
• Associate Clinical Member Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 2002 - 2008
• Clinical Associate Professor Weill Cornell Medical College 2003 - 2005
• clinical member Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center 2008 - 2014
• Clinical Associate Professor NYU School of Medicine 2015 - 2018
• Clinical Associate Professor University of Chicago Medicine 2018 - Present
• Associate Professor University of Chicago Medicine 2020 - Present

Awards

• Alumni Association Graduation Award, 1984 New College, University of Toronto 
• Samuel Castrilli Award 1985 Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto 
• Undergraduate Medical Teaching Award 1992 Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto 
• Undergraduate Medical Teaching Award 1993 Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto 
• Listed as one of the “Leading Women" 2000 Science and Medicine, Avenue Magazine 

Professional Memberships

• American College of OB/GYN  
• American Soc. of Clinical Oncology  
• New York Obstetrical Society  
• North American Menopause Society  
• American Society of Clinical Oncology  

Charities and Philanthropic Endeavors

• Board Member:Friends of New York City Nurse-Family Partnership

Internships

• University of Toronto Hospitals

Professional Society Memberships

• FACOG, ASCO

Articles and Publications

• From a young age, medicine has been the only career I ever aspired to. I have had the opportunity to work in institutions across the country. I have also been lucky to work with talented individuals in caring for patients who truly illustrate the strength of the human spirit. I started out at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, where I was appointed Assistant Professor at UCLA. Following a move to New York, I worked at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, but I did not feel a general practice was fulfilling enough. It was then that I got what I consider a winning the lottery position at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). I had an incredible mentor, the Chief of GYN Oncology, Dr. Bill Hoskins, whom I credit for giving me the opportunity to become the physician I am today and who helped me find my niche in cancer survivorship. I spent 17 years at MSKCC during which I built one of the earliest womens cancer survivorship programs in the country. Throughout my tenure at MSKCC, I was surrounded by incredibly talented and dedicated physicians, nurses, trainees, and assistants.I admire the oncologists who treat patients daily and truly get them through the most difficult times and who have to also deliver bad news. I am fortunate that I generally saw patients who were doing well and not at their worst. My role was to help identify risks and maximize quality of life. That does not mean it was easy or carefree. I helped patients cope with loss of fertility, unknown futures, genetic risks and more. And I had to cope with the loss of patients that I had gotten to know well. Being part of someones cancer journey is difficult, but it is a privilege too. People share their fears, hopes, dreams and successes at their most vulnerable times. As the Head of General Gynecology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I developed and directed one of the first organized, multidisciplinary womens cancer survivorship programs in the USA. Additionally, I founded the first fellowship in Womens Cancer Survivorship, establishing curricula and fostering scholarship in the new field. Thereafter, I spent 2 years at New York University School of Medicine building a similar practice as the appointed Director of Womens Survivorship. Over the years, I also served as a director for a continuing medical education (CME) course, Women and Cancer: From Screening to Survivorship, attended by hundreds of physicians. Moreover, I have given numerous talks on a wide range of topics in gynecology and have contributed to research endeavors and publications. Most recently, I served as the Director of Womens Health Survivorship at the University of Chicago Medicine, providing individualized care, and helping women who have had a cancer diagnosis, maximize their quality of life. I am also involved in the North American Menopause Societys Education Committee and am on the American Society of Clinical Oncology Health Equity and Outcomes Committee and Cancer Survivorship task force.Aside from my clinical skills, I think my greatest strength is the ability to engage, support and guide those in need. Even with moves from one city to another, patients have followed me either directly within NYC or remotely, e-mailing or texting for advice when I was in Chicago. I am proud to say this is the greatest testament to the relationships and trust I can build.

What do you attribute your success to?

• Her Mentor Bill Hoskins, Her supportive spouse, her patients and he passion for the work she does.

Areas of research

Quality of Life After Cancer 

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