Eli Serur, MD

Eli Serur, MD, is the chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Staten Island University Hospital. He is a double board-certified surgeon who specializes in gynecologic oncology.Dr. Serur's passion for oncology started as a medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. During a pathology internship, he appreciated the gratification that comes from detecting cancers early and offering care that allows patients to live better and longer. "The ability to treat patients over a long time frame was very appealing. I liked the thought of staying connected with them and developing meaningful relationships that improved their quality of life," he says.After completing his residency at Kings County Hospital Center and fellowship at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Dr. Serur spent 27 years as director of gynecologic oncology at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, followed by 22 years as director of gynecologic oncology and minimally invasive surgery at Richmond University Medical Center. He joined Northwell Health in 2019, bringing considerable expertise in complex surgical techniques with a focus on minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopic surgeries for ovarian cysts and masses, uterine fibroids, ovarian and cervical cancers, and endometriosis."With these surgeries, patients can return home much faster, sometimes even the same day," he says. "That speeds recovery, enables them to return to normal activities and leads to better outcomes."Dr. Serur was one of the first physicians in the country to advocate for abandoning a technique known as morcellation, in which uterine fibroids are removed by dividing tissue into numerous fragments, increasing the risk of undetected cancerous tissue spreading within the uterus. He was also one of the first to develop an alternate, innovative technique that could remove fibroids far more safely. In 2014, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against the procedure, in part thanks to Dr. Serur's efforts.As part of a team of experts who work together to create personalized treatment plans-including medical and radiation oncologists, nutritionists and other specialists-Dr. Serur is dedicated to what he sees as his most important skill: listening to patients. "I feel that I'm empathetic, and that comes from making sure my patients have a voice in their care," he says. "Communication and trust are everything when it comes to cancer treatment-that's what drives recovery."