Ardeshir Rustom Rastinehad, DO

Ardeshir (Art) Rastinehad, DO, is system director for prostate cancer at Northwell Health, and the vice chair of the Smith Institute for Urology at Lenox Hill Hospital.

His father was a urologist, so Dr. Rastinehad knew from an early age what the specialty entailed. Combined with his love for science, technology, and physiology, he was compelled toward medicine. As a medical student, he called Long Island Jewish Medical Center (LIJ) department of urology to ask if he could volunteer, and Northwell took him on. “I wanted more research experience, and I knew LIJ was doing exciting work and I wanted to be a part of it,” he says.

Dr. Rastinehad graduated from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and trained at the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. He completed his residency at the Smith Institute for Urology, and became the first-ever urologist to be dual fellowship trained in interventional radiology and urologic oncology.

At Northwell, Dr. Rastinehad launched the first hybrid Interventional Urology Program. He focuses on a wide array of interventional radiological and surgical techniques, such as image-guided procedures, focal prostate cancer therapy and prostate artery embolization.

He has also authored and implemented several clinical trials of new techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer. An ongoing Phase III clinical trial Dr. Rastinehad has led since 2012 is assessing the benefits of using electromagnetic tracking devices to improve biopsy techniques. “Our ongoing collaborations with industry have placed Northwell at the forefront of research and development for novel prostate cancer treatments.” Most recently, he has helped bring a new product to market called UroNav 4.0, which provides MR/ultrasound-guidance for biopsy and focal prostate ablation. The most exciting part is that we are creating technology that can help every day clinicians adopt these new technologies and increase patient access to these new therapies.

“My family has a history of prostate cancer, including my grandfather and father, so I’ve dedicated my career to prevention and treatments that advances the field,” he says. “I believe Northwell is special, because it offers options for rapid diagnostic and treatment pathway, you typically don’t get elsewhere. That decreases the stress of waiting for an answer, and also allows expedited access to our specialized physicians for treatment if that is required.”