Chad Alan Kliger MD

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."

Jessica Lim, MD, is an otolaryngologist at Lenox Hill Hospital. She joined Northwell Health in 2007.Dr. Lim got her start in the field long before medical school when her father, an otolaryngologist, would bring her to the hospital so she could see the operating room and meet other healthcare professionals. Sometimes, they would run into patients while out on errands, and Dr. Lim remembers how friendly and warm those encounters could be.He loved what he was doing, and that inspired me, she recalls. Like her father, she sees patients of all ages, from babies to older adults, and appreciates that she can offer a continuum of care that includes detailed explanations of a treatment path, including printed material they can bring home and reliable websites where they can learn more about their condition.Patients know that I'll listen to them and help them solve their problems, that Ill explain what's happening in non-technical language and educate them about their disease process, she says. When people understand the goals of their treatment, they feel more supported in their care. Dr. Lim attended West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed a residency at New York University School of Medicine and a fellowship at Rush University Medical Center. In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. Lim prioritizes training residents and medical students in otolaryngology treatment, acting as resident site director for otolaryngology at Northwell. She also focuses on innovative procedures like sialoendoscopy. This procedure involves removing salivary stones that form in the salivary gland. Without this minimally invasive procedure, surgeons would have to remove the entire gland, which leaves patients challenged with chronic dryness in the mouth, an external scar, and potential injury to the nerves around the gland. Dr. Lim also in working on research focused on the role of scars in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.An aspect of Northwell Dr. Lim finds particularly helpful is the collaborative environment, which creates a sense of teamwork not just with other specialists, but also with a patients entire care team, including friends and family.When you have a large group of people working for each patient, thats truly optimal treatment, she says. I appreciate being able to provide as many resources as possible, and to broaden care in meaningful ways.