As a cancer surgeon, I have seen a lot, hopefully I have also helped a lot of people and shown empathy through very difficult times. I made a decision a year ago to leave an organization that I had been with for years, and venture into a new and exciting opportunity with NYU. I was thrilled to join leadership on Long Island and continue to provide high quality care. I had to think about the decision for a long time because I would be leaving my team. My team was superb and we facilitated the best care for our patients.

To my surprise, my clinical team took a leap of faith and announced they were coming too! This included one extremely valuable member, our nurse navigator, Mandi Marcello. She is a mom of 4, juggles after school activities like no one I have ever seen, holds community fundraisers and events, and seems to have an infinite time bank because she is there emotionally, physically, and collaboratively for every single one of our cancer patients. She inspires me on a daily basis.

This year I am even more grateful to Mandi, because I myself was diagnosed with a rare and serious cancer. The road of discovery hasn’t been easy, but it’s been eye-opening and it has made me a better doctor. There have been so many unknowns within my journey, as well as obstacles that I had to overcome, and Mandi Marcello has shown me what it is to be there for a patient facing a challenging diagnosis. I am so proud of my team, they are exceptional human beings who go out of their way, every single day, for our patients and for each other. At the scariest time in our lives, Mandi makes it better by alleviating some of the stress and that I have learned firsthand is crucial to overcoming disease and recovery.