Rama Devi Kastury, DO - Northwell Health

William H. Nealon, MD, FACS, is Northwell's vice chair of surgery; chief of gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgery; administrative lead of robotic surgery; co-director of the Pancreas Disease Center; and co-director of perioperative services at North Shore University Hospital. Dr. Nealon is recognized around the world for his robust expertise, research and innovations in pancreatic cancer and acute and chronic pancreatitis. "Too often, patients are told that nothing can be done-and it's simply not true," he says. "I'm on a mission to revolutionize the way doctors view, and treat, these diseases."Dr. Nealon completed his residency in general surgery at New York University School of Medicine and his fellowship in general surgery at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. He went on to create and lead the Center for Pancreatic Diseases, and serve as director of perioperative services, at both Yale New Haven Hospital and Vanderbilt University. "I love solving problems, and I'm drawn to complexity," he says of his more than 35 years as a trailblazing surgeon. Joining Northwell in 2016, Dr. Nealon is part of a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, geneticists, and other specialists who collaborate to create personalized treatment plans for patients across the health system. "Having diverse experts in one place is convenient for our patients and leads to better outcomes," he says. "And working across disciplines also makes us more knowledgeable as doctors." His team also partners with scientists to develop groundbreaking clinical trials. He's particularly dedicated to quality-continuously assessing surgical outcomes within the health system and finding new ways to make them even better. Dr. Nealon is co-director of The Pancreas Club (an international society) and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and given over 50 lectures in his field. He has also led residency and medical education programs and is a professor of surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. "I'm a lifelong learner myself," he says. "I've been fortunate to train with some of the best doctors. And I've also learned a lot from my patients, especially empathy. Everyone has a story, and it's important to listen."

Matthew J. Weiss, MD, FACS, is deputy physician-in-chief and director of the surgical oncology program at Northwell Cancer Institute. He's a board-certified surgeon specializing in pancreas and liver diseases.With a relentless work ethic and strong desire to help people, Dr. Weiss always knew he wanted to be a doctor. "I picked a field that allows me to tackle difficult problems and truly make an impact," he says.Dr. Weiss completed his residency in general surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital and was dual fellowship trained in surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He was previously chief of hepatobiliary surgery at Johns Hopkins, where he was also director of the Pancreas and Liver Multidisciplinary Clinics and the complex general surgical oncology fellowship. He also performed the first robotic Whipple at Johns Hopkins University. Joining Northwell in 2019, Dr. Weiss created a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, geneticists, and other specialists who collaborate to create unique treatment plans for patients across the health system. "Every cancer is different, and every patient is different," he says. "Communication among multiple providers is the best way to ensure you're treating the entire person, properly," he says. Dr. Weiss's team also works with scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research to develop and run groundbreaking clinical trials. An international leader in both liver and pancreas surgery, Dr. Weiss has authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications in the field, and he's currently a professor of surgery and oncology at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. "Understanding both the science of the disease and the technological aspect of surgery is so important," he says. Dr. Weiss focuses on using cancer genetics to help find the right surgical approach for patients. When possible, he operates robotically using small incisions for faster healing, so patients don't have to wait as long to receive additional therapies that can improve outcomes. With recent advancements in the field, Dr. Weiss has been able to successfully perform high-risk surgeries that were turned down by other institutions. "Being a surgeon is a tremendous responsibility, and I don't take it lightly," he says. "I truly and deeply care about my patients and their families-I get to know them as people and am there throughout their entire journey. That's what I'm most proud of as a doctor."