Emily is a Senior Nurse Practitioner working with Dr. Tanna. Emily has extensive clinical experience caring for patients before, during, and after surgery. She believes that true patient centered care should been individualized and tailored to each individual to ensure best possible outcomes. Emily is known for her warm demeanor and compassionate care and enjoys getting to know her patients. Emily has a lot of nieces and nephews and enjoys spending time with them. She also loves to travel and is an avid fisher!

Ji Soo Moon is a Nurse Practitioner working alongside Dr. Moon. She loves the diverse scope of the practice that enables her to provide care pre-and -post operatively. Ji Soo works in the operating room as well as in the office setting where she performs cosmetic injections as well as performs 3D nipple areola tattooing. She is motivated to improve the patient experience by forming trusting relationships with her patients to make a positive impact on their journey. Ji Soo enjoys all things outdoors and playing with her fur babies Kobi and Kato!

Kristin is a Nurse Practitioner working alongside Dr. Susan Lee. She cares for patients before and after surgery and finds it rewarding to be with them through their journey into recovery and remission. She also manages the high-risk breast program and continuum of care for these individuals. She prides herself on being available to her patients for support through each step of the process. Kristin is an avid reader. She grew up on Long Island and loves to spend the summers on the water with family and friends.

Pashmena ends every patient conversation by asking, “Is there anything else I can do for you?” A member of Dr. Smith’s team since 2012, she finds caring for patients both intellectually and emotionally fulfilling. Pashmena assists with pre-operative and post-operative assessments, creating treatment plans, and coordinating care. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and being with her family.

Alexa Ruffino is a dedicated and skilled Board-Certified Senior Physician Assistant, working with Dr. Tanna. Alexa has a solid background in surgery and brings a wealth of experience to our reconstructive and aesthetic plastic surgery team. She is committed to advancing her expertise in plastic surgery and provides exceptional care to her patients with a holistic approach to patient management. Outside of work, Alexa enjoys spending time with her family and friends, which helps balance her professional and personal life.

Lee Ann has been a physician assistant for over 25 years, since 1994, when she started in general and cardiothoracic surgery at Northwell’s Lenox Hill Hospital. She joined the breast surgery team working with Drs Erna Busch-Devereaux and Joyce Au in 2018, where she sees patients in the Huntington office for surgical and non-surgical management of both benign and malignant breast disease. As a Senior Physician Assistant, Lee Ann brings a wealth of knowledge to the practice and participates in all aspects of patient care, from presurgical through post-op care and beyond. She assists both physicians in their surgical cases, manages genetic testing, and is involved in the breast cancer survivorship program. When not at work, Lee Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, two boys, and two dogs. She loves spending time outdoors, plays tennis, and her newest obsession- pickleball!

Maria has been assisting Dr. Kasabian with preoperative and postoperative patient care since 2015. Although she finds working in the operating room very rewarding, she also loves speaking with and listening to patients and their families. Maria is the Friedman Center’s resident specialist in 3-D nipple areola tattooing for breast reconstruction. She enjoys cooking, traveling, and quality time with her family.

Coming soon!

Jaclyn has been working alongside of Dr. Palleschi for over a decade since 2011. She works closely with Dr. Palleschi through all aspects of patient care from diagnosis to test results, to post-op follow up exams and into survivorship. Jaclyn enjoys getting to know her patients in an effort to deliver the best personalized care during a difficult time. She is a trained classical singer and enjoys watching her daughters play sports and loves Disney World.

Allyson assists Dr. Capece in all aspects of clinical breast care. She helps patients to understand their test results and diagnosis and is a critical part of the team for post-operative follow-ups and exams. Alyson loves being able to help patients and provides a personalized approach for the best care possible, making sure every patient’s concerns are addressed. In her spare time, she loves reading, hiking and paddleboarding.

Cindy takes great pride in assisting Dr. Reyes in surgeries. She also plays a supporting role in the office to provide patient care and understands that meeting a patient right after receiving their diagnosis can be a very emotional time. She makes every effort to establish a personal connection with her patients to ensure an open line of communication throughout their journey. In her spare time, Cindy enjoys reading, running, and spending time outdoors.

Kelly enjoys building relationships with her patients, from the time of initial diagnosis until their reconstruction is complete. She works to help patients feel comfortable and informed during each and every visit—whether taking them through a stressful situation or listening to their concerns. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys running, spending time with her family and her dog, and singing at her church.

