Louis Potters, MD

Elliot Newman, MD is the chief of surgical oncology at Lenox Hill Hospital, with a clinical expertise in gastrointestinal cancer care, especially pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers. He's been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor since 2002. Dr. Newman always loved interacting with people, and as the son of an organic chemist, he loved science too. "The two loves come together nicely in medicine," he says. His interest in surgery began when he attended medical school at New York University School of Medicine, and he continued on at NYU for his general surgery residency. During his residency, he spent time at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center doing a research fellowship. It was during this period that Dr. Newman developed a strong interest in cancer care. This led to a clinical fellowship in surgical oncology, also completed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. "My mentors taught me to think about the biology of the disease. How is a tumor going to behave? Is this operation right for this person?" he says. "That stayed with me forever." With cancer behaving differently from one person to another, Dr. Newman emphasizes the importance of individualizing every patient's care plan. While he specializes in minimally invasive approaches, including laparoscopic and robotic surgeries, he never assumes this is always the right procedure for everyone and he considers all approaches on the table to determine the appropriate course of care. In fact, his whole team is involved in creating a patient's care plan, meeting for a weekly tumor board to discuss and assess all the angles of each case together. And as a Northwell hospital, Lenox Hill offers a full breadth of services, meaning Dr. Newman also has access to other clinical teams as well, including gastroenterology, cardiology, pulmonology and more. This multidisciplinary approach is vital for his patients. "We can take care of the entire patient here," he says. "Not just the cancer." It's this genuine care and concern that doesn't go unnoticed by his patients, and he's constantly humbled by their gratitude. "There's nothing like getting a note from a patient, family member or friend who really appreciates the fact that you've lengthened the life of a loved one or helped them get to a next milestone," Dr. Newman says. "Whenever my time is up, I know I've helped or tried to help many patients, and that makes it all worthwhile." His passion for helping others also extends beyond medicine. For many years he and his family have supported organizations that assist underprivileged children, creating better opportunities for present and future generations.

Marcovalerio Melis, MD, FACS, is a surgical oncologist with more than 12 years of experience in the treatment of abdominal cancers, including those in the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, colon and rectum. He joined Northwell Health in 2020 and currently serves as the chief of surgical oncology at Phelps Hospital. Dr. Melis provides highly specialized care, including hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy (HIPEC)-an advanced treatment option in which a concentrated dose of chemotherapy is administered during surgery. In fact, he was the first to perform a HIPEC procedure at NYU Langone Health (then New York University Hospital), and helped develop the HIPEC program for Northwell Health. As part of a multidisciplinary team, he works alongside medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and imaging technicians to provide a holistic treatment plan unique to every patient. Dr. Melis completed his residency at the University of Chicago and his fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. He has published more than 100 articles in medical journals and research publications and continues to contribute to the advancement of surgical oncology to this day; currently, he's involved in research on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice and how AI can enhance pancreatic cancer treatment.In the past, Dr. Melis served in leadership positions at various medical societies and committees, including the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, the Association for Academic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. Now, he passes on his knowledge to the surgeons of tomorrow as a professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Melis always wanted to be a doctor, but he found that he was drawn to the hands-on approach of surgery while in medical school. As for oncology, it was the reward of saving lives that drew him in. "Helping patients fight cancer is very rewarding," he says. "It's a challenging time for them, and seeing their gratitude gets me through the day."

Gady Har-El, MD, is the chief of head and neck surgery and oncology at Northwell Health's Lenox Hill Hospital. He performs head and neck surgery for tumors of the thyroid, parathyroid, neck, mouth and larynx. He also specializes in skull base surgery for tumors of the nose, sinuses, eye socket and pituitary gland.During his more than 30 years as a surgeon, Dr. Har-El has helped develop innovations in larynx reconstruction and minimally invasive procedures, including transnasal endoscopic surgery-performed through the nose-for skull base tumors.At the age of 19, Dr. Har-El sustained a serious injury that required a hospital stay. "I was a relatively healthy kid, but this experience showed me a side of medicine that went beyond a routine doctor visit," he says. After active military service, he attended medical school at Ben-Gurion University, then completed an otolaryngology residency at The State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. He received his fellowship training in head and neck surgery and skull base surgery at Long Island College Hospital.At Lenox Hill Hospital, Dr. Har-El runs a tumor board, where he collaborates with other surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, imaging specialists and pathologists to create highly tailored treatment plans. "Each patient's care is discussed and agreed upon by all tumor board participants," he says.As an adjunct professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Dr. Har-El is committed to training otolaryngology and head and neck surgery residents. He is also professor of otolaryngology and neurosurgery at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University.Dr. Har-El has been a Castle Connolly Top Doctor for more than 20 years and is the former president of the American Laryngological Association, American Broncho-Esophagological Association, New York Head & Neck Society and New York Laryngological Society. He has published more than 250 journal articles and book chapters on head and neck and skull base tumors, and regularly presents at national and international meetings.One of the most valued parts of his job is ensuring every person he treats receives personalized care. "I examine them and talk to them about their condition, in addition to performing surgery and providing ongoing care," he says. "Every time I meet with a patient, I'm inspired."