Mordechai Zalman Smith, MD

Philip Salvatore Ragone, MD, is a distinguished neurologist specializing in Neuromuscular Medicine, dedicated to providing exceptional patient care at Northwell Health Physician Partners Neuroscience Institute at Great Neck. With a deep commitment to understanding and treating complex neurological conditions, Dr. Ragone brings a wealth of expertise to his practice.Dr. Ragone's areas of focus encompass a range of debilitating neuromuscular disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, spinal muscular atrophy, and polyneuropathy. He is also highly skilled in electromyography (EMG) and the diagnosis and management of gait abnormalities and Motor Neuron Disease, utilizing advanced diagnostic tools to provide accurate and timely diagnoses.A graduate of New York Medical College, Dr. Ragone completed his residency in Neurology at Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he honed his clinical skills and developed a strong foundation in neurological patient management. He holds board certifications from the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the American Board of Psychiatry/Neurology-Neurology, underscoring his comprehensive knowledge and dedication to the field.As an Assistant Professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Dr. Ragone contributes to the education of future medical professionals, sharing his passion for neurology and commitment to advancing patient care. His multifaceted expertise in neurology, neuromuscular medicine, and electrodiagnostic medicine makes him a valued physician within the Northwell Health system, offering hope and improved quality of life to patients facing challenging neurological conditions.

An accomplished neurologist specializing in adult epilepsy, Simona Vasilica Proteasa, MD, is a dedicated physician at Northwell Health. Her expertise lies in diagnosing and treating a wide spectrum of epilepsy-related conditions, ensuring patients receive comprehensive and advanced care.Dr. Proteasa holds board certifications from the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology in Neurology with Special Qualifications in Child Neurology and in Epilepsy. Her areas of focus are extensive, encompassing absence epilepsy, electroencephalography (EEG), complex partial epilepsy, epileptic encephalopathy, febrile convulsions, Landau-Kleffner syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, neurofibromatoses, Rett syndrome, status epilepticus, traumatic brain injury, tuberous sclerosis, and video EEG.She earned her Doctor of Medicine (MD) from Universitatea de Med si Farmacie Iuliu Hatieganu. Dr. Proteasa completed her residency in Pediatrics at Icahn School of Medicine At Mount Sinai. Further honing her skills, she completed a fellowship at Cohen Children's Medical Center, specializing in Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology, followed by a fellowship at North Shore University Hospital focusing on Epilepsy.Dr. Proteasa holds the academic title of Assistant Professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, contributing to the education of future medical professionals. She sees patients at the Northwell Health Physician Partners Neuroscience Institute at Great Neck, where she is committed to providing exceptional care for individuals with neurological disorders.

Souhel Najjar, MD is the Chair of Neurology at Lenox Hill Hospital and Staten Island University Hospital and is Chair and Professor of Neurology at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. Dr. Najjar is a world-renowned physician, internationally recognized for his clinical, research and teaching expertise, having dedicated his career to the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy, neuroinflammation-related neuropsychiatric disorders and autoimmune disorders of central nervous system.Dr. Najjar received his MD from Demascus Medical School in Syria and completed residencies in pathology and neurology at Albany Medical College. Following residency Dr. Najjar completed a fellowship in neuropathology at the NYU School of Medicine as well as a fellowship in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology at NYU's Hospital for Joint Diseases.Prior to his appointment at North Shore-LIJ, Dr. Najjar was the Director of Neurosciences and Director of Stroke at SIUH, as well as the Director of Epilepsy Quality Assurance and Associate Professor of Neurology at New York University School of Medicine. Dr. Najjar was also the Founder and Director of the Epilepsy Center Division of the NYU Department of Neurology's Neuroinflammation Research Group.Dr. Najjar was featured in the New York Times' best-selling novel "Brain on Fire," a memoir written by Susannah Cahalan, a reporter from the New York Post. Dr. Najjar diagnosed Ms. Cahalan with a rare autoimmune disease in which the body was attacking her brain. This illness is now thought to have been the cause of "demonic possessions" throughout history.In addition, Dr. Najjar has been featured in several nationally syndicated broadcast interviews including TLC's "Mystery Diagnosis," NBC-TV's "Today" show and ABC-TV's "Katie Couric Show." Dr. Najjar has also been featured in Oprah magazine and Forbes magazine and has been included in "Best Doctors" issues published by US News and World Report and New York magazine. Dr. Najjar was also recognized in Exceptional Parent Magazine's Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award for his contributions to the care of children with epilepsy, cerebral palsy, movement disorders and related disabilities. Dr. Najjar's work has been widely published and is a reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. He is also the Co-Director of the Scientific Planning Committee of the Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance and lectures regularly both nationally and internationally.