Mark Chaskes, MD, MBA joined Northwell Health in 2022. Dr. Chaskes completed his residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA and then went on to complete his rhinology and skull base surgery fellowship at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Dr. Chaskes’s clinical interests include both endonasal and open skull base surgery, transorbital surgery and revision and complex sinus surgery.

Neuro-oncology, Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Neurosurgeon
South Shore University Hospital
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, Zucker School of Medicine

Georgios Klironomos, MD, MSc, PhD, is an expert in cerebrovascular surgery, surgical neuro-oncology and open and endoscopic skull base surgery, having completed fellowships in all three specialty areas. Dr. Klironomos also performs procedures for degenerative spine disease, spinal tumors and vascular disease of the spinal cord. With research efforts focused on neuro-oncology, skull base and endoscopic skull base surgery and radiosurgery, as well as cerebrovascular disease, Dr. Klironomos has numerous high-indexed publications and meeting presentations. He graduated medical school with honors for ranking at the top two percent in his class, and was also awarded two scholarships in medical school for placing as the top student. Prior to joining Northwell, Dr. Klironomos was clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery at UPMC Williamsport and served as a military doctor in the Greek army. He is bilingual in English and Greek.

Chair, Neurosurgery
South Shore University Hospital
Professor, Neurosurgery Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

With over 33 years of surgical experience in the treatment of cerebral aneurysms, vascular malformations and malignant and benign brain tumors, David J. Chalif, MD, FACS, leads a multidisciplinary neurosurgical team and is spearheading the development of South Shore University Hospital’s world-class neurosurgery program. He earned his MD at the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago and completed his neurosurgery training at New York University Medical Center and Bellevue Hospital. Dr. Chalif founded the Brain Aneurysm Center at North Shore University Hospital, a cutting-edge program consisting of microsurgery, neurointerventional radiology, fellowship training and neurointensive care. As a recognized leader in his field, Dr. Chalif has been a recipient of the national Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s Physician Champion Award and is a member of their Medical Advisory Board. He is a true advocate for his patients, having lobbied on Capitol Hill and met with members of Congress to raise awareness of brain aneurysms. Dr. Chalif also champions community outreach and spearheads fundraising efforts to support neurosurgery research.

Amir Dehdashti, MD, FACS, is a renowned neurosurgeon, and one of the few dual-trained cerebrovascular and skull base surgeons in America. He serves as the director of cerebrovascular neurosurgery research at North Shore University Hospital, and Professor of Neurosurgery at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.

Dr. Dehdashti s areas of expertise include cerebrovascular surgery for brain aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations, brainstem cavernous malformations, carotid artery disease, and bypass surgery for moyamoya disease and brain aneurysms. He specializes in skull base surgery for acoustic neuromas and meningiomas, minimally invasive endoscopic skull base surgery for pituitary and other skull base tumors, cranial nerve surgery for trigeminal neuralgia and hemifacial spasm, and craniovertebral junction surgery including Chiari. He has developed minimally invasive approaches to many complex cerebrovascular and cranial base diseases, and is one of a few neurosurgeons in the country with internationally recognized expertise in bypass surgery.

With 14 years in practice as a board-certified neurosurgeon, Dr. Dehdashti understands the intricacies and delicate nature of brain surgery, and approaches each unique case with meticulous attention to detail. He is dedicated to providing the latest, most effective surgical options that offer the best possible outcomes, which is why patients both nationally and internationally are often referred to him.

A global leader in neurosurgical research, Dr. Dehdashti has been published in more than 150 medical papers, including the textbook Surgery of Craniovertebral Junction, and has given more than 400 lectures at national and international meetings. His current research focuses on cerebrovascular outcomes and new technologies, as well as brain arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms and skull base surgery.

Dr. Dehdashti completed his neurosurgery residency in Geneva, Switzerland, and then trained at Toronto Western Hospital, one of the largest neurosurgery centers in the world, and completed two dedicated and separate fellowships in skull base and minimally invasive endoscopic skull base surgery, and cerebrovascular neurosurgery.

