Robert Gawley Kerr, MD, PhD

Robert Kerr, MD, PhD is a top neurosurgeon and spinal surgeon, and is the section chief of neurosurgery at Huntington Hospital. He specializes in brain tumors, concussion, minimally invasive endoscopic skull base surgery, spine surgery and trigeminal neuralgia pain.He completed his medical degree at Queen’s University in Ontario and his residency at the University of Alberta School of Medicine/Dentistry. He also did a fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and received a PhD in cancer immunotherapy.With his academic and clinical expertise, Dr. Kerr was recruited to lead the neurosurgery efforts in Huntington. “Our treatments are world-class,” he says. “Patients should never feel like they’re missing out by not being near the city—the best we offer is truly the best there is.”He’s currently the only neurosurgeon at Northwell with the ability to perform a Brain Path-assisted trans sulcal approach, a highly advanced minimally invasive neurosurgical technique which Dr. Kerr helped develop. In addition, he’s conducted more single-step cranioplasties than any other surgeon in all of New York State. Dr. Kerr is also heavily focused on cancers that can travel to the brain and spinal column. His current research involves looking at ways to screen for specific subtypes of breast cancer that have a strong correlation with spreading to the brain.All of Dr. Kerr’s work is made possible with a team. “The best care is not done in isolation,” he says. He runs a multidisciplinary tumor board which includes genetic counseling, pathologists, oncologists and more.Having lost his mother to cancer when he was very young, Dr. Kerr understands the far-reaching effects of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. “The disease is only part of what they’re going through,” he says. “It has implications for their children, spouses, businesses, aspirations.” He makes it a point to invite to appointments any family members a patient may want involved in their care.Dr. Kerr is also implementing “playback health” at Huntington Hospital, allowing a doctor to share personalized videos that include a patient’s care instructions, recovery expectations, medical options and more. “So much information comes at a patient before they leave the hospital,” Dr. Kerr says. “With this, they can go home, click the app and see me and my team.” That constant reassurance is just as important to Dr. Kerr as the treatment itself.