Laura Ann Sznyter, MD

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Laura Sznyter, MD, is a specialist in head and neck surgery as well as director of thyroid and parathyroid surgery. She joined Northwell Health in 2012 and is an assistant professor at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Sznyter first became interested in medicine while taking neurobiology classes at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and learning about how people can be biologically the same, but still so different. “That started my interest in people and health, and why I began as a molecular biology researcher at a biotech firm.” Though fascinated by research, she wanted the personal interaction that comes with being a practitioner, so she attended medical school at Georgetown University of Medicine. She then completed a residency at Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School in Boston. After general surgery training, Dr. Sznyter decided to pursue head and neck surgery, with a particular emphasis on treating cancers of the thyroid. “Many of these types of cancers are treatable and you can give patients hope, then deliver on that hope,” she says. Given that cancer treatment requires years of follow up, “I develop long-term relationships with my patients, which I feel is an important part of care.” Dr. Sznyter makes sure her patients have enough time for all their questions and concerns to be addressed. Research and mentorship are highly important to Dr. Sznyter. She’s assisting with the update on standards from the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons, teaches third- and fourth-year medical students, and has published papers related to thyroid cancer and minimally invasive parathyroid procedures which were presented at national conferences. At Northwell, she participates in weekly tumor board meetings to collaborate with other surgeons as well as specialists including endocrinologist, oncologists, pathologists and radiologists to discuss patients’ treatment options. She also leads webinars on health topics in the community as part of the Katz Institute for Women’s Health, a network of Northwell experts addressing women’s wellness. “Treatment is always evolving, and it’s important to stay at the forefront, particularly given its potential impact on patient care,” says Dr. Sznyter. “The teamwork approach here involves other specialists, but also the patients and their families, so we can deliver personalized care that matters.”