Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, an annual observance dedicated to increasing awareness about lung cancer, its risk factors, early detection, and treatment options.

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death, claiming more lives each year than breast, prostate, ovarian, and kidney cancers combined.

Lung cancer is a kind of cancer that starts with the growth of cells in the lungs. It doesn’t usually cause symptoms early on; however, the symptoms of lung cancer occur when the disease is advanced. Signs and symptoms of lung cancer that happen in and around the lungs include:

A new cough that doesn’t go away

Chest pain

Coughing up blood

Hoarseness

Shortness of breath

Wheezing

In addition to the signs and symptoms of lung cancer in the lungs, some symptoms occur when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body, including:

Bone pain

Headaches

Losing weight without trying

Loss of appetite

Swelling in the face or neck

Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lungs develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA holds instructions that tell a cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA gives instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate. The instructions also tell the cells to die at a set time.

In cancer cells, DNA changes give different instructions. The changes tell the cancer cells to make many more cells quickly. Cancer cells can keep living when healthy cells die, causing too many cells.

Cancer cells might form a tumor. The tumor can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue. In time, cancer cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body, causing metastatic cancer.

Smoking causes most lung cancer. It can cause lung cancer in both smokers and non-smokers who have been exposed to secondhand smoke. However, people who have never smoked or been exposed to secondhand smoke can develop lung cancer.

Researchers believe smoking causes lung cancer by damaging the cells that line the lungs. Cigarette smoke contains cancer-causing substances known as carcinogens. When cigarette smoke is inhaled, carcinogens immediately cause changes in the lung tissue. The body may be able to repair the damage at first, but with each repeated exposure, healthy cells lining the lungs become more damaged. Over time, the damage causes cells to change, eventually developing into cancer.

Lung cancer is divided into two major types based on the appearance of cells under a microscope. The two general types of lung cancer include:

Small-cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer

A lung cancer diagnosis often starts with an imaging test to look at the lungs for signs of cancer before it develops. Other tests used to diagnose lung cancer include:

Sputum cytology

Biopsy

There are also additional tests that can be performed if a person is diagnosed with lung cancer to see if the cancer has spread. These tests allow a healthcare provider to know what stage the cancer is in. The stages of lung cancer range from 1 to 4. These staging tests often involve imaging tests such as an MRI, CT scan, bone scans, and a PET scan. If the cancer is in stage 1, the cancer is small and only in the lung. As cancer grows larger or spreads outside of the lungs, the numbers get higher. Stage 4 lung cancer means the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment for lung cancer usually begins with surgery to remove the cancer. However, if the cancer is very large or has spread to other parts of the body, surgery may not be possible. As an alternative, treatment may start with medicine and radiation instead. A healthcare team will consider many factors when creating a treatment plan. These factors may include:

Overall health

The type and stage of cancer

The patient’s preferences

Another type of treatment for lung cancer is palliative care. Palliative care specialists will work with the patient, their family, and healthcare team to provide extra support while the patient goes through their cancer treatment.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a sure way to prevent lung cancer. However, you can reduce your risk by not smoking or quitting smoking, avoiding secondhand smoke, eating a diet of fruits and vegetables, and exercising most days of the week.

If you would like to learn more about lung cancer treatments, or to learn more about our cancer care program, you can schedule an appointment with an oncologist at our MediSys Health Network Cancer Center by calling (718) 206-6742.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Meet Our Doctors- Dr. Andrew Bi

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is proud to introduce Dr. Andrew Bi, the newest member of our orthopedic surgical team.

Dr. Bi was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in East Lyme, Connecticut, and currently resides in Queens. He graduated from the University of Connecticut magna cum laude with honors. He then graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine summa cum laude with Alpha Omega Alpha honors. Then he completed his orthopedic surgery residency training at NYU Langone Orthopedics, where he served as Executive Chief Resident. Dr. Bi later underwent subspeciality training at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush in a sports medicine fellowship, where he served as assistant team physician for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Steel, and DePaul University.

Dr. Bi has received numerous awards for teaching, clinical care, and research, including the Ralph Lusskin Senior Resident Teaching Award, the Marian Frauenthal Sloane Clinical Research Award, and the Rush Annual Thesis Day Award.

