Newsroom

Michael Zenilman, M.D., Chair of Surgery

Michael Zenilman, M.D., has joined New York Methodist Hospital as chair of the Department of Surgery. He will also serve on the Weill Cornell Medicine faculty, recruited as a professor of surgery.

A specialist in gastrointestinal surgery and expert in geriatric surgery, Dr. Zenilman is a graduate of the College of Medicine at SUNY Downstate. He went on to complete a residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University in St. Louis before becoming professor of surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he was vice chairman and program director of the surgical residency program at Montefiore Medical Center. He then returned to SUNY Downstate as chairman of surgery and program director. He most recently served as vice chair and regional director of surgery at Johns Hopkins.

While at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Zenilman was tasked with developing a healthcare system in the D.C. metro area that integrated community surgeons and hospitals into the Hopkins healthcare system. That background puts him in a unique position to navigate the changes coming to NYM. "Healthcare is moving towards comprehensive disease management," he said. "That's something we can bring to New York Methodist Hospital because all the pieces are here.

"I'm extremely impressed with the quality of faculty we have here, the dedication of the staff and – most importantly – the way in which everyone interacts," Dr. Zenilman continued. "There's a wonderful culture of camaraderie that's pretty unique."

Dr. Steven Silber, senior vice president for medical affairs, added that Dr. Zenilman is the right person to build upon that legacy. "We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Zenilman as our new chair of surgery," said Dr. Silber. "He is not only a star surgeon, but a skilled and energetic administrator. There is no one better suited to guide New York Methodist's surgery department through this time of change."

"I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Zenilman, a remarkable surgeon, teacher and national leader to New York Methodist Hospital and Weill Cornell Medicine," said Dr. Fabrizio Michelassi, chairman of the Department of Surgery and the Lewis Atterbury Stimson Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, and surgeon-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "In this exciting new chapter for New York Methodist's Department of Surgery, his leadership will be essential in helping us succeed and ultimately expand our vision for new levels of excellence in healthcare."