SquamousCellCarcinomaofSkin near Elmhurst, NY

Biography: Dr. Abdul Khuwaja, MD is an Internist who practices in Astoria, NY. He is 75 years old and has been practicing for 50 years. Dr. Abdul Khuwaja, MD is affiliated with Mount Sinai Queens.

Biography: Dr. Esther Kim is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Associate Program Director of the Dermatology Residency Program at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Kim received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree from the University of Central Florida. She completed her Transitional Year internship at the University of Central Florida, Osceola Regional Medical Center and completed her Dermatology residency at the University of Chicago where she was selected as Chief Resident.Dr. Kim is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology and the Women's Dermatologic Society. She has authored numerous publications and presented research at national and local conferences. She has a strong interest in medical dermatology and graduate medical education. Dr. Kim is committed to providing evidence-based care and the utmost compassion for her patients of all backgrounds.

Care Philosophy: My goal is to provide outstanding dermatological care to patients of all ages. As all people are unique, I believe that treatment plans for patients should be individualized for optimum results. The best medicine is practiced humanely, ethically, and with expertise. I am deeply committed to providing the highest quality care and believe that does not end when the patient leaves the exam room.

Care Philosophy: I have always been exquisitely sensitive to the cultural and emotional aspects of being ill. Fortunately, due to innovative treatments as well as a change in the medical mindset, we are now able to approach cancer therapy with a goal of maximizing quality of life while at the same time controlling disease. In many areas of oncology, especially in advanced, difficult to treat cancers and metastatic disease, the key to pursuing therapy is individualizing treatment to the patient's personal ability to withstand therapy. Thinking of cancer as a chronic disease and gearing therapies to be sustainable and effective is among one of my most important goals as I move forward with our clinical research and cancer treatment programs.

Biography: Paul Chapman, MD is currently the Chief Medical Research Officer for the Meyer Cancer Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Chapman received his M.D. degree from Weill Cornell Medical College in 1981 and trained in internal medicine as an intern and resident at the University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics from 1981-1984. After that, he returned to New York as a medical oncology Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer where he focused on immunotherapy of melanoma in the laboratory of Dr. Alan Houghton. He joined the faculty of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in 1988 and worked there through 2023 as a tenured Attending Physician. During this time at MSKCC, Dr. Chapman led many clinical and laboratory studies designed to develop new and improved treatments for melanoma. This included the first BRAF targeted therapy trial and several immunotherapy trials. His research continues to focus on developing new treatments for melanoma.

Care Philosophy: Charles Kwak, MD, is a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr Kwak grew up in Queens and attended Hunter College High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and medical degree at SUNY Upstate Medical Center. Dr Kwak completed his internal medicine internship at NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island, and his dermatology residency at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Dr Kwak has broad experience treating a diverse patient population. Over the better part of two decades, he has been a board-certified practicing dermatologist in various clinical settings from private practice to resident teaching clinics to multi-specialty healthcare systems.