Dr. Bi treats all aspects of orthopedic injuries with a special interest in the management of all shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee conditions, including, but not limited to robotic-assisted joint replacements for arthritis, minimally invasive arthroscopic surgeries for sports injuries, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), meniscus, cartilage, rotator cuff, and labrum injuries, and the fixation of fractures. His current research efforts involve anterior cruciate ligament injuries, meniscal allograft transplantations, rotator cuff tears, hip arthroscopy, and orthobiologics.

Dr. Bi is excited to begin at the Medisys family at Jamaica Hospital, bringing with him expertise in sports medicine subspecialization, as well as his Chinese heritage, to care for the diverse population surrounding the hospital.

If you are experiencing any conditions or injuries affecting your bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, you can schedule an appointment at Orthopedic Specialists of New York by calling 718-206-6923

Foods Rich In Magnesium

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Magnesium is a mineral that can be found in various foods. It helps support more than 300 different chemical processes throughout the human body, such as:

Muscle function

Regulating blood pressure and blood sugar levels

Promoting energy production

Nerve function and bone health

Mental health

When eating foods containing magnesium, experts recommend consuming between 310 and 420 milligrams (mg) of magnesium per day, depending on age and sex:

Babies 6 months and younger: 30 mg

7 to 12 months: 75 mg

1 to 3 years old: 80 mg

4 to 8 years: 130 mg

9 to 13 years 240 mg

14 to 18 years (male): 410 mg

14 to 18 years (female): 360 mg

19 to 30 years (male): 400 mg

19 to 30 years (female): 310 mg

31 and older male: 420 mg

31 and older female: 320 mg

Pregnant women should get an additional 40 mg of magnesium per day. Some, but not all, prenatal vitamins include magnesium.

Many foods contain magnesium, including:

Nuts and seeds:

- Roasted almonds- 1oz = 80 mg of magnesium

- Roasted cashews- 1oz = 72 mg of magnesium

- Whole flaxseeds- 1 Tbsp = 40 mg of magnesium

- Dry roasted peanuts- 1 oz = 49 mg of magnesium

- Hulled and roasted pumpkin seeds- 1 oz = 15 mg of magnesium

- Chia seeds- 1oz = 111 mg magnesium

Legumes:

- Boiled black beans- ½ cup = 60 mg of magnesium

- Cooked and prepared edamame- ½ cup = 50 mg of magnesium

- Cooked lima beans- ½ cup = 40 mg of magnesium

Fiber-rich whole grains:

- Cooked quinoa- ½ cup = 60 mg of magnesium

- Plain, unfrosted shredded wheat- 1 cup = 56 mg of magnesium

Low-fat dairy products:

- Nonfat milk- 1 cup = 24 to 27 mg of magnesium

- Plain low-fat yogurt- 8oz = 42 mg of magnesium

Greens:

- Cooked spinach- ½ cup = 78 mg of magnesium

- Cooked Swiss chard- ½ cup = 75 mg of magnesium

- Collard greens- ½ cup = 25 mg of magnesium

Fruit:

- One whole avocado = 58 mg of magnesium

- One medium banana = 32 mg of magnesium

- One small papaya = 33 mg of magnesium

- Blackberries- 1 cup = 29 mg of magnesium

Vegetables:

- Green peas- ½ cup = 31 mg of magnesium

- Sweet corn- ½ cup = 27 mg of magnesium

- One medium potato with skin on = 48 mg of magnesium

Dark chocolate that is 70%-85% cocoa- 1oz = 64 mg of magnesium

2 liters of water- up to 240 mg of magnesium

If you have a magnesium deficiency, a healthcare provider may suggest magnesium supplements. When magnesium is combined with other substances, it can help bring out specific benefits, including:

Magnesium glycinate: helps promote sleep

Magnesium citrate: helps digestion

Magnesium oxide: an antacid and aid to relieve migraines

Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt): used as a muscle relaxant

Eating a meal that contains magnesium-rich foods is the foundation of a healthy diet and is beneficial for your overall health.

It is important to note that you should first speak with your doctor about making any changes to your diet and before taking any new supplements. To consult a physician about the best ways to get your daily amount of magnesium, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center. Please call (718) 206-7001.

