“So how can we prevent wrinkles? Wrinkles happen for multiple reasons: Number one, genetics. Number two, I would say it would be sun exposure. So the one thing that we can do – the most important thing we can do – is not expensive wrinkle creams, it’s sun protection. So wearing a sunscreen 30 or above, applying it regularly at least 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure, reapplying it every two to three hours or every time you get out of the water – that’s basically the most important thing that we can do to prevent wrinkles because we can’t control our genetics. In addition to that, keeping the skin nice and hydrated by using a moisturizer, moisturizing in the morning and at night (the morning one should have sunscreen, the night one does not need to) is the other thing that we can do. The third thing that we can control is the use of certain creams that may help prevent or treat fine lines (they don’t help with deep lines, perhaps with fine lines). Those are retinols. Prescription strength retinol works better than over-the-counter. Those are creams that are prescribed typically by a dermatologist that stimulate collagen production within the skin. So, the number one factor is genetics, that we can’t control, and number two is sun protection, skin hydration, and then using, preferably, a prescription-strength retinol.”
Tamara Lazic Strugar, MD, is a board certified dermatologist at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients Tuesday-Thursday. She has a particular interest in eczema, psoriasis, acne, warts, skin cancers, medical and surgical treatment of skin disorders, and a wide variety of cosmetic procedures, including Botox, fillers, microneedling, chemical peels. Dr. Lazic Strugar is fluent in Serbian and Spanish. She knows basic Italian. Mount Sinai Doctors is an organization of clinical relationships and multi-specialty services that expand the Mount Sinai Health System’s footprint beyond the seven main hospital campuses into the greater New York City area.
“BMI refers to Body Mass Index, which is derived from an equation by taking one’s weight in kilograms divided by the square of one’s height in meters. The normal BMI is anywhere from 18.5 to 24.9. Anything below 18.5 is referred to underweight, and a BMI of 25 to 29.9 is referred to as overweight. Anything greater than 30 is referred to as obesity. Now, clearly if someone is more muscular, such as an athlete, they’re going to skew a bit higher on the curve. Of course, check with your doctor regarding your ideal BMI.”
Make an appointment with Marissa Newman, MD
Marissa Newman, MD, is a board certified primary care doctor at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients Monday-Friday. Trained in New Jersey and New York, she is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and a member of the American College of Physicians.
She was awarded her medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center. She has a particular interest in managing common conditions, including hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity and hypothyroidism as well as smoking cessation, contraception, medical clearance, cancer screenings, and routine or travel vaccinations.
“The pancreas is an essential organ. It has two functions: one function is a digestive function, which produces what are called exocrine enzymes, the exocrine function. These digestive enzymes allow us to process and adjust different types of foods, especially essential fats. The other important function of the pancreas is a hormonal function, in which the pancreas produces insulin, typically through the beta islet cells. Now this function is, of course, the most well-known function.The beta islet cells can determine the course of somebody’s diabetes – if they have diabetes or they’re diagnosed with diabetes – or it can actually increase the risk of diabetes if the beta islet cells are not functioning as they should. In type 1 diabetes, for example, these children produce an antibody that attacks the beta cells, and the pancreas loses its ability to function, to produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, insulin is produced, but the body is relatively resistant to that insulin.”
Make an appointment with Berestrand Williams, MD, FAAP
Berestrand Williams, MD, FAAP is a board certified primary care doctor at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients of all ages Monday – Friday. Trained in Connecticut and Massachusetts, he is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Internal Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians.
After majoring in Biology and graduating with honors from Harvard University, he was awarded his medical degree from the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine and completed two residencies – one in Internal Medicine at Boston University’s Boston City Hospital and another in Pediatrics at the combined Boston University School of Medicine – Harvard Pediatric Residency Program.
Prior to joining Mount Sinai Doctors, he practiced at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center for nine years and then served as Chief of Primary Care at Concentra Urgent Care and Family Medicine Center. He has been nationally recognized, receiving the Surgical Scholars Award in 1987 and the AOL Foundation Grant: Franciscan Children’s Hospital in 2001. Dr. Williams is fluent in Spanish.
