Steven Mitchell Cohen, DO - Northwell Health Imbert Cancer Center

Gerardo Jerry Vitiello, MD, joined Northwell Health as an academic surgical oncologist in 2023. He specializes in treating liver, bile duct, gallbladder, pancreas and stomach cancer, as well as melanoma and soft tissue sarcomas including gastrointestinal stromal tumor. An avid baseball player growing up, Dr. Vitiello started medical school at Emory University thinking he'd go into orthopedics, but surgical oncology clicked for him during his third year. I liked the critical thinking aspect of being a surgical oncologist; it wasn't 'can we do more?' but rather 'when and how can we optimize treatment for this person?' I also liked approaching care in terms of the whole body, not just one specific location. After completing a residency at NYU Langone Health and a fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, he was drawn to the Northwell Health Cancer Institute for its one-stop approach to cancer treatment. All consultations and appointments are set up in one visit, which streamlines the process for patients, he says. And our team meets weekly to get multi-disciplinary feedback on each patient case so that everyone is on the same page and next steps are expedited.Dr. Vitiello has published more than 30 research manuscripts and is working with other oncologists and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory scientists to study the role of systemic immune and metabolic responses to cancer. "I really enjoy finding information to push the field forward. How can I improve the lives of my patients and everyone else too? Cancer therapy is dynamic, and we're always learning more."In addition to research, empowering his patients is what inspires Dr. Vitiello day to day. When someone learns they have cancer, their biggest fear is the loss of control. Feeling at the mercy of the disease and being overwhelmed with information is very stressful. In my first meeting with a patient, I focus on creating a clear and simple plan regarding next steps and things that they can control. He works with patients on holistic aspects of care such as diet and exercise, referring them to specialists if necessary. The idea is to get them in the best possible shape to fight the cancer and tolerate the treatment, he says. At the end of the day, my goal is to get to the post-operative conversation with good news. The thrill of saying, 'We did the right things and here's the proof', that's what really drives me.

William Chun-Ying Chen, MD, who joined Northwell Health in 2018 as a radiation oncologist, is vice chair for radiation medicine quality and safety, as well as an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.He first became interested in medicine, and oncology specifically, when an aunt who had been in remission from cancer passed away when he was in middle school. "Knowing that someone could be told they're cancer-free and then seeing it come back later was very striking to me," he says. "From that point on, I wanted to go into oncology to make a difference for people like my aunt."After graduating from NYU Grossman School of Medicine and then acting as chief resident at University Hospitals of Cleveland, Dr. Chen chose radiation oncology as his specialty, as it combined patient interaction with cutting-edge treatment."With radiation, we are always looking ahead toward improvement, and I enjoy that pace of advancement," he says. "We have the ability to deliver accurate, safe treatments and Northwell prides itself on keeping up with innovation in the field."For example, a recent development with surface-guided radiation therapy is the ability to deliver treatments without the traditional tattoo marks needed for standard radiation."This might seem like a small thing, not having those tattoos, but it's a big emotional impact for patients," says Dr. Chen. "They're not carrying around the reminder of their disease, and that translates to a better quality of life after therapy."Being able to work in a collaborative environment and be an active investigator for clinical trials are also ways that Dr. Chen deepens his commitment to patient outcomes. Another aspect of care he appreciates is being able to provide comfort and education to patients, especially because many who see him for the first time tend to be nervous about what's ahead."Unfortunately, many folks come in afraid of radiation and treatment, because they've heard or read horror stories," he says. "By giving them an understanding of the next steps, it takes away that uncertainty. They realize it isn't scary, but instead is a highly effective treatment."