Warning Signs of Blood Clots

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Blood clots are gel-like clumps of blood that have partially solidified in a blood vessel. Clotting is a natural and essential process that stops bleeding when you’re injured. However, some blood clots can form anywhere along the 60,000 miles of blood vessels in the body and are most likely to happen in the veins. These are called venous blood clots. The most common kinds of venous blood clots are:

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)- DVT usually forms in the legs in the deep veins of the body. Thrombosis is when clots stay put and block blood flow.

Pulmonary embolism (PE)- Embolisms are blood clots that break free and travel to other parts of the body. If a DVT breaks off and travels to the lungs, it can create a pulmonary embolism.

Arterial clots are less common, occurring when a blood clot clogs an artery. These clots can block oxygen from reaching the heart or brain, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Anyone can develop a blood clot; however, certain factors can increase the risk of developing them, including:

Prolonged immobility, such as during long flights or hospital stays

Surgery, especially involving the legs, hips, or abdomen

Pregnancy and the postpartum period

Hormonal birth control or hormone replacement therapy

Smoking

Obesity

Family history of blood clots or clotting disorders

Cancer or cancer treatments

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a blood clot can be lifesaving. Here are the signs and symptoms to watch out for:

Swelling in one limb

Pain or tenderness in the affected area

Red or discolored skin

Warmth in the skin

Sudden shortness of breath

Chest pain

Coughing, possibly with blood

Rapid heartbeat or palpitations

Leg fatigue or heaviness

Dizziness or fainting

Blood clots are known to be silent killers as their symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other, less serious conditions. That’s why it is crucial to understand and recognize the signs and symptoms of blood clots, especially if you are at an increased risk of developing them. Awareness and timely action can help prevent major complications from a stroke, pulmonary embolism, or heart attack.

If you are experiencing symptoms of a blood clot or think you may be at risk of developing one, you can schedule an appointment with one of our vascular surgeons in NYC or learn more about the services at our vascular surgery center in New York. Please call 718-206-6713.

Best Sleep Postures

Posted on November 7, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Everyone has a particular position they use while sleeping. However, people frequently overlook the importance of their sleeping position.

Your sleep posture can influence how your body feels, the quality of your sleep, and even certain health conditions. Finding the right sleep position can relieve stress on the spine and joints, and may also impact factors such as a person’s breathing and risk of heartburn.

The best sleep position is one that promotes healthy spine alignment from the hips to the head. What works best for a person depends on their health situation and what they find comfortable.

Some sleep positions are healthier than others. For example, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these positions, it is easier to keep your spine supported and balanced because it relieves pressure, allowing the muscles to relax and recover.

Spinal support is only one part of the equation. Sleeping positions can also have effects on a range of health issues, including sleep apnea, acid reflux, and pain.

If a person is suffering from sleep apnea, the best sleep position to help reduce symptoms is to sleep on their side or stomach because it keeps their airways open while they sleep.

For a person with heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the best sleeping position is on their left side, which helps make it harder for stomach acid to reach the junction between the stomach and esophagus.

Sleeping on your side with your knees slightly bent with a small pillow between them is the best sleeping position for someone who has lower back pain, which allows the entire spine to stay in a neutral position, and that spinal alignment helps reduce neck and back pain.

To help someone relieve their neck pain, the best sleeping position is on their back with their arms in a similar position. This reduces the overactivity of the muscles around the neck and doesn’t put more pressure on one side of their body.

If someone is experiencing both hip and knee pain, they can reduce the pain by sleeping on their side with a pillow between their knees, which can keep the hips, pelvis, and spine aligned, easing pressure on joints and muscles.

For women who are pregnant, the best sleeping position is on their left side with their knees bent, which improves circulation, making it easier for nutrient-rich blood to reach the placenta, and can help reduce pressure on the liver and lower back. It may also help ease swelling in the legs, feet, and hands.

When a person has allergies or a stuffy nose, sleeping upright is the best sleeping position to help their airways stay open, allowing the stuffy nose to drain.

Getting a good night’s sleep is important to your health and well-being. However, sometimes the position you choose to sleep in can cause or worsen breathing problems, such as sleep apnea, or aggravate back and neck pain. If any of these conditions arise, you may want to try to sleep in a different position.

