Boris Kobrinsky, MD - Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Ambulatory Care Rego Park

Abhisek Swaika, MD, is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at Northwell Health, as well as an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. After attending Kasturba Medical College in India, followed by residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo and a fellowship at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, Dr. Swaika joined Queens Medical Associates, which became part of Northwell in 2020. Dr. Swaika was drawn towards oncology as it proved to be appealing and both as a quickly changing field and one that’s intellectually fascinating. He also likes how the field allows him to forge long-term, compassionate patient connections—bringing together the science and care he’s cultivated from the start. Queens Medical Associates, as a practice, provides culturally sensitive and cutting-edge care for the borough, and the connection with Northwell gives patients a community-focused practice with considerable resources, including access to clinical trials. “This is comprehensive, individualized care at its best,” he says. “You can have a huge team working for you and on your side, while still getting the one-on-one relationship with your oncologist.” That’s especially important with how much cancer takes a toll on both patients and families. “Recognizing that family members need support, too, is very important because this is a vulnerable time for everyone,” he says. “It can definitely be challenging, physically and emotionally, so with my team, I try to take some of that weight off patients and their loved ones.” Physicians and staff represent fluency in over 30 languages, an important part of making patients feel at ease. Dr. Swaika is fluent in Hindi and Bengali and appreciates the team-based approach at both the clinic and within Northwell. Often when he meets new patients and they realize he speaks their language and understands their culture, confidence in the treatment soars. “Patients just want to be heard and understood, on every level,” he says. “We’re able to provide that, and in a meaningful way.”