Natalie J. Klar, MD

As a medical oncologist and member of the team at NYU Langone’s Breast Cancer Center, I see patients in two locations: NYU Langone’s Perlmutter Cancer Center in Manhattan, and Perlmutter Cancer Center—Sunset Park, in Brooklyn.

I help optimize care for patients who have breast cancer by offering the latest treatment options and customizing their treatment plan. Prevention is also part of the picture. When patients have conditions that put them at high risk for breast cancer, I help to reduce this risk.

Since childhood, I have wanted to be a doctor. In medical school, I became fascinated by the science of cancer and how targeting treatments to attack patients’ specific types of cancer cells may improve outcomes. My interest in breast cancer grew when I became a patient navigator. By following patients who have breast cancer through their treatment, I learned that having a good doctor to help a patient along the way can be rewarding and meaningful for both parties.

A breast cancer diagnosis affects every aspect of a person’s life. I have a special interest in helping patients overcome obstacles, such as not being able to afford treatment, having to miss work due to chemotherapy, and having difficulty getting to medical appointments due to limited transportation. My goal is to help patients receive the care they need despite these and other barriers, and to personalize their treatment plan based on their needs and wishes.

In addition to caring for patients, I enjoy being involved in breast cancer clinical research. Whether patients seek treatment in Manhattan or Sunset Park, they may be eligible for clinical trials, including those sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. I am dedicated to helping my patients access appropriate clinical trials, through which they can receive up-and-coming treatments that may improve outcomes and lead to fewer side effects.

I am a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the breast committee of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. Additionally, I publish articles on breast cancer, present research findings at conferences, and collaborate with oncologists around the country and the rest of the world. By doing this, I stay updated on the latest developments and clinical trials in breast cancer treatments for my patients.