Alexa works collaboratively with Dr. Smith in both the OR and office settings to provide patients with the quality, compassionate care they deserve. She provides support., guidance, and reassurance to breast cancer patients throughout their reconstructive journey. Alexa maintains a direct and open line of communication with patients to make sure that their clinical (and non-clinical) concerns are immediately addressed throughout their surgical journey. Alexa enjoys exploring NYC with friends, an avid peloton rider, and enjoys spending time with family.

Elizabeth loves working with her patients. She has been a registered nurse for over 23 years and spent much of her tenure working with female patients in labor and delivery at Huntington Hospital. In her current role, she coordinates care through diagnosis and treatment in hopes of making the breast cancer journey as seamless as possible. She enjoys educating patients while navigating them to community resources and support services to help patients feel empowered every step of the way. In her spare time, she enjoys going to her kid’s sporting events, working in the yard and connecting with friends through her book club!

Joan is a registered nurse and a key member of Dr. Leipziger’s surgical team. She works with patients to ensure seamless, coordinated care from initial diagnosis to final follow-up appointments. Joan is proud to do her part in continually improving the patient experience. When not at work, Joan is spending time with her family.

Coming soon

Dea is Surgical Coordinator “extraordinaire” to Dr. Kasabian, whom she has worked with since 2014. She strives to make each patient’s experience positive by providing them with personal attention from their first appointment to their last. When she’s not at work making patients’ lives a little better, she’s putting the same level of care and attention into her farm to table cooking and spending time with her family.

Dominique is our Dominique is our Administrative Coordinator and an integral part of the team that strives to provide an exceptional patient experience. Having previously worked as a medical assistant, Dominique’s healthcare experience has prepared her to support women as they navigate through various aspects of their surgical journeys. Her compassion, positive attitude, and optimism make her an indispensable member of Dr. Tanna’s team. Dominique works tirelessly to provide patients with personalized attention to make sure all of their needs are met. From scheduling appointments to coordination of surgeries, Dominique goes above and beyond to find creative ways to accommodate all patients. She works closely with Dr. Tanna and the entire clinical team to ensure patients and their families feel connected at all times. Her commitment to each patient makes her an invaluable asset to the team.

Jessica helps patients to have a positive experience by coordinating surgeries with multiple hospitals and surgery centers, obtaining prior authorizations, confirming and scheduling post-operative appointments. She is available for patients to reach out to her with any questions or concerns. Jessica loves taking care of her plants and spending time with her dog, family, and friends and loves to travel.

Gabrielle is a surgical coordinator for Dr. Moon. She plays a crucial role in helping patients schedule their surgeries and follow-up appointments. Gabrielle enjoys getting to know patients and their families to ensure a smooth process when it comes to their care. She likes to spend time with family in her spare time.

When Marilyn comes to work each day, her primary focus is meeting patients’ needs. From confirming insurance authorizations to organizing care plans, Marilyn helps coordinate all aspects of surgical preparation. The best part of her job is supporting women through the difficult journey of breast reconstruction. Outside of work, Marilyn enjoys camping and spending time in the great outdoors.

Donna has been working with Dr. Leipziger for over a decade. She brings a positive attitude to work each day, and she loves collaborating with her fellow teammates to provide an exceptional patient experience. From scheduling to charting, Donna handles administrative details so that the reconstruction journey can be just a bit smoother. She loves baking, photography, and needlepoint.

Renata welcomes patients to the Friedman Center by listening to their needs and addressing their concerns. She smooths the way for reconstruction surgery by coordinating appointments, communicating with patients, and obtaining all the necessary authorizations and clearances. Renata has lived all over the world: Warsaw, Poland; Cape Town, South Africa, London, UK, and now New York!

Monica has been working with Dr. Denis Knobel since 2018. She loves helping women through the entire patient journey. Monica knows that even small acts can make a difference in a patient’s day. She helps schedule patient surgeries and appointments, coordinate external resources, and answer any questions. When she’s not at the office, Monica enjoys nature walks, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Nicolette has been working in various positions for Northwell Health for several years. She is a lead surgical coordinator who helps schedule procedures for Dr. Palleschi, Dr. Tanna, and Dr. Smith. Nicolette loves helping her patients through the process to ensure a smooth experience and strives to make a positive and long- lasting impression on each and every patient encounter. Nicolette makes it a priority to give back and dedicates her spare time to serving the community. She also enjoys traveling with her family, learning about other cultures, art and most of all….karaoke!

