Samuel Kenan MD

Gary Deutsch, MD, MPH, FACS, FSSO is a board-certified surgeon and surgical oncologist specializing in robotic surgery. His focus is on pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers as well as upper-gastrointestinal malignancies and is the only surgeon at Northwell performing robotic Whipple procedures. He completed his residency at North Shore University Hospital, serving as chief resident, and was fellowship-trained at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Named a surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation, Dr. Deutsch says about 90% of the abdominal surgeries he's performed were done with robotics. In fact, he's performed more robotic Whipple surgeries than any other surgeon within Northwell Health.He recently received a grant to explore how readily available wearable technology, like the Apple Watch, can be used to measure the quality of a surgeon's hand movements and operative skill during surgery. He is also heavily involved in clinical trials, serving as the principal investigator on an important national trial in pancreas cancer.His highly technical work is balanced by his warm, genuinely caring demeanor. "The connection you make with the patient as a surgeon is unmatched," he says. "People trust you with what is most important, most prized in their life: their health and livelihood." He makes sure to never bury himself in his notes while speaking with a patient, and instead immerses himself in their experience. "I want them to feel like they are family." He is fully committed to holistic oncology care.As he takes the time to get to know his patients, he is supported by his entire team, including other physicians, physician extenders and nurse practitioners. "When you make it about the team, the outcomes are ultimately better," he says. He encourages everyone to contribute when going over a case, leaving no stone unturned for his patients. For those of his patients who are dealing with aggressive, incurable cancers, Dr. Deutsch refuses to stand on the sidelines. Because of this, he is proudly working with the Canopy Cancer Collective on streamlining the supportive care process, all with the goal of finding the best ways for patients to maintain a better quality of life, which can include surgery to help manage specific symptoms. He is just as invested in the future of his patients as he is in the future of health care in general. Because of this, he started a complex general surgical oncology fellowship at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, one of only 33 programs in the US, helping to train the next generation of surgeons right here at Northwell.

Ashley James D'Silva, MD, is an oncologist at Imbert Cancer Center in Bay Shore, New York. He specializes in gastrointestinal oncology, including tumors of the pancreas, stomach and colon, as well as head and neck malignancies.Dr. D'Silva's father was a nephrologist. His own road to medicine started when he worked at a dialysis unit during college. I found that the kind of love and attention I could give to patients in that setting was something I was really passionate about. In his fourth year of medical school at Wright State University, he did an oncology rotation at the Veterans Affairs hospital, and everything clicked. I remember having powerful conversations with these incredible veterans, and that made me want to help people with difficult diagnoses. He also often thought of his mother, who had cancer and died when he was 16 years old. His mom's oncologist was like a trusted family member. She communicated in such a kind and compassionate way. I wanted to be that person for others.Dr. D'Silva did his residency at Temple University Hospital and fellowship at Mount Sinai Beth Israel. He worked at Maimonides Medical Center before coming to Northwell. My wife and I initially wanted to move out of the city for more space for our growing family, but I got lucky joining Northwell. The Imbert Cancer Center has the best staff I've ever worked with. We support each other and we support our patients. We smile and laugh and cry together.Similarly, he is all-in with his patients. I make sure that all my patients are able to reach me whenever they need, as I believe communication is fundamental to compassion. I try to understand where they are in their journey. They know that when they are with me, I'm with them, too.Dr. D'Silva is involved in growing a hepatic artery infusion (HAI) pump program in the region. An HAI pump delivers chemotherapy in high doses focused on the liver, which can help to cure patients that were otherwise relegated to a palliative course of treatment. This is an incredible treatment that's not available many places. We're using it in clinical practice, and we're researching its different applications. The possibilities are exciting.