Mana Rao, 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.