David Hiltzik, MD, is interim chair of otolaryngology at Staten Island University Hospital. He treats conditions of the ear, nose and throat in adults and children. His surgical specialties include sinus disease and breathing disorders, thyroid and parathyroid surgery, and skull base surgery. He also manages disorders affecting hearing and balance, throat and voice, and sleep."I was influenced by my grandparents to work in science," says Dr. Hiltzik. "My grandfather was a physical chemist who worked on The Manhattan Project and my grandmother was a science teacher. I knew I wanted to give to the community around me, so I went into medicine." Dr. Hiltzik earned his medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and embraces the approach of caring for patients through surgery. He was a resident in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and completed two fellowships at Roosevelt Hospital (now Mount Sinai West), one in skull base surgery and the other in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. As part of a team-based approach to care, Dr. Hiltzik collaborates with specialists in neurosurgery, pulmonology, sleep medicine, endocrinology and audiology to ensure patients achieve the best possible outcomes. During his time at Staten Island University Hospital, he has helped to expand several subspecialty programs, including skull base surgery; head and neck oncology; and services in speech and swallowing, hearing and balance, and sleep medicine. In addition to treating patients, Dr. Hiltzik is an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the American Head and Neck Society, as well as a fellow of the American College of Surgery. He is double board-certified in otolaryngology and facial plastic surgery. For Dr. Hiltzik, the best part of his job is connecting with patients and their families. "It's important to me to get to know the person as a whole and not just treat the disease," he says. "I value a good bedside manner and want to make patients feel comfortable throughout the treatment process."