Methodist-017
chairman of the Department of Surgery at New York Methodist Hospital, on addressing the borough’s unique health care needs and how his specialty is experiencing a technological revolution

by megan schade

In 2003, there were only two heart centers in the whole of Brooklyn equipped to treat those in need of cardiac surgery. For a borough of nearly 2.5 million people, two centers left the specialized cardiac needs of Brooklynites woefully underserved. To right this imbalance, New York Methodist Hospital (NYM) and the Weill-Cornell Medical Center had applied to the New York State Department of Health to develop a new cardiac surgery center. The Department of Health granted the Hospital a certificate of need to create a third cardiothoracic surgery center in Brooklyn, and in 2004 the ribbon was cut on the New York Methodist/Cornell Heart Center. Anthony Tortolani, M.D. was named its chairman.

“I came to NYM from Weill Cornell to develop the Center, recruit and train its staff, and lead the program,” said Dr. Tortolani. “And I served as chairman of cardiothoracic surgery for 11 years. During that time, I was also asked to become chairman of surgery. It really was an exciting time—being able to launch a top-tier, advanced Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery while also enhancing and extending services in the Department of Surgery.”

When Dr. Tortolani took over the Department of Surgery in 2007, “I took stock of where we were as a department,” he explained. “I had inherited a strong general and ambulatory surgery service with a select number of subspecialties, including orthopedics and neurosurgery. But when I thought of the places the Department could go, there was incredible potential to build and strengthen.”

His first priority was to bolster the existing subspecialties.

“When Dr. Tortolani arrived as chairman,” said Henry Tischler, M.D., chief of orthopedic surgery at NYM, “It was immediately apparent that he wanted to give us the support—financial and otherwise—to make the orthopedic surgery division thrive. His standards are unyielding, but he also provides us with what we need to provide the finest level of care: staffing, equipment and technology. While we still perform joint replacements and set broken legs, we are now able to provide very advanced surgery for conditions of the spine, neck, shoulder, elbow, hand, feet, and ankle.”

Looking back at the Department of Surgery over the last ten years, Dr. Tortolani reflected, “We’ve become a world-class institution. We now offer specialized pediatric surgery in all areas, including pediatric urology and pediatric neurosurgery. We’ve expanded our orthopedic and vascular surgical staff. We have an entire otolaryngology service and specialists in head and neck surgery as well as a sophisticated neurosurgery service. Our bariatric surgery program is second to none. To fully accommodate our patients’ specific and unique surgical requirements, we recruited an expert staff of surgeons.”

VJ SPREAD

Sometimes, the surgery is the easy part. For a patient, it is the recovery that can be debilitating. NYM employs surgical techniques aimed at changing that. “At NYM, we use the most advanced minimally invasive techniques,” said Dr. Tortolani. “What may have required open surgery a few years ago can now be treated laparoscopically or robotically—significantly reducing pain and recovery time. For example, in thoracic surgery, to remove a section of lung, it had been necessary to make a large incision in the chest cavity and break through the rib cage in order to access the lung. This resulted in significant trauma to the body and a lengthy recovery time. Using minimally invasive robotic surgery, a surgeon is now able to insert a tiny camera and surgical instruments into the chest cavity through keyhole incisions. The robotic approach provides the surgeon with the advantages of an increased range of motion and greater surgical precision, and a faster return to normal activity.”

Dr. Tortolani made clear that he will only embark on a project—be it a hernia surgery or the development of a new surgical division—if he can ensure that it will meet his unyielding quality of care standard.

“Quality of care comes from inter and intradepartmental communication,” he said. “We are obsessive about reviewing our cases and procedures, identifying where we could be even stronger. Each month, representatives from every area of patient care—including surgery, nursing, social work, case management, food and nutrition—come together to discuss a topic—for instance, wound care or nutrition—that affects specific patients. We form a strong team working towards one goal: providing the best care possible.”

“Under Dr. Tortolani’s guidance, the Department of Surgery has increased its surgical volume by more than 1,000 cases a year,” added Prasad Gudavalli, M.D., attending surgeon at NYM, and president of the Hospital’s Medical Board. “He recruits top-notch surgeons and has developed the department exponentially—all with the most stringent professional standards, which in turn yield tremendous results.”

“With his leadership and support,” said Martin Zonenshayn, M.D., chief of neurosurgery, “NYM’s neurosurgery division has grown in personnel and state-of-the-art equipment, allowing us to perform a greater variety of complex neurosurgical procedures—such as deep brain stimulation, stroke reversal, minimally invasive spinal surgery, and advanced aneurysm treatment—all while maintaining the high level of quality that patients expect and deserve.”

“Dr. Tortolani was the reason I came to New York Methodist in 2008,” offered Ivan Grunberger, M.D., chief of urology. “I have known him since I was a surgical intern, and I couldn’t ask for a better, more supportive chairman. When I joined the staff, I knew that to become a leading center for urologic services, we would need to make some significant investments—in surgeons and equipment. Dr. Tortolani shared my vision, and ensured that I had what I need to make the division the success that it is today.”

Dr. Grunberger explained that robotic technology allows his staff to treat over 200 prostate and kidney cases annually. Previously these cases would have required open surgery. Many women’s pelvic floor conditions can now also be treated robotically. “In addition, we are on the cutting edge of laser therapy for benign prostate and kidney stone issues. Our expertise in minimally invasive therapies was enabled by the support we received,” he said.

This fall, Dr. Tortolani was able to pass the reins of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery to the capable hands of colleague Robert Tranbaugh, M.D., allowing him to focus exclusively on the Department of Surgery. “Surgery is always expanding in scope,” he said. “And to run a successful department, you have to keep pace, always thinking about what can be done better, more efficiently and with better patient outcomes. I have a tremendous, committed team here at NYM, and our future is bright.”

New York Methodist Hospital
506 6th Street / 718.780.3000 / nym.org