Marcovalerio Melis, 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.

Marcovalerio Melis, MD, FACS, is a surgical oncologist with more than 12 years of experience in the treatment of abdominal cancers, including those in the esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, colon and rectum. He joined Northwell Health in 2020 and currently serves as the chief of surgical oncology at Phelps Hospital. Dr. Melis provides highly specialized care, including hyperthermic intraoperative chemotherapy (HIPEC)-an advanced treatment option in which a concentrated dose of chemotherapy is administered during surgery. In fact, he was the first to perform a HIPEC procedure at NYU Langone Health (then New York University Hospital), and helped develop the HIPEC program for Northwell Health. As part of a multidisciplinary team, he works alongside medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and imaging technicians to provide a holistic treatment plan unique to every patient. Dr. Melis completed his residency at the University of Chicago and his fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. He has published more than 100 articles in medical journals and research publications and continues to contribute to the advancement of surgical oncology to this day; currently, he's involved in research on the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical practice and how AI can enhance pancreatic cancer treatment.In the past, Dr. Melis served in leadership positions at various medical societies and committees, including the Veterans Integrated Service Networks, the Association for Academic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. Now, he passes on his knowledge to the surgeons of tomorrow as a professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Melis always wanted to be a doctor, but he found that he was drawn to the hands-on approach of surgery while in medical school. As for oncology, it was the reward of saving lives that drew him in. "Helping patients fight cancer is very rewarding," he says. "It's a challenging time for them, and seeing their gratitude gets me through the day."

An internationally renowned expert in prostate cancer treatment and radiation oncology pioneer, Louis Potters, MD, FASTRO, FABS, FACR serves as Senior Vice President and Deputy Physician-in-Chief of the Northwell Cancer Institute while chairing its Department of Radiation Medicine. His contributions span clinical excellence, research innovation, and healthcare policy development. As a key architect of national cancer treatment guidelines and advisor to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Dr. Potters has helped shape modern radiation oncology standards and safety protocols.His distinguished service includes positions on the Commission on Cancer executive committee, National Quality Forum panels, and multiple Health and Human Services committees, where he has been instrumental in advancing healthcare quality nationwide. As senior editor of Practical Radiation Oncology and editorial board member for leading journals including Oncology and Brachytherapy, he continues to guide professional discourse and scientific advancement in the field. A member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha honor society, Dr. Potters has demonstrated exceptional commitment to medical excellence throughout his career. He recognized year over year in a number of Best Doctor awards by Castle Connolly, is featured in New York Magazine and as a NY Times SuperDoc. Throughout his 32-year clinical practice treating thousands of prostate cancer patients, Dr. Potters has pioneered innovative approaches to patient care and quality assurance. His leadership of one of the nation's largest radiation oncology departments has fostered excellence in patient care, groundbreaking research, and comprehensive medical education. The Smarter Radiation Oncology program he developed has gained international recognition for setting new standards in quality metrics, safety protocols, and patient experience. His academic contributions include over 200 peer-reviewed publications that have significantly advanced the field of radiation oncology and prostate cancer treatment.Under his guidance, the Northwell Health Department of Radiation Medicine has become a leading force in implementing cutting-edge treatments while training the next generation of oncology leaders. Dr. Potters continues to drive innovation in personalized cancer care, process improvement, and clinical outcomes, maintaining Northwell's position at the forefront of modern oncology practice.