As the program director of the globally recognized, CAST-accredited cerebrovascular neurosurgery fellowship at North Shore University Hospital, Dr. Dehdashti is passionate about training the next generation of subspecialty neurosurgeons many of whom trained at top neurosurgical institutions and come to him to brush up their techniques.

Dr. Dehdashti serves on the board of the North American Skull Base Society and on the Editorial Board for several journals, including Operative Neurosurgery and Acta Neurochirurgica. He is also a member of other prestigious medical societies, such as the Cerebrovascular Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons and the American Association of Neurosurgical Surgeons.

Academic titles

Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Education

Shahid Beheshti Univerity of Medical Sciences

Fellowships

Toronto Western Hospital GME

Toronto Western Hospital GME

Mark Eisenberg, MD, joined Northwell Health in 2005 after nine years in private practice. He is now chief of neurosurgery at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and the founder and director of the Skull Base Center, which is part of the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery. The center advances the field through innovative techniques and approaches.

After graduating from University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Dr. Eisenberg completed his residency training in neurosurgery at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Following residency, he completed a skull base surgery fellowship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. His area of expertise is neurological disease, with a focus on robotic and minimally invasive approaches to skull base and spinal surgery, as well as management and surgical treatment of degenerative spine disorders.

"The types of techniques we use at the Skull Base Center take years to hone and practice, and I enjoy bringing that experience to my patient care, as well as training residents and neurosurgeons around the country, and even around the world," he says.

As associate professor of neurosurgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Dr. Eisenberg teaches courses in skull base surgery and minimally invasive spinal surgery. For the past several years, he's been recognized as one of Castle Connolly's Top Doctors.

Dr. Eisenberg has published research in numerous publications and written a comprehensive textbook, The Cavernous Sinus, which provides surgeons with clear, evidence-based direction on performing successful operative procedures with microsurgical instrumentation. The textbook also covers anatomy, diagnosis and treatment, as well as insights on vascular, traumatic, inflammatory and neuroplastic diseases of the cavernous sinus.

In addition to providing that same level of clarity in every patient interaction, Dr. Eisenberg appreciates the high level of collaboration and expertise that sets Northwell apart.

"Northwell has become the epicenter for the highest levels of neurosurgical care, especially in the region and possibly in the whole tri-state area," he says. "Our expertise makes it easy to take care of complex patients and complex conditions, because we have great subspecialties that all come together here."

Board certifications

Neurological Surgery - American Board of Neurological Surgery

Academic titles

Associate Professor, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Chief resident

Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Center

Education

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Residencies

Mount Sinai Hospital and Medical Center

Fellowships

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Dr. Goenka is board-certified in radiation oncology and physics and has extensive experience with proton radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy and brachytherapy applications.

He received his medical degree at Johns Hopkins University and completed his post graduate training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He specializes in the treatment of cancers of all subsites, including brain, head and neck, lung, breast, esophageal, colorectal/anal, prostate, and gynecological malignancies.

Dr. Goenka is the recipient of several leadership awards, has published numerous articles and abstracts in national and international journals and has participated as a guest speaker internationally. He holds memberships at the American Medical Association, American Society

for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology, and American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin among others and is actively involved in Community Outreach programs.

Director, Complex Spine Surgery at South Shore University Hospital
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

Yike Jin, MD is a fellowship-trained, complex spine neurosurgeon who joined Northwell Health in 2022. Dr. Jin earned his undergraduate degree in cellular and molecular neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University and his MD at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed both his residency and CAST-certified fellowship in complex spine surgery and robotics at Johns Hopkins Hospital. During this time Dr. Jin received dedicated training in spinal trauma, deformity correction and spinal oncology, and was awarded the prestigious Irving J. Sherman Award for Resident Achievement.

