South Nassau Hospital Dedicates Radiation Oncology Department

South Nassau Communities Hospital recently dedicated its state-of-the-art Radiation Oncology Department. Hospital officials welcomed Mayor Eugene Murray of Rockville Centre, and Mayor Edward Cahill of Valley Stream who were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of the department. A representative from Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi's office, Cindy Gillen, presented a citation to the Department of Radiation Oncology, commending the hospital's contributions to fighting cancer in the community.
"Three years ago we began the cancer initiative with one simple ingredient, passion, passion for touching the lives of our neighbors when they need us most," said Akram Boutros, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer. "Upon that base we built our vision of a cancer center that would offer individuals battling this disease the most advanced cancer technologies and services available."
South Nassau's cancer care program is approved by the American College of Surgeons. Under the direction of Edward Mullen, M.D., the department offers the most advanced treatments and technology in surgical, radiation and medical oncology and supportive care services.
South Nassau boasts the Long Island Gamma Knife®, a radiosurgery tool that is becoming the treatment of choice for benign and malignant brain tumors, brain abnormalities and trigeminal neuralgia.
Equipped with two state of the art linear accelerators, the department offers many therapies including intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), radiofrequency ablation, radioactive seed implantation of the prostate, CT scan and radiographic simulation for 3D radiation therapy planning, stereotactic radiosurgery and mammosite brachytherapy for early stage breast cancer.
The department is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of board certified physicians in surgical oncology, radiation oncology, medical oncology, GYN oncology, breast cancer diagnosis and surgery, head and neck and melanoma surgery. Nurses are specially trained in all aspects of cancer care and many are certified in oncology nursing.
South Nassau's cancer care also offers a cancer concierge program, a patient and family resource center and library with Internet access, pastoral counseling, psychosocial counseling, nutritional counseling and cancer support groups. For more information, call 1-877-South-Nassau.
South Nassau Communities Hospital is one of the region's largest hospitals, with 435 beds, more than 820 physicians and 2,200 employees. Located in Oceanside, NY, the Hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health and emergency services. In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, South Nassau boasts Long Island's first gamma knife and New York State's first acute angioplasty program.
South Nassau is a member of the New York-Presbyterian Health Care System and a partner in the Winthrop-South Nassau University Health System. For more information, call 1-877-South Nassau.