MDNews - Long Island

Northwell Health appoints Michael Gitman, MD, to lead Long Island Jewish Medical Center as its Executive Director Northwell Health announced the appointment of Michael Gitman, MD, to lead Long Island Jewish Medical Center as its Executive Director. Dr. Gitman has served as Medical Director at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) in Manhasset since 2014 and succeeds Michael Goldberg, who departs Northwell to pursue other opportunities outside of the health system. Dr. Gitman was part of the leadership team that recruited physician talent and developed complex clinical programs that expanded NSUH's reach and capabilities, including transplantation. The hospital performed Long Island's first heart transplant in 2018 and followed up with the first liver transplant in 2019. NSUH treated thousands of patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with Dr. Gitman organizing the clinical response. Dr. Gitman is an American College of Physicians Fellow and member of the American Society of Nephrology. He received a bachelor's degree from Columbia University and a medical degree from SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse. Dr. Gitman completed his residency and chief residency in internal medicine, as well as a nephrology fellowship at Mount Sinai Medical Center. During his time at NSUH, the institution received Magnet status, achieved the 93rd percentile in employee engagement and has been recognized as a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services four-star hospital. In addition, Dr. Gitman is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is a faculty member of the American College of Healthcare Executives where he teaches continuing education content to other healthcare executives. Francisca Velcek, MD Francisca Velcek, MD, pediatric surgeon at Lenox Hill Hospital, has been inducted into the American College of Surgeons' Academy of Master Surgeon Educators, an elite group of master surgeons whose mission is to advance the science and practice of avant- garde surgical education and training. Dr. Velcek is now one of only 300 surgeons in the nation — and the only physician at Lenox Hill and Northwell Health — to have been bestowed this honor. Dr. Velcek received her medical degree in the Philippines in 1966 before moving to the U.S. to launch her medical career. She practiced as a private citizen and also as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve Medical Corp from 1987 to 1998. For her service during Operation Desert Storm, she received a Distinguished Service Medal from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is a veteran of foreign wars of the U.S. Army. She joined Lenox Hill Hospital in 1991 and during the past few decades, she worked her way up the ranks to become an esteemed surgeon in the pediatrics department. The vast knowledge and experience Dr. Velcek has amassed are being passed down to the next generation of surgeons through academics, not only here in the U.S. but internationally. She has delivered nearly 200 presentations across the globe, including in the Philippines and Croatia where she has numerous hospital and academic appointments. A leading author in the field of pediatric surgery, Dr. Velcek has published many peer-reviewed scientific articles and abstracts. Westchester Medical Center Director of Surgery Rifat Latifi, MD, FACS, has been named the Minister of Health for the Republic of Kosovo. Westchester Medical Center is initiating a search for Dr. Latifi's replacement as he accepts his new role to be based in Kosovo. Steven Lansman, MD, currently Medical Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery, will serve as Interim Director. Dr. Latifi joined Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, in 2016, bringing with him surgical expertise in trauma, general surgery and critical care with special interests in complex re-operative surgery and nutritional support of critically ill patients. During his tenure as Director of Surgery at Westchester Medical Center, the surgery program has expanded its geographic reach and continues to specialize in advanced surgical services such as organ transplantation, burn, Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma, cardiac, thoracic and acute care surgery, and more. Dr. Latifi is known internationally as an advocate for health care in developing nations, particularly the delivery of advanced medicine services to underserved nations via telemedicine. He has spent the last two decades building telemedicine networks around the world that enable physicians to care for patients remotely. ■ Share your story in the next issue of MD News. For consideration, please email your press releases to Press@LexMediaGroup.com. M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S L O N G I S L A N D ■ 2 0 21 1 5

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