If you are having difficulty sleeping and would like help, Jamaica Hospital’s state-of-the-art sleep center can help diagnose and treat various sleep disorders. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 718-206-5916.

Jamaica Hospital Named to Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces in Health Care 2025

Posted on November 7, 2025 by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center

Jamaica Hospital Medical Center proudly announced that it has been recognized as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces in Healthcare for 2025 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group.

Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group recognize America’s Greatest Workplaces through a comprehensive assessment involving employee interviews, publicly accessible data, and an analysis of over 120 key performance indicators. The study incorporated over 400,000 employee interviews in the U.S. and collected over 4.9 million comprehensive company reviews.

Organizations reviewed by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group were scored and weighted based on the following categories: Belonging & Community, Sustainability and Awareness, Working environment, Work-life balance, Corporate Culture, Job Security, and Mental Well-being.

Jamaica Hospital was awarded high scores across these categories and more, reflecting its commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace, supporting employees, and promoting a mission-driven culture that values the community it serves.

“In the healthcare industry especially, organizations that invest in employee well-being are better positioned to meet the needs of their communities,” Jennifer H. Cunningham, Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek, said. “This year’s honorees represent workplaces where employees feel supported, heard and valued.”

Jamaica Hospital currently employs over 3,000 clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers. The hospital places a high priority on employee well-being and has introduced several initiatives and resources aimed at supporting mental health.

The culture at Jamaica Hospital is centered around social responsibility: contributing to the growth and wellness of its community. The hospital fosters this through community outreach and engagement. Employees are encouraged to donate their time or resources to important causes and charitable initiatives that benefit the community. Jamaica Hospital recently received an “A” rating from the Lown Institute, an organization that evaluates 3,500 hospitals nationwide across the categories of community benefit, health equity, and value of care. Jamaica Hospital’s high scores reflect its role as a strong community partner.

Jamaica Hospital is proud to be recognized as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces in Health Care for 2025. The hospital appreciates the hard work and dedication of all its employees and is committed to creating a positive workplace environment. Recognizing that employees are the heart of its organization, Jamaica Hospital understands the significance of valuing and supporting them. A great workplace not only benefits staff but also enhances their ability to serve the Queens community effectively.

What is Misophonia?

Posted on November 6, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Misophonia is a sensory condition that causes a person to have extreme sensitivity to specific sounds or stimuli, also known as triggers, resulting in them experiencing intense emotional, physical, and behavioral responses to those triggers.

The symptoms of misophonia revolve around how a person reacts to trigger sounds. The reactions are a part of the body’s natural “fight-or-flight” instincts.

When a person experiences an emotional reaction to a trigger, the feelings can be intense or overwhelming. These feelings escalate rapidly, causing irritation or annoyance to quickly turn into anger or rage. Emotional reactions can include:

· Anger

· Anxiety

· Disgust

· Fear

· Irritation

If a person experiences a physical reaction to a trigger, the self-protective process automatically kicks in, similarly to what happens when a person is in a dangerous or frightening situation. Physical reactions can include:

· Increase in blood pressure

· Chest pressure or tightness

· Goosebumps

· Increase in heart rate

· Sweating

When a person experiences a behavioral reaction to a trigger, the reaction is usually impulse- or instinct-driven. This means that a person may not have full control over those reactions. Violent reactions, towards either people or objects, are possible but not common. Behavioral reactions can include:

· Avoiding situations where trigger sounds can happen

· Leaving the area when a trigger sound happens

· Verbal or vocal reactions, such as talking or yelling at who/what made the sound

· Non-violent action to stop the sound

· Violent action to stop the sound

This phenomenon of misophonia affects people differently. Some people may only have one trigger that causes those responses. However, some people can have several trigger sounds.

Additionally, they can have responses that are more or less severe. Some may not be able to control the emotions they feel, but can control their responses. Others may not be able to control either, causing them to react impulsively. In the most severe cases, people may not be able to do certain things or be in specific environments.

There is research that shows that misophonia can affect anyone, but it seems to be more common in women. Estimates on how it affects people based on sex vary, ranging from 55%-83% of cases happening in women.

