Darren Rohan, MD, is the Westchester regional director of Northwell Health's thoracic surgery program. At Northern Westchester Hospital and Phelps Hospital, he treats patients who have lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal masses, severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and hiatal hernia. At the forefront of minimally invasive procedures since 2012, Dr. Rohan was the first thoracic surgeon in the country to use the DaVinci robotic surgery system for thoracic surgery, an approach that reduces pain, scarring and recovery time compared with open surgery. He was first in the nation to perform a lung lobectomy using the DaVinci system, as well as Nissen fundoplication, a procedure that relieves severe GERD. "My grandfather died of colon cancer and that experience led me into this line of work," says Dr. Rohan. "To be able to cure others and help them get back to their families and lives is extremely rewarding." Dr. Rohan attended medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery residency at Boston University Medical Center and a fellowship in thoracic surgery at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. At Northwell, he works closely with a team of pulmonologists, radiologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists to ensure his patients receive a comprehensive approach to care. He also identifies patients with lung cancer who might benefit from clinical trials, giving them access to the latest treatment advances. As chief thoracic surgery at Northern Westchester Hospital, Dr. Rohan is part of the leadership team that has earned the facility recognition as a Center of Excellence for Robotic Surgery by the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) since 2017. The SRC has also recognized Dr. Rohan as a Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery. He is an assistant professor of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgery, the New York Medical Society, and the American College of Surgeons. Being fully committed and accessible to patients is one of Dr. Rohan's biggest priorities. "My patients can reach out to me with any questions," he says. "I want to ensure they and their families fully understand what to expect with surgery and the follow-up care that may be needed."