David K. Halpern, MD

I chose to pursue a career in medicine because I wanted to help others and prevent them from enduring the pain and suffering associated with medical affliction. After losing my mother at an early age from a long battle with breast cancer, I am particularly sensitive to the psychosocial effects medical illness has on both the individual patient and the patient’s family.

When I entered medical school, I was drawn to the idea that surgery can fix things, whereas medicine can often only help. However, as I continued my training, I realized it was not always that simple. As a general surgery resident, I had the fortune of training before the current era of superspecialization. I had the opportunity to accumulate vast experience across multiple disciplines of surgery.

I treat patients with colon cancer, diverticulitis, breast cancer, benign breast disorders, gallbladder disease, appendicitis, hernias, soft tissue tumors, small bowel tumors, stomach ulcers, and hiatal hernias. I also perform surgery for most other intraabdominal diseases, including splenectomy and adrenalectomy. I have a keen interest in robotic abdominal wall reconstruction for complex abdominal wall hernias. These techniques can often be used to treat large, recurrent abdominal wall hernias when other interventions have failed. Also, patients who are candidates for robotic reconstruction are able to leave the hospital earlier, experience less pain, and often have better outcomes. For patients who require open surgery, I use a multidisciplinary approach, employing the expertise of plastic surgeons and anesthesia pain management teams to improve outcomes.

Multidisciplinary care is a common theme at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island. I am proud to be a member of NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island’s Breast Cancer Center of Excellence, where we combine the expertise of surgeons, pathologists, radiation oncologists, geneticists, medical oncologists, radiologists, and plastic surgeons to develop a customized cancer plan for each person.

My partners and I specialize in minimally invasive surgical techniques. We recommend surgery only when it is the best option for our patients. Our techniques deliver precise, accurate intervention to minimize damage to surrounding tissues. This expedites recovery, reduces complications, and decreases the burden of surgery for patients.

I understand that surgery can be scary, because I’ve experienced it myself. As the Hippocratic Oath states, I abide by the principle of “do no harm.” I try my best to treat each patient as I would treat a member of my family.

Medicine is always evolving with new techniques, treatment plans, and medications. To stay up-to-date, I am an active member of many surgical societies, including the American College of Surgeons, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the American Hernia Society, and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.