Gary Bernard Deutsch, MD

Description

Gary Deutsch, MD, MPH, FACS, FSSO is a board-certified surgeon and surgical oncologist specializing in robotic surgery. His focus is on pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers as well as upper-gastrointestinal malignancies and is the only surgeon at Northwell performing robotic Whipple procedures. He completed his residency at North Shore University Hospital, serving as chief resident, and was fellowship-trained at the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Named a surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation, Dr. Deutsch says about 90% of the abdominal surgeries he's performed were done with robotics. In fact, he's performed more robotic Whipple surgeries than any other surgeon within Northwell Health.He recently received a grant to explore how readily available wearable technology, like the Apple Watch, can be used to measure the quality of a surgeon's hand movements and operative skill during surgery. He is also heavily involved in clinical trials, serving as the principal investigator on an important national trial in pancreas cancer.His highly technical work is balanced by his warm, genuinely caring demeanor. "The connection you make with the patient as a surgeon is unmatched, " he says. "People trust you with what is most important, most prized in their life: their health and livelihood." He makes sure to never bury himself in his notes while speaking with a patient, and instead immerses himself in their experience. "I want them to feel like they are family." He is fully committed to holistic oncology care.As he takes the time to get to know his patients, he is supported by his entire team, including other physicians, physician extenders and nurse practitioners. "When you make it about the team, the outcomes are ultimately better, " he says. He encourages everyone to contribute when going over a case, leaving no stone unturned for his patients. For those of his patients who are dealing with aggressive, incurable cancers, Dr. Deutsch refuses to stand on the sidelines. Because of this, he is proudly working with the Canopy Cancer Collective on streamlining the supportive care process, all with the goal of finding the best ways for patients to maintain a better quality of life, which can include surgery to help manage specific symptoms. He is just as invested in the future of his patients as he is in the future of health care in general. Because of this, he started a complex general surgical oncology fellowship at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, one of only 33 programs in the US, helping to train the next generation of surgeons right here at Northwell.