Misophonia can develop at any age. However, research indicates that it is most likely to develop in the early teenage years.

More research is necessary to determine if other factors can affect who is most likely to develop misophonia, but available research indicates misophonia may affect approximately one in five people during their lifetime.

Experts aren’t sure what causes misophonia. However, they suspect it may be a combination of factors, including:

· Brain structure differences

· Other conditions such as neurodivergence, mental health conditions, and hearing-related conditions or symptoms

· Family history or genetics

The American Psychiatric Association hasn’t recognized misophonia in the fifth and most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), yet. However, in 2022, an expert committee created a consensus definition for research, diagnosis, and treatment purposes.

A healthcare provider can recognize the most common features of misophonia by asking questions about what you experience. Based on your answers, they can tell you if you seem to have the condition. However, that is not the same as a formal diagnosis.

Although misophonia isn’t an officially recognized condition, that doesn’t mean its effects are untreatable. The similarities and links between misophonia and other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), indicate that people with this condition may benefit from various forms of mental health therapy.

While mental health therapies can’t cure a condition such as misophonia, they can help with the following:

· Identifying triggers

· Finding ways to minimize or prevent trigger sounds

· Developing coping strategies and techniques to avoid impulsive reactions to trigger sounds

· Reducing sensitivity to existing triggers

Treatments for misophonia-related conditions, such as anxiety or OCD, can also help with misophonia symptoms. A healthcare provider is the best person to tell you if treating related conditions can help and what treatments they recommend.

Many people with sound sensitivity conditions, including misophonia, can adapt to or manage this condition using common items, technology, or adaptation techniques, including:

· Earplugs or noise-canceling headphones/earbuds

· Listening to something to keep the brain’s hearing-related processes focused on something other than listening for a trigger sound

· Noise generator sounds, especially white, pink, or brown noise sounds

If you need the assistance and support of a mental health professional at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-5575 to schedule an appointment.

RSV Vaccine

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. A seasonal virus, RSV, spreads in the fall and winter, often in conjunction with other respiratory viruses, typically peaking in December and January.

Signs and symptoms of RSV most commonly appear about four to six days after exposure to the virus. In adults and older children, RSV usually causes mild cold-like signs and symptoms, including:

Congested or runny nose

Dry cough

Low-grade fever

Sore throat

Sneezing

Headache

Lack of energy

Decreased appetite

Distinguishing RSV symptoms from those of the common cold or other respiratory viruses, such as the flu or COVID-19, can be challenging.

RSV can infect anyone. However, severe cases of RSV affect babies who are 12 months and younger, older adults, people with heart and lung disease, or anyone who is immunocompromised. Severe infection can spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia or bronchiolitis, presenting symptoms such as:

Fever

Severe cough

Wheezing

Rapid or difficulty breathing

Cyanosis, or a bluish color of the skin due to a lack of oxygen

Infants are affected most severely by RSV. Signs and symptoms of severe infection in infants include:

Short, shallow, and rapid breathing

Struggling to breathe

Cough

Decreased appetite

Unusual tiredness

Irritability

RSV is very contagious. You can easily spread the virus while symptomatic, which is usually a period of three to eight days. RSV can enter the body through the eyes, nose, or mouth. It is spread through respiratory droplets when you cough or sneeze and through direct contact, such as shaking hands.

RSV can cause many complications, including:

Hospitalization

Middle ear infection

Asthma

Repeated infections

To treat RSV, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a single dose of any FDA-licensed RSV vaccine for all adults 75 and older, and adults 60-74 at increased risk of severe RSV. Adults 60-74 who are at increased risk include those with:

Chronic heart or lung disease

A weakened immune system or certain other chronic medical conditions

Those who are residents of nursing homes

The CDC also recommends a one-time dose of RSV vaccine for pregnant women from week 32 through week 36 of pregnancy, for the prevention of RSV in their infants during the first six months of life. Most infants will not need both maternal vaccination and infant RSV antibodies. The recommended administration of infant RSV antibody is from October through March, with the optimal timing for antibody administration being shortly before the RSV season begins in October-November, or within a baby’s first week of life if born October through March, ideally during the birth hospitalization.

Additionally, the CDC recommends that eligible adults get the RSV vaccine at any time, with the best time being in late summer and early fall before RSV usually starts to spread.

