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CORTLANDTThe Ashikari Breast Team will join the Hudson Valley Hospital Center in the opening of its new Cancer Center, and has already begun taking appointments at the hospital.
The nationally renowned team, which has an office in Dobbs Ferry, has pioneered prophylactic surgery for high-risk patients, nipple-sparing surgeries and one-time surgeries where patients receive implants at the same time as a mastectomy. Dr. Andrew Ashikari, son of founding member Dr. Roy Ashikari, has taken a moment to speak about why he decided to join the Hudson Valley Hospital Center. The Ashikari Breast Team is made up of doctors Andrew Ashikari, Roy Ashikari and Pond Kelemen.
The Daily Cortlandt: What do you think is going to make the Cancer Center at Hudson Valley Hospital Center exceptional?
Dr. Andrew Ashikari: The main draw was that the hospital was really committed to the Cancer Center. One thing my father told me about promises from hospitals is that they have to have a plan before you get there. You cant go there when theyre like, Oh yeah come here, and well have a plan. So the good thing was the administration at Hudson Valley had a plan, and the administration here really saw that plan clearly.
A lot of hospitals, and especially here in Westchester, and actually outside of here, will tell you its a cancer center. But either the cancer center is totally driven by the hospital name, which, to tell you the truth the hospital doesnt treat the patients the doctors do. So the doctors really need to be running the show in these things.
The Daily Cortlandt: You feel that theres more innovation in a doctor directed program?
Dr. Andrew Ashikari: I absolutely do, because were the ones that are at all the conferences, and we know whats going on. So the question is whether the administration is willing to do what we say. I think the administration has a clear plan and understands that part. So they had the building plan so they knew the Cancer Center was going to be here, they actually had medical oncologists here that we were already working with, so that was part of our team.
They did it all and they put it under one roof. So thats the structural part, which is extremely important, because patients are very impressed by that structure.
So I think what makes this place different, going back to your question, is really a kind of a coordination between the doctors. Whether than having it weighted one way or the other, if the doctors manage it too much you really dont get the structure, if the administration manages it too much, its unfortunately an empty shell.
The Daily Cortlandt: Give us an example of why you find your job satisfying.
Dr. Andrew Ashikari: I find it satisfying because you get the immediate result, that youre helping somebody. Its satisfying for both you and the patient, that youre helping these patients. Its hard to explain, but thats why we take care of everybody.
My philosophy is that I dont care if they have insurance, they dont have insurance, they have Medicaid. My secretaries will tell you, I dont care if I get paid, you have to find a way to pay the hospital, but I dont care if I get paid.
I do enough of this, and Im willing to give my experience to anyone that comes in the door. Even if we dont get paid well do it. Generally were on so many insurance plans well get paid, but some of the stuff you get paid with Medicaid is ridiculous, but my philosophy is Id rather take care of the patient and get less.
The Daily Cortlandt: Whats an example of a fulfilling interaction you had with a patient?
Dr. Andrew Ashikari: There are so many. I mean, you would think its the patient who comes in and just loves you. But its probably the patient who comes in and is a little bit hesitant about you. They see you and theyre like Well, you know I was told to go to Memorial, or go to Dana-Farber, or go to MD Anderson, and theyre like What do you do here?
Not a very good, warm communication because they come in with cancer, and theyre just kind of picking your brain. Then they hear what you have to say, and then theyre like, Wow, this guy is really kind of amazing. And then they have the surgery, and they turn out fabulously, and these cases really do well, and then its like-- theyre your best friends.
This is why physicians have a hard time, when a patient is confrontational. Those patients, theyre going through a stressful time, they have cancer, and theyre not acting as they normally would.
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