WilliamSBreitbartMD

Psycho-Oncology, Psychosomatic Medicine

Chairman, and the Jimmie C Holland Chair in Psychiatric Oncology, and Attending Psychiatrist, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Vice Chair and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Medical College of Cornell University; Attending Psychiatrist, New York Presbyterian Hospital

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Office
160 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022

Education & Training

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterFellowship, Clinical Psychiatry, 1984 - 1986
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of MedicineResidency, Psychiatry, 1982 - 1984
Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of MedicineResidency, Internal Medicine, 1980 - 1982
Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of MedicineResidency, Psychiatry, 1979 - 1980
Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of MedicineInternship, Internal Medicine, 1978 - 1979
Albert Einstein College of MedicineClass of 1978

Certifications & Licensure

FL State Medical License 2022 - Present
NY State Medical License 1982 - 2027
CT State Medical License 2021 - 2025
NJ State Medical License 2016 - 2025
NC State Medical License 2020 - 2022
American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Psychiatry
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Psychosomatic Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

New York Magazine: Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2002-2020
America's Top Doctors Castle Connolly, 2002-2020
Top Doctors: New York Metro Area Castle Connolly, 2002-2020
America's Top Doctors for Cancer Castle Connolly, 2002-2020
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Clinical Trials

Spirituality, Religiosity, and Immune Functioning Start of enrollment: 2003 Sep 01
Completed
Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy in Advanced Cancer Start of enrollment: 2002 May 01
Completed
Phase 2
Psychosocial Support for Cancer Patients Start of enrollment: 2005 May 01
Completed
Depression Screening in Patients With Lung Cancer Start of enrollment: 2006 Apr 01
Completed
Not Applicable
Randomized Controlled Trial of Group Psychotherapy Interventions for Cancer Patients Start of enrollment: 2007 Jun 26
Completed
Phase 3
Measuring Hope and Hopelessness in Cancer Start of enrollment: 2005 Jan 01
Completed
Depression, Cytokines and Pancreatic Cancer Start of enrollment: 2005 Nov 01
Completed
Understanding the Psychosocial Needs of Parents Who Have Lost a Child to Cancer Start of enrollment: 2009 Aug 01
Active, not recruiting
Trial of Individual Psychosocial Interventions for Cancer Patients Start of enrollment: 2011 Mar 22
Completed
Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy Training for Cancer Care Providers Start of enrollment: 2015 Dec 11
Active, not recruiting
Psychotherapy Intervention for Latinos With Adv Cancer Start of enrollment: 2019 Jan 01
Recruiting
Not Applicable
Evaluation of Grief Therapy Approaches for Bereaved Parents Start of enrollment: 2022 Mar 31
Recruiting
Not Applicable
Roles: Contact
Psychotherapy Intervention for Latinos With Advanced Cancer Start of enrollment: 2015 Apr 20
Recruiting
Not Applicable
Roles: Contact
A Study of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy for Caregivers to People With Cancer Start of enrollment: 2024 Feb 29
Recruiting
Phase 3
Roles: Contact
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Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Does enhanced meaning after meaning-centered group psychotherapy mediate a reduction in depressive symptoms in cancer survivors? A mediation analysis in the context of...
Karen Holtmaat, Nadia van der Spek, Judith J M Rijnhart, Birgit Lissenberg-Witte, William Breitbart
Supportive Care in Cancer. 2024-11-28
Meaning-centered psychotherapy training program for cancer care clinicians: Efficacy and impact of the first 5 years.
Hayley Pessin, Ashley Dustin, Mia R Behrens, Rebecca M Saracino, Wendy G Lichtenthal
Translational Behavioral Medicine. 2024-09-03
Reply to: Frailty and ethics at the end of life: The importance of a comprehensive assessment.
Columba Thomas, Eduardo Bruera, William Breitbart, Yesne Alici, Liz Blackler
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2024-09-01

Press Mentions

Young Adults Battling Cancer Face Hidden Psychological StrugglesNovember 25th, 2024
On Coronavirus Lockdown? Look for Meaning, Not HappinessApril 7th, 2020
A New Vision for Dreams of the DyingFebruary 28th, 2019
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Grant Support

Individual Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy In Advanced Cancer PatientsNational Cancer Institute2010–2011
Meaning-Centered Group Psychotherapy In Advanced CancerNational Cancer Institute2007–2011
Depression, Cytokines, And Pancreatic CancerNational Cancer Institute2005–2006
Depression/Desire For Death In Terminal Cancer PatientsNational Institute Of Nursing Research2000–2003
Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy In Advanced CancerNational Center For Complementary &Alternative Medicine2001–2002
Desire For Death Among Terminally Ill Patients With AIDSNational Institute Of Mental Health1998–2001
Network ProjectNational Cancer Institute1992–2001
Psychostimulants For Fatigue In The HIV Infected PatientNational Institute Of Mental Health1995–1997
Pain In The Ambulatory AIDS PatientNational Institute Of Mental Health1992–1994
The Network ProjectNational Cancer Institute1993
Pharmacological Management Of AIDS DeliriumNational Institute Of Mental Health1989–1991