Hearing and Speech Center

Dr. Lee P. Smith is the Chief of the Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children s Medical Center of New York. Dr. Smith received his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine and completed residency training at the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital. He then completed a two year fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology at the Children s Hospital of Philadelphia with subspecialty training in advanced pediatric airway reconstruction. Dr. Smith s clinical interests include endoscopic and open pediatric airway surgery and surgical management of lesions of the head and neck. Dr. Smith s research interests have focused on operating room safety, specifically, the prevention of surgical fire. Dr. Smith has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and has presented his work at numerous national meetings. Most importantly, Dr. Smith and the division of pediatric otolaryngology are focused on delivering the highest quality patient care in a family friendly environment.

Welcome to Long Island Jewish Medical Center Pediatric Surgery in New Hyde Park, NY. Our dedicated team of pediatric surgeons is committed to providing top-notch care for children in need of surgical interventions. Specializing in pediatric surgery, our center ensures that young patients receive the highest level of medical expertise and compassionate treatment in a safe and nurturing environment.

Antonio Alfonso, MD, is vice chair of surgery and director of surgical education at Northwell Health. He specializes in head and neck endocrine surgery and sees patients with thyroid and parathyroid tumors. Dr. Alfonso’s father, a surgeon and academic, had a big influence on his son’s career choice. “My father was disciplined and ethical, and the type of doctor I wanted to be,” he says. Today, Dr. Alfonso has more than 50 years of surgical experience behind him and has trained hundreds of surgical residents. Dr. Alfonso earned his medical degree at the University of the Philippines and completed his residency in general surgery at Temple University Hospital. He continued his training with a fellowship in surgical oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He arrived at Northwell in 2017 from State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, where he was a distinguished teaching professor and Clarence & Mary Dennis chair of the department of surgery. The safe and effective surgical removal of thyroid and parathyroid tumors with excellent cosmetic results is Dr. Alfonso’s standard of care. He values team-based treatment plans and routinely works with nuclear medicine imaging specialists, endocrinologists, other head and neck surgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists. They meet on a weekly basis to discuss strategies for managing especially complex tumors. Dr. Alfonso has served in numerous regional and national leadership positions; he has served as governor-at-large of the American College of Surgeons and as president of the New York Surgical Society, New York Head and Neck Society, Tri-Borough Directors of Surgery Association and president of the New York Cancer Society. Dr. Alfonso has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers and textbook chapters. Earlier in his career, he was instrumental in developing bloodless surgery for cancer patients, an approach that avoids blood transfusions during procedures. He has also received the distinction of meeting the Castle Connelly Top Doctor criteria for 20 consecutive years. For Dr. Alfonso, establishing long-term relationships with his patients is one of the best parts of his job. “I really get to know people,” he says. “In fact, patients from years ago call me up—I still have the same cell phone number—asking me to see a family member. That’s the type of practice I have.”