Kevin Hyman, MD, is chief of thoracic surgery at Glen Cove Hospital and is largely focused on treating lung and esophageal cancers and mediastinal tumors. In addition, he treats myasthenia gravis, emphysema and acid reflux, with a special emphasis on minimally invasive thoracic procedures. He's also skilled in endobronchial and endoscopic therapies, including stenting and laser therapy. As the son of two physicians, Dr. Hyman was interested in medicine since childhood and went on to graduate from Weill Medical College of Cornell University. When his father passed away from cancer during Dr. Hyman’s residency training, he changed his area of focus from cardiac surgery to thoracic surgery so that he could work more closely with cancer patients. “Being able to help someone get through a major illness, and get back to their lives, is a very rewarding feeling,” he says. Dr. Hyman joined Northwell Health in 2007, where he collaborates closely with many health experts. He regularly participates in tumor board meetings, which bring together multi-disciplinary specialists to examine each patient's case and come up with an individualized care plan. “These meetings are extremely important because cancer care can’t be done by one doctor,” he explains. "Having everyone in the same room, talking through a case, helps us come up with the best plan, and that’s key to treating patients with complex conditions like cancer.” As assistant professor at Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Dr. Hyman trains the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons. He also conducts research in his field that has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals. In addition, he’s earned recognition on several prestigious physician lists, including Castle Connolly Top Doctors and New York Magazine Top Doctors. Dr. Hyman is well-known for his lively sense of humor and his ability to put patients at ease, especially during a difficult time for them and their families. “Cancer patients need a lot of care, encouragement and empathy,” he says. “I focus on taking care of the whole patient, not just on their cancer treatment. This builds strong relationships that are very meaningful for care.”