Here’s a look at the top-notch physicians who have recently joined Stony Brook Medicine to lead programs ranging from Radiation Oncology to Surgery to Pediatric Nephrology.
Over the past few years, Stony Brook Medicine has set course with an ambitious plan to achieve a new level of excellence. Already in place is a group of leaders with national reputations as innovators in research, education and clinical care, and the organization continues to attract top-notch physicians and healthcare professionals to lead its programs. Here’s a look at the most recent leaders at Stony Brook.
Samuel Ryu, MD
Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology

Samuel Ryu, MD, joined Stony Brook Medicine as its Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Deputy Director for Clinical Affairs at Stony Brook University Cancer Center. He comes to Stony Brook from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, where he served as the Director of the Center for Radiosurgery in the Josephine Ford Cancer Institute and as Professor of Radiation Oncology at Wayne State University. Over the past 15 years, Dr. Ryu has developed a national and international reputation for excellence in radiosurgery of tumors of the central nervous system, pioneering a new field of radiosurgery of spine and cord tumors, and launching the first spinal radiosurgery research study.
Mark Schweitzer, MD, FRCPSC
Chair, Department of Radiology

Medical scholar, educator and experienced hospital administrator Mark Schweitzer, MD, FRCPSC, has joined Stony Brook Medicine as Chair, Department of Radiology. Prior to Stony Brook, he served as Chief of Diagnostic Imaging and Chair of Radiology at University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. At Stony Brook Medicine, Dr. Schweitzer is focused on growing the imaging program to bring Stony Brook to the forefront in the use of imaging to understand the natural history and effect of interventions on disease. Cited as a perennial “Best Doctor,” he has served as a consultant for many professional sports teams, including the New York Mets, New York Islanders, New York Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Eagles, as well as numerous college teams, the Pennsylvania Ballet Company and the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
Mark Talamini, MD
Chair, Department of Surgery

The Department of Surgery has found a new leader in Mark Talamini, MD, who has been appointed Professor and Chair. He comes to Stony Brook from University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine where he was the M.J. Orloff Family Endowed Chair in Surgery and Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery. Dr. Talamini also serves as the Founding Director of the Stony Brook Medical Innovation Institute, and is working to develop and test new techniques and devices to solve challenges in surgical and procedurally based medical, pediatric and radiologic specialties. Considered a pioneer in minimally invasive abdominal surgery, he is recognized as one of the leading authorities on laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery in the United States.
Ellen Li, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Ellen Li, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist and research scientist investigating digestive diseases, has been appointed Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. She also leads a group of highly trained gastroenterologists and oversees the Interventional Endoscopy Center, the Gastrointestinal Motility Center and the Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Center. Dr. Li came to Stony Brook from Washington University School of Medicine in 2009. Since arriving at Stony Brook, she has focused on using the research of Stony Brook’s basic scientists — those who focus on anatomy, physiology, bacteriology, pathology or biochemistry — to help improve people’s health specifically in inflammatory bowel diseases, colon cancer and functional gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome.
James A. Vosswinkel, MD
Chief, Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care

James A. Vosswinkel, MD, is Chief of the newly created Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, which reflects Stony Brook University Hospital’s expert capacity to provide around-the-clock care for patients involved in traumas and in need of emergency surgery as Suffolk County’s only Regional Trauma Center. In addition to providing 24/7 care, the division cares for patients in the hospital’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). A trauma surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Dr. Vosswinkel has served as Director of the SICU since 2008 and as Chief of the Section of Trauma and Critical Care since 2011.
Robert P. Woroniecki, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Nephrology

Robert P. Woroniecki, MD, a board-certified pediatric nephrologist, joined Stony Brook Children’s Hospital as Chief of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology. He is working to expand the division to help make advanced services more accessible to children with acute and chronic kidney problems in the community. Dr. Woroniecki comes to Stony Brook from New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, where he served as the Medical Director of Pediatric Nephrology at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. An expert in pediatric hypertension, nephrotic syndrome and transplant medicine, Dr. Woroniecki plans to develop a model of multispecialty care at Stony Brook that includes cardiology, urology and endocrinology to treat the complex problems associated with childhood obesity, metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure, which may result in kidney disease.
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