Instrumental in advancing the prevention, early detection and treatment of lung cancer, Dr Shahriyour Andaz was conferred the prestigious Mary Pearson Award on November 9, 2024 at the 2024 Soiree Under the Stars annual fundraising gala that celebrated excellence and dedication in healthcare.
"Dr Andaz is the epitome of a compassionate, expert, skilled physician,” said Dr Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau (MSSN), a 455-bed, acute care, not-for-profit teaching hospital located in Oceanside, New York with which Andaz has been affiliated for the last 20 years, "His tireless dedication has not only saved lives but inspired countless staff members and patients alike,” Sharma was quoted in The South Asian Times that wrote about the Award.
In addition to being MSSN’s director, thoracic surgery, Andaz is director of clinical research, vice president of the medical staff, and associate program director of its surgical residency program. He further serves as clinical associate professor at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.
The Mary Pearson Award, named in honor of MSSN’s first administrator, is presented each year to professionals who have made remarkable contributions to the hospital. Andaz considered the honor "a reflection of the collaborative efforts of the entire team at MSSN. Together, we are making a difference.”
He has been credited for being "the first surgeon on Long Island to perform robotic-assisted bi-lobectomy (a surgical procedure that removes two lobes from the right lung) and robotic-assisted surgical removal of the thymus gland, cementing his legacy as a leader in thoracic oncology.” Within a couple of years of joining MSSN, he was instrumental in the hospital’s participation in the International Early Lung Cancer Action Project (IELCAP) which brought free CT scans to high-risk patients, thereby significantly increasing lung cancer detection at early, curable stages and transforming patient outcomes.
"My patient population is predominantly Caucasian, Spanish, Jew, Black and a few Indians,” stated Andaz in response to queries from Parsiana. He is happy that the majority in the Zoroastrian community "don’t smoke nor are they exposed to secondhand smoke or involved in active construction that would have exposed them to asbestos.” According to him, "Most Zoroastrians live a healthier lifestyle by keeping away from cigarette smoking and vaping, and are not morbidly obese.”
Top and above: Dr Shahriyour Andaz (2nd from l) with the Award and as oncosurgeon at the hospital (top)
As author and collaborator, Andaz has contributed to the Journal of Vascular Surgery, the Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, the British Journal of Surgery and several other peer-reviewed publications. As a regular speaker at national and international conferences, he has featured at meetings of the Royal Society of Medicine and also the American College of Surgeons.
An alumnus of the Cathedral and John Connon School and Grant Medical College in Bombay, Andaz subsequently did his advanced fellowship and research at the University of California, Los Angeles. Since then he has been in the field of thoracic oncology. The doctor earned Fellowships of the Royal College of Surgeons in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and in thoracic surgery at SUNY (State University of New York) Health Science Center at Brooklyn. He did his residency in general surgery at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, and in thoracic surgery at Maimonides Medical Center. A multiple winner of the Brooklyn and Long Island Chapter of the American College of Surgeons’ prestigious Murray Friedman Resident Competition (clinical research) Award, Andaz is a past recipient of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Outstanding Performance Award.
Like Shahriyour, his wife Dr Charusheela too is a surgical oncologist but she specializes in breast cancer. Due to time constraints, for the couple as also their children, sons Sohrab and Cyrus, and daughter Natasha, "it is not easy but we try and attend the major functions organized by the Zoroastrian Association of Greater New York three to four times a year like Navroz, Jamva Chaloji and the annual meetings,” stated Shahriyour. Known to be the largest sponsor who donated $ 100,000 (Rs 77.57 lakh) towards the 12th World Zoroastrian Congress held in New York, Shahriyour and his family were present at the deliberations in 2022.