Brianna loves interacting with patients and people in her workspace who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others. She spends much of her time coordinating with the many clinical specialties involved in breast cancer care. She takes pride in ensuring that patients are well taken care of and helps navigate their needs. When not at work, Brianna enjoys listening to music, journaling, and painting.

Vanessa has been a dedicated team member working with Dr. Kostroff for over 15 years. She navigates all surgical bookings as well as performs managerial tasks for the office. Vanessa’s loyalty to ensure patients have a good experience starts early in the process by always anticipating the needs of the patient and treats patients as if they were family. When not at work, Vanessa enjoys crocheting, going to the movies, reading and spending time with her family.

Jackie has been with Northwell Health and a support staff member for Dr. Kostroff for over a decade. She plays a crucial role in providing general administrative support to ensure a smooth process when it comes to office billing and scheduling. She takes pride in her work and enjoys getting to know patients while helping them through difficult times. In Jackie’s spare time, she enjoys decorating and shopping.

Coming Soon

Dawn has been with the Northwell Health system for over 20 years. She brings a smile to the Huntington breast surgery offices of Dr. Erna Busch-Devereaux and Dr. Joyce Au, where she has been dedicated for over 10 years. She enjoys working with patients to book surgeries, schedule appointments, and help follow up with getting authorizations. Dawn takes pride in going above and beyond to improve the patient experience as she would want her family members treated. In her spare time, she enjoys travel, being with family and going to Orange Theory!

Sophia brings over 10 years of experience working with breast cancer patients. She serves as an administrator for Dr. Erna Busch-Devereaux and Dr. Joyce Au and strives to make what sometimes can be an overwhelming process for patients as smooth as possible. She follows patients from initial diagnosis to booking surgeries, to follow-up appointments and helps to coordinate care amongst the greater multi-disciplinary breast care team. When not at work, Sophia enjoys long walks and spending time with her granddaughters.

Coming soon.

Kahre’s main focus is meeting the needs of her patients when it comes to scheduling appointments, obtaining medical records, and coordinating surgeries. She loves to help others and demonstrates empathy and compassion to all of her patients to help them feel comfortable from the time of their first visit. She loves spending time with her two daughters and enjoys cooking and dancing.

As a surgical coordinator, Jessica is passionate about ensuring the highest level of care and support for patients undergoing surgical procedures. She strives to streamline the surgical process, from scheduling surgeries to coordinating necessary resources. With a focus on patient satisfaction, she aims to create a supportive and empathetic environment throughout the surgical journey by consistently striving for efficiency and effectiveness in coordinating surgical procedures. Her goal is to contribute to the success of surgeries and make a positive impact on the overall patient experience. Outside the office she enjoys reading, traveling, and sometimes painting.

Prior to becoming a surgical coordinator, Kaitlyn was a medical assistant. As a surgical coordinator to Dr. Capece, Kaitlyn assists with surgical scheduling, helps navigate appointments with other related specialties, and coordinates imaging reviews. She also brings her knowledge as a prior medical assistant and often helps with clinical care. Kaitlyn takes pride in making sure patients feel welcome and goes above and beyond to make ensure patients feel comfortable and confident in their care. In her spare time, she enjoys roller-skating, crocheting blankets and hikes with her dog.

Candice is responsible for surgical scheduling and coordinating office visits for Dr. Tanna. She enjoys interacting with patients face to face after consultations and often sits with surgical candidates to offer support and reassurance. She is an empathetic listener and provides individualized care to patients as if they were her own family. Her previous experience as a surgical scheduler in interventional cardiology and gynecologic oncology has helped her in her current role with plastic surgery. Candice enjoys going to see plays on Broadway and going to art museums. She is fluent in four languages and is also studying to become a Reiki practitioner.

Brittney is a surgical secretary, working with Dr. Cen. She is an integral part of the team as she helps coordinate with a large multidisciplinary team of breast care specialists necessary to provide excellent patient care. Brittney enjoys learning from the new patients and understanding how she can best help them through their journey. She enjoys spending time with friends and family as well as watching sports on her free time. Brittney is proud to have a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from St. Joseph’s University.

Coming soon!