Meet The Team

Milton Waner, MD, M.B., B.Ch.(Wits.), FCS(SA), is a pediatric facial plastic surgeon and Director of the Vascular Birthmark Institute of New York. He is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the treatment of hemangiomas and vascular malformations.

Dr. Waner earned his medical degree at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he also completed his internship, surgical training, and residency in Otolaryngology. He pursued a research fellowship in head and neck cancer at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and later held faculty positions at the University of Sydney and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, where he became a professor and held the Benjamin and Milton Waner Endowed Chair in Pediatric Facial Plastic Surgery.

Dr. Waner has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, 37 book chapters, and three textbooks. His contributions include developing early interventions for hemangiomas, advancing surgical techniques, and co-authoring the seminal study identifying the GLUT1 marker for hemangiomas. He also holds numerous patents, including devices used worldwide.

Jason A. Ellis, MD, is a neurosurgeon at Northwell Health’s Lenox Hill Hospital. He treats patients with complex cerebrovascular and skull base conditions. He has expertise in the use of microsurgical, neuroendoscopic, and minimally invasive approaches to the brain and spine. Dr. Ellis treats people with conditions including brain and spinal cord tumors, cerebrovascular malformations, brain aneurysm, carotid stenosis, Moyamoya disease, acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma), meningioma, Chiari malformation, trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm and stroke.

Dr. Ellis frequently performs intricate microneurosurgical procedures including cerebral bypass surgery to restore blood flow to the brain after stroke; minimally invasive cerebral endoscopy to treat deep-seated brain lesions; and non-invasive gamma knife radiosurgery. Dr. Ellis has developed special microsurgical techniques using exoscopes to perform complex brain surgery.

Dr. Ellis earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Harvard University then a got a medical degree from Columbia University. He completed neurosurgery residency at the Neurological Institute of New York/Columbia University Medical Center and a cerebrovascular neurosurgery fellowship at Emory University Hospital.

At Lenox Hill, Dr. Ellis works with a multidisciplinary group of specialists including neurologists, neuro anesthesiologists, pathologists, oncologists, interventional neuroradiologists, head and neck surgeons, radiation oncologists, and neurocritical care providers.

Dr. Ellis is an associate professor of neurosurgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and co-director of the cerebrovascular surgery fellowship at Lenox Hill. He is also the principal investigator of several clinical trials that seek to improve the surgical care of patients with tumors and vascular conditions of the nervous system.

Dr. Daniel Lefton, MD, is a distinguished neuroradiologist with extensive expertise in diagnostic imaging of the brain and spine. He graduated summa cum laude and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa at Boston University, earning his undergraduate degree in Medical Science. He received his medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine in 1988. Dr. Lefton completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, where he served as Chief Resident, and went on to complete a two-year Neuroradiology Fellowship at New York University Medical Center.

Following his fellowship, Dr. Lefton joined the faculty at NYU and was later recruited to serve as Director of MRI at the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. He currently holds the position of Director of Neuroradiology at Mount Sinai West, where he continues to contribute to advancements in the field and provide expert diagnostic care.

Dr. Fay is a recognized leader in the treatment of orbital vascular lesions, with extensive expertise in both clinical care and research. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed his ophthalmology residency at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute. He furthered his training through a two-year fellowship in ophthalmic pathology and oculoplastic surgery at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) and Massachusetts General Hospital. Since 1999, Dr. Fay has served on the Oculoplastics and Orbital Surgery service, becoming Department Director in 2006. He is also an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and Director of Oculoplastic Surgery at the Vascular Birthmark Institute of New York.

Dr. Fay’s collaboration with Dr. Milton Waner has advanced the management of orbital vascular anomalies in children. Widely regarded as an authority in the field, he has authored over 100 scientific articles, contributed textbook chapters, and edited the definitive text on orbital surgery. His research focuses on immunohistopathology and innovative treatments for lymphatic malformations and hemangiomas.

Brett Broussard is a Surgical Neurophysiologist who is at the top of his field in Electroneurodiagnostic Monitoring. Brett began his career in Louisiana 13 years ago where he became a Board Certified Neurodiagnostic Intraoperative Monitor. There he developed his skills in Neuro and Facial Nerve Monitoring.

In 2015 Brett moved to NYC to advance his career and improve his skills providing monitoring for some of the top surgeons in the world. He began working alongside Dr. Milton Waner and Dr. Teresa O in 2016. With them he has become one of the top of his field in Facial Nerve Monitoring, providing care to patients worldwide.

Dr. