Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Skin near Staten Island, NY

Care Philosophy: Alexander Bershadskiy, MD, specializes in hematology, medical oncology, and internal medicine, and is based at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH). He is also an assistant professor of Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and a board-certified Medical Director for SIUH Hospice.I went into medicine to help people,`` he says. ``I've always loved knowledge, and the idea of using that to get answers in a way that made people's lives better is compelling. The more I learned, the more questions I had, so I knew the best way forward was to study medicine. After earning his medical degree from St. Georges University School of Medicine, Dr. Bershadskiy completed his residency at Lenox Hill Hospital, followed by a fellowship at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. He joined Northwell Health in 2015. Dr. Bershadskiy chose oncology because it's a rapidly evolving field, and seems to have the most advances and research, with quickly changing treatment options. In his fellowship, he dove deeper into the nuances of hematology, which he also found fascinating. He brings that intellectual vigor and curiosity into patient care as well. `` Cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. I always strive to give patients the full scope of their condition, with a detailed explanation of treatment, so they can feel comfortable making the right decision for themselves,`` he says. Patients have taught me to be compassionate, empathetic, and humane.`` Patients benefit from the collaborative nature of Northwell, Dr. Bershadskiy adds. From tapping into the extensive resources at the Northwell Health Cancer Institute to consulting with a breadth of specialists throughout Northwell, he feels that the teamwork approach results in more patient-centric care. Dr. Bershadskiy has been involved in research, particularly clinical trials focused on stage 2 and stage 4 colon cancer, and he looks forward to opening more trials to advance the field and increase the chance of finding a cure for cancer. ``My main goal is to continue improving patient care in whatever way I can,`` he says.

Care Philosophy: Qun Dai, MD, PhD is a medical oncologist and hematologist at Staten Island University Hospital. She specializes in treating breast cancer and provides personalized care to ensure the best outcomes. She uses clinical assessment, biomarker features and genomic prediction to determine the appropriate treatment for her patients. She also uses molecular assays, such as next generation sequencing and immune markers, to identify additional treatment options. She emphasizes both treatment outcomes and patient quality of life. At Northwell Health, Dr. Dai works with a multidisciplinary team of doctors regularly and collaborates with breast surgeons, radiation oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, and genetic counselors to create individualized treatment plans. Dr. Dai is also devoted to breast cancer prevention. She sees patients at high risk for breast cancer due to family history, atypical hyperplasia, and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). She provides recommendations for risk reduction measures. While she focuses on breast cancer, Dr. Dai also provides care for the patients with gynecologic malignancies such as ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, and other types of solid tumors, as well as malignant and benign hematologic disorders. She is actively involved in clinical cancer research and participates in both institutional and nationwide clinical trials. She has published in peer-reviewed medical journals and is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. Dr. Dai earned her medical degree from Nanjing Medical College in China and completed her residency in internal medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine/Bronx VA Medical Center. She received fellowship training in hematology and oncology at the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She also earned a PhD in molecular biology at the New York University School of Medicine. She is now an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Dai finds helping her patients the most rewarding. I work to establish a good connection with my patients and their families so I can support them as they are going through their treatment process, she says.

Care Philosophy: Terenig Terjanian, MD, is a hematologist and medical oncologist at Northwell Health, and an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Growing up in Lebanon, Dr. Terjanians early love for biology and chemistry set him on the path toward medicine. After attending St. Josephs University, he did a residency in pathology at American University of Beirut Medical Center, and one in internal medicine at Staten Island University Hospital. He then did fellowships in hematology and oncology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Although he initially specialized in pathology, Dr. Terjanian chose cancer care as a main focus after coming to the United States in 1981. ``The number one thing I want patients to know is that I'll listen to them,`` he says. ``I try to go over every aspect of their disease slowly, explain why we order the tests we do, and have them be completely aware of all the steps,`` he says, adding that he often gives patients his cell number, because he knows concerns can come up anytime. ``I think of what I would want as a patient, and it would be a doctor who really cares.`` Dr. Terjanian is deeply interested in clinical research. He has been the principal investigator on several protocols, including those of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project at Staten Island University Hospital, and has published multiple peer-reviewed papers and abstracts and presented at international meetings. He also runs the research committee for medical residents interested in hematology-oncology, and for fellows in that specialty. He's a member of the system-wide Institutional Review Board, a group that ensures clinical trials are done ethically and safely. In addition to participation in weekly tumor board meetings, and frequently providing lectures for interns and residents, Dr. Terjanian still enjoys the chemistry and biology that drew him to medicine from the start, especially since the science in oncology changes so rapidly which leads to improved patient outcomes. ``Every day, there is something new happening in cancer diagnosis and treatment, and it's exciting to see that progress,`` he says. ``Patients are living longer, they're experiencing better quality of life with targeted therapy or immunotherapy. Its immensely satisfying to see how far we've come.``