If you or a loved one would like to receive the RSV vaccine, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center by calling (718) 206-7001.

Benefits of Yoga for Heart Health

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

There are many aerobic exercises that can increase the heart rate and help prevent or manage heart disease. However, calming exercises such as yoga are good for the heart as well.

Yoga is a mind-body activity that involves moving through a series of body poses and breathing exercises that can improve strength, flexibility, balance, and relaxation. There are dozens of different formats, or practices of yoga, such as hatha, anusara, and ashtanga, that emphasize different focuses, such as toning, strength training, or meditation.

One of yoga’s clearest benefits to the heart is its ability to relax the body and mind. Emotional stress can cause several physical effects, including the release of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which can narrow the arteries and increase blood pressure. The relaxation response that yoga provides not only slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure; it may also reduce inflammation and promote favorable changes in blood vessel function that protect the heart.

Additionally, practicing yoga can help lower blood cholesterol and blood glucose levels.

As mind-body practices, yoga encourages people to slow down and be more mindful about heart-healthy behaviors, such as eating well and getting enough sleep. These habits, along with positive emotions that some forms of yoga aim to inspire, such as compassion and gratitude, may also help foster cardiovascular health.

Recent studies support the benefits of yoga for heart health. One study has shown that blood measurements and waist circumference, which are signs of heart disease, improved in middle-aged adults with metabolic syndrome who practiced yoga for three months.

Another study has shown that attending slow-paced yoga classes twice a week reduced the frequency of atrial fibrillation episodes in patients with that condition. Additionally, in another report, patients with heart failure who went through an eight-week yoga program showed improvement in exercise capacity and quality of life. They also had lower blood levels of markers for inflammation, which contributes to heart disease.

Research has also indicated that yoga may be a useful tool in helping smokers quit, as smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for heart disease.

If you would like to learn about other ways to be heart healthy, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100.

Meet Our Doctors: Dr. Dawodu

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Patrick Hercules

We are pleased to introduce Dr. Olanrewaju (Lanre) Dawodu, the newest member of the obstetrics and gynecology team at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.

Dr. Dawodu is an attending physician, specializing in minimally invasive gynecological surgery (MIGS). She chose minimally invasive gynecological surgery as a specialty because it allows her to treat complex conditions, such as fibroids, endometriosis, infertility, and chronic pelvic pain. “I am passionate about using advanced surgical techniques that not only relieve symptoms, but also speed recovery and restore function, allowing those affected to reclaim their health and quality of life”, she said. Dr. Dawodu was drawn to medicine because it allows her to combine science, hands-on skills, and patient advocacy. “Over time, I became especially motivated by the need to improve care for women whose health concerns are often minimized or overlooked,” she explained.

Dr. Dawodu attended Wayne State University for her undergraduate degree and Meharry Medical College for medical school. She completed her residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Dawodu treats patients with fibroids, menstrual disorders, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, ovarian cysts, and other benign but complex gynecologic conditions. She specializes in both uterine-preserving procedures and definitive treatments such as hysterectomy. “I offer the full spectrum of minimally invasive surgical options, including hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, and robotic surgery, tailoring each approach to a patient’s individual needs and goals”, says Dr. Dawodu.

Although Dr. Dawodu wasn’t born or raised in Queens, she has lived in New York City for the past four years and is proud to serve the Queens community through Jamaica Hospital. “I am excited to build a comprehensive program in complex benign gynecology here in Queens”, she said. She also noted that Jamaica Hospital wonderfully serves a diverse population and she is eager to provide advanced surgical options to patients who might not otherwise have access to them, stating, “I hope to bring compassionate care, surgical expertise, and a focus on patient-centered outcomes. My goal is to help my patients feel heard, validated, and empowered in their healthcare decisions, while ensuring they have access to the latest minimally invasive treatments.” Beyond surgery, Dr. Dawodu is committed to mentorship, education, and improving the efficiency of care. She is excited to grow with Jamaica Hospital as it expands access to minimally invasive gynecologic options in Queens.

We are proud to welcome Dr. Dawodu to our team and look forward to the work she and the rest of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology will do to provide high-quality care to our community.