Richard Bakst

Dr. Richard Bakst is a Professor of Radiation Oncology and Otolaryngology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is a board-certified radiation oncologist with a clinical practice focused on the personalized treatment of patients with head and neck cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma. Dr. Bakst works closely with colleagues in surgery, pathology, radiology, and medical oncology to develop comprehensive treatment plans that minimize both cancer recurrence risk and treatment-associated toxicity.

Dr. Bakst completed his medical training with an MD from New York University School of Medicine, followed by an Internal Medicine internship at Mount Sinai Hospital, and a Radiation Oncology residency at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center where he served as chief resident.

• Head and Neck Cancer: His research explores mechanisms by which cancer invades and spreads along nerves, with specific attention to salivary gland cancers.
• Breast Cancer: He investigates optimizing technical delivery of radiation to minimize toxicity for breast cancer patients.
• Hematological Malignancies: His work examines the optimal utilization of radiation for lymphoma and other blood cancers.

Dr. Bakst has published numerous peer-reviewed papers across oncological topics and serves as a reviewer for multiple cancer journals. His approach emphasizes implementing radiation therapy only when needed and leveraging technological advances to precisely target radiation while protecting healthy tissues.

• ASTRO Annual Resident Clinical/Basic Science Research Award (2012)
• National Comprehensive Cancer Network Fellows Recognition Program (2011)
• Mortimer J. Lacher Lymphoma Fellowship (2011)
• Alpha Omega Alpha (2007)
• Medical Degree Conferred with Honors in Physiology and Neuroscience (2007)
• Samuel Spiegel Award for Academic Achievement (2007)

As an active clinician-researcher at Mount Sinai, Dr. Bakst maintains a patient-centered approach that integrates the latest scientific advances with personalized care considerations. His work contributes significantly to advancing radiation oncology practices, particularly in the treatment of complex head and neck malignancies.