Dr. Jin’s clinical interests include spinal degeneration and deformity, spinal oncology, brain tumors, Chiari malformation and trigeminal neuralgia. He also has an interest in minimally invasive spine surgery and surgical navigation and innovation. Dr. Jin’s research interests include the optimization of surgical outcomes in degenerative spine and spinal oncology, and the exploration of novel technologies in graft material and instrumentation to improve bony fusion in spine constructs. Dr. Jin is well published and has authored two book chapters.

Nurse Practitioner, Neurosurgery
South Shore University Hospital

Kristal Santiago, FNP-BC, CNRN is a board-certified family nurse practitioner who currently sees patients at Northwell Health’s neuroscience practice in Bay Shore, New York. Kristal’s clinical focus includes brain tumors, skull base tumors and malformations and neurological issues related to the spine. Kristal began her healthcare career at North Shore University Hospital in 2011 in patient transport while in nursing school. Kristal began her nursing career in neurosciences in 2013, also at North Shore University Hospital, where she spent eight years on the stroke unit before joining the Bay Shore practice.

Kristal graduated magna cum laude with her Master of Science in Family Nurse Practitioner from Hofstra University and her Bachelor of Science from Molloy College. Kristal has been a Certified Neuroscience Registered Nurse since 2014 and is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Endovascular Neurologist
South Shore University Hospital
Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, Zucker School of Medicine

Ina Terón, MD, MPH, completed fellowships in vascular neurology and endovascular neurology, and is dually board certified in neurology and vascular neurology. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and medical degree magna cum laude, and Master of Public Health summa cum laude. Dr. Terón has been involved in clinical trials on cerebrovascular disease throughout her career and has published several articles. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Melanie Lopez-Humann, MBA, PA-C is the Senior Director of Operations for the Neuroscience Program at South Shore University Hospital (SSUH) in Bay Shore, part of Northwell Health. Recruited for this role in 2018, Ms. Lopez-Humann is directly responsible for the development and operations of the rapidly expanding neurology, neurosurgery and neuro-endovascular programs. Under Ms. Lopez-Humann‘s leadership, SSUH’s scope of neuroscience services have grown significantly, providing patients a higher level of both emergent and routine care not previously available to Suffolk residents at a Northwell facility.

Ms. Lopez-Humann has 20 years of clinical experience as a board certified physician assistant, and specializes in the field of neurosurgery. She also earned her Master of Business Administration from Adelphi University’s Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, having graduated with honors. Prior to joining the leadership team at Southside Hospital, Ms. Lopez-Humann held a senior-level management position for nearly 10 years where she not only cared for patients, but also oversaw a large, private practice physician assistant team that covered nine hospitals throughout Nassau County.

Jennifer Salay joined neurosciences at Northwell Health in 2007 and for the last three years has been the Program Director for Neurosciences at South Shore University Hospital (SSUH). Throughout her tenure at Northwell, Ms. Salay has spearheaded professional, patient and consumer education, physician and community outreach, partnerships and sponsorships with other organizations, philanthropic efforts, internal communications, and marketing initiatives related to areas both within and outside of neurosciences.

Ms. Salay graduated from New York Institute of Technology Summa cum Laude and leads SSUH’s internal communications and 360 Communication Committee, has been the administrative chair of Northwell’s annual brain aneurysm walk since 2008 and sits on Northwell’s Katz Institute Collaborative. Ms. Salay is also a member of EPIC Long Island/Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island’s Professional Advisory Board and has been a member of their annual dinner gala planning committee for the last several years. Ms. Salay has also sat on numerous past Northwell committees, including the Community Benefit Excellent Council, Women’s Health Collaborative Group, the Stroke Task Force and the Ambulatory Services Diversity & Health Equity Site Council. From 2017-2019 Ms. Salay chaired Northwell’s Neuroscience Nursing Conference and in 2019 was the Administrative Director for the New York Society for Neurosurgery.