Kavya Pinto Chengot, MD

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Kavya Pinto Chengot, MD, specializes in hematology, medical oncology and internal medicine at Northwell Health, and is an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Thanks to an early interest in biology, she knew from a young age that she wanted to go into medicine, particularly because she's always had a desire to help others. After graduating from the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in India, Dr. Chengot did a residency at Louisiana State University and a fellowship at Winthrop University Hospital, now NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island. Dr. Chengot began treating several oncology patients during her residency, which drew her toward internal medicine and particularly specialization in hematology and oncology, which she found intellectually compelling. She appreciated the deep sense of responsibility and accountability to patients that come with the specialization, and she utilizes those skills in treating mainly lung and thoracic malignancies, as well as skin malignancies like melanoma. "The specialty requires a high level of independent thought, analysis, and strong interpersonal skills," she says. "The amount of new data and clinical trials that are currently underway is astounding, and that's led to an ability to better diagnose and treat cancers. It's exciting to be part of that progress, and to see patients benefit from how quickly the science is changing." Her training has also given her greater insight into the psychological challenges for patients, she adds, allowing her to be more empathetic and acknowledge the turmoil and mental anguish patients often experience. Because of that, she forms strong bonds with patients, driven by her need to provide warm, compassionate care. An advantage of working at Northwell, which she joined in 2019, is the collaborative nature of the health system. It means there are more specialists and health providers on each patient team, and that leads to superior patient outcomes, she says. "I'm fortunate to have found my passion, and every day I look forward to being able to make a difference in the lives of my patients and their families," she says.