“Tearing is a result of an imbalance between tear production and tear loss. Less commonly, tearing is a result of improper drainage of tears from the roof of the eye as a result of obstruction in the lacrimal drainage apparatus. This could be a result of trauma, scarring, infection, and, in addition to that, just malposition of the eyelid itself, such as if the lid is turning in or turning out. More commonly, tearing is a result of a broad category of diseases called dry eyes – where you have the under production of tears leading to reflexive tearing. This includes conditions such as keratoconjunctivitis sicca, where you have the chronic under production of tears from different diseases and medications. In addition to that, it could be a result of blepharitis, which is chronic inflammation of the eyelid. This results in the paradox of dry eye patients with complaints of excessive tearing.”
Make an appointment with Maria Basile, MD
Maria Basile, MD, is an ophthalmologist specializing in glaucoma at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients Monday-Friday. Trained in New York, she is certified in by the American Board of Ophthalmology and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society.
She was awarded her medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. She completed her residency in Ophthalmology at Maimonides Medical Center and her fellowship in Ophthalmology at The Mount Sinai Hospital. She specializes in small incision cataract surgery, as well as medical, laser, and surgical treatment of glaucoma, including the latest in micro-invasive glaucoma surgery. Dr. Basile is fluent in Spanish and Russian.
“How can you treat shoulder pain? Patients often ask me that question. Shoulder pain is very common. Studies have shown approximately 65 percent of people throughout their life will experience an episode of shoulder pain. Some of the treatments that we have for shoulder pain: The first thing I tell patients is to rest, stop doing the activity that bothers you. It seems simple, but it’s actually very effective. Physical therapy is very effective in treating shoulder pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles. It helps to decrease some of the inflammation around the shoulder. If that doesn’t work, there are medications that will treat shoulder pain. There are oral medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, and there are actually some anti-inflammatory creams that we could rub on your shoulder to help with the shoulder pain. If those things don’t work, then injections have been shown to be helpful, especially for what’s called adhesive capsulitis, or limited motion in the shoulder. There are different types of injections, most commonly a steroid injection, where we take some anti-inflammatory medicine and inject it into your joint. There are also newer injections, such as PRP injections. Finally there’s surgery. Surgery is an option if conservative measures fail. However 90 percent of people with shoulder pain will get better without surgery.”
Make an appointment with Jonathan Gordon, MD
Jonathan Gordon, MD, is a board certified orthopedist, specializing in sports medicine and foot and ankle surgery, at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Trained in Philadelphia and New York, he is certified by the American College of Orthopedics. He was awarded his medical degree from Drexel University, where he completed his residency in Orthopedic Surgery, and completed his fellowship in Foot and Ankle Surgery at the Hospital for Special Surgery.
Dr. Gordon serves as the Medical Consultant for the NBA Milwaukee Bucks and a consulting physician for the New York Police Department and the Fire Department of New York. Prior to joining Mount Sinai Doctors, he served as an Orthopedic Consultant for the U.S. Figure Skating Association, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, World Boxing Association, and the University of Connecticut Men’s basketball team. His research includes examinations of lower extremity trauma and the biomechanics of the ankle. He has a particular interest in arthroscopic and minimally invasive surgery of the knee, shoulder, foot and ankle.
“Chemical peels are a family of topically applied, acid substances that are primarily naturally derived from sugar cane, apples, or milk. These are applied to the skin in office for several reasons: if you have oily or acne-prone skin, if you have fine lines, or if you have photo damage, which would include things like brown spots or discoloration from the sun. The chemical peel is done in the office setting after a little bit of preparation and cleansing. The product is applied to your skin, it’s incubated for a varying amount of time, depending on what your practitioner thinks is the optimum, and then it’s neutralized. What can you expect afterwards? The main thing I always tell people is that it’s important to make sure you don’t go in the sun immediately after a peel because it can really promote a sunburn and promote an adverse reaction. Other than that, you might have just a little bit of fine peeling, a little bit of mild redness. But nothing that should keep you at home, nothing that should create any significant downtime. The benefit is that you’ll have a glow. You’ll have a freshness to your skin. And you’ll actually fundamentally change the under-surface of your skin by promoting new collagen deposition, by shrinking your pores, and by minimizing sebum production.”
Reena Rupani, MD, is a board certified dermatologist at Mount Sinai Doctors, seeing patients Monday-Thursday. She has written several publications, including two textbooks, on dermatology and has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed articles. She has a particular interest in both adult and pediatric medical and surgical dermatology, as well as cosmetic care, including Botox, chemical peels, injectable fillers, and laser therapies. Mount Sinai Doctors is an organization of clinical relationships and multi-specialty services that expand the Mount Sinai Health System’s footprint beyond the seven main hospital campuses into the greater New York City area.
