From the Program Director & Associate Director

A Message from the Program Director

Welcome to the Anesthesiology Residency Program at Mount Sinai South Nassau. Thank you for your interest in our residency program. Choosing where to train is one of the most important decisions of your career. Our goal is to provide an educational environment that prepares you for independent practice while inspiring a lifelong commitment to clinical excellence, professionalism, scholarship, and compassionate patient care.

At Mount Sinai South Nassau, we offer a unique training experience that combines the personalized environment of a close-knit community hospital with the academic strength, innovation, and resources of the Mount Sinai Health System. 

Our Vision: Training the Modern Perioperative Physician

The role of an anesthesiologist is rapidly evolving. We are no longer confined to the operating room; we are perioperative physicians, intensivists, pain specialists, and leaders in patient safety. Our curriculum is built to reflect this reality:

• Clinical Breadth: You will be exposed to a rich mix of community-based "bread-and-butter" cases alongside the high-acuity, complex cardiac, neurologic, oncologic, thoracic, and trauma procedures that are expanding at MSSN. This varied experience will ensure you graduate as a truly well-rounded and confident practitioner.
  
• Academic Excellence: As an affiliate of the Icahn School of Medicine, our residents benefit from a structured didactic curriculum, simulation-based training, and a culture that emphasizes research and scholarly activity, all designed to prepare you for success on the ABA BASIC and ADVANCED examinations.
  
• The MSSN Advantage: One of our program’s greatest strengths is the opportunity to train in an environment where mentorship is truly personal. Our faculty know our residents as individuals, understand their professional goals, and are committed to helping each resident reach their full potential. This close-knit culture, combined with the educational opportunities and collaborative resources of the Mount Sinai Health System, provides an exceptional foundation for both professional and personal growth.
  

My personal twenty-five-year journey in anesthesiology traverses the spectrum of private practice community settings to large scale academic medical center practices.  What excited me most about our institution and reason I chose this opportunity was the potential to enjoy both worlds.  As a neuroanesthesiologist, neurointensivist, and educator, I have dedicated my career to perioperative neuroscience and graduate medical education. Throughout my career, one principle has remained constant:

“Improving physician education ultimately improves patient care.”

That philosophy guides every aspect of our residency—from curriculum development and simulation to bedside teaching, mentorship, and progressive clinical responsibility. We strive to create a culture where residents are challenged, supported, and empowered to become outstanding physicians and future leaders in our specialty.

Life on Long Island

Residency is demanding, and maintaining balance is essential. Long Island offers an exceptional quality of life, combining the warmth of a close-knit community with easy access to world-class cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities. Residents enjoy outstanding neighborhoods, beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants, and convenient access to New York City by train. We believe that resident wellness is fundamental to professional growth, and our location provides an ideal environment to thrive both inside and outside the hospital.

Thank you for considering Mount Sinai South Nassau. We are proud of the residency program we are building and would be honored to be part of your professional journey. I look forward to meeting you and learning more about your aspirations.

David A. Wyler, MD
Program Director, Anesthesiology Residency
Director of Neuroanesthesia and Critical Care
Department of Anesthesiology
Mount Sinai South Nassau

Welcome from the Associate Program Director

Welcome to the Anesthesiology Residency Program at Mount Sinai South Nassau.

Returning to Mount Sinai has truly felt like coming home. I completed both my anesthesiology residency and obstetric anesthesiology fellowship within the Mount Sinai system, and the education and mentorship I received here continue to shape how I care for patients, teach trainees, and lead today.

As an obstetric anesthesiologist, educator, and now Associate Program Director, I have spent my career caring for some of our most vulnerable patients while mentoring residents, fellows, and students. After more than a decade in academic medicine, the opportunity to return to Mount Sinai and help build a new residency program from the ground up was one I could not pass up. There are few opportunities in a career to help shape not only a curriculum, but also the culture of a program from its very beginning.

I believe the best residency programs challenge residents to become exceptional clinicians while providing the mentorship, support, and sense of community that allow them to thrive. That philosophy guides our approach to education and the culture we are building together at Mount Sinai South Nassau.

As one of our inaugural residents, you will have the unique opportunity to help define the identity of this program for years to come. Together, we are committed to creating a culture of clinical excellence, curiosity, collaboration, and respect.
Thank you for considering Mount Sinai South Nassau. I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to our growing community.

Yelena Spitzer, MD
Associate Program Director, Anesthesiology Residency
Director of Obstetric Anesthesiology
Mount Sinai South Nassau

Contact & Questions

Halima Armstrong 
Residency Coordinator, Anesthesiology
(516) 255-8446
halima.armstrong@mountsinai.org

Learn more

Anesthesiology Residency
From the Program Director & Associate Director
Anesthesiology Residency Program
Application Information - How to Apply