William H. Nealon, MD

William H. Nealon, MD, FACS, is Northwell's vice chair of surgery; chief of gastrointestinal and pancreatic surgery; administrative lead of robotic surgery; co-director of the Pancreas Disease Center; and co-director of perioperative services at North Shore University Hospital. Dr. Nealon is recognized around the world for his robust expertise, research and innovations in pancreatic cancer and acute and chronic pancreatitis. "Too often, patients are told that nothing can be done-and it's simply not true," he says. "I'm on a mission to revolutionize the way doctors view, and treat, these diseases."Dr. Nealon completed his residency in general surgery at New York University School of Medicine and his fellowship in general surgery at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. He went on to create and lead the Center for Pancreatic Diseases, and serve as director of perioperative services, at both Yale New Haven Hospital and Vanderbilt University. "I love solving problems, and I'm drawn to complexity," he says of his more than 35 years as a trailblazing surgeon. Joining Northwell in 2016, Dr. Nealon is part of a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, geneticists, and other specialists who collaborate to create personalized treatment plans for patients across the health system. "Having diverse experts in one place is convenient for our patients and leads to better outcomes," he says. "And working across disciplines also makes us more knowledgeable as doctors." His team also partners with scientists to develop groundbreaking clinical trials. He's particularly dedicated to quality-continuously assessing surgical outcomes within the health system and finding new ways to make them even better. Dr. Nealon is co-director of The Pancreas Club (an international society) and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and given over 50 lectures in his field. He has also led residency and medical education programs and is a professor of surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. "I'm a lifelong learner myself," he says. "I've been fortunate to train with some of the best doctors. And I've also learned a lot from my patients, especially empathy. Everyone has a story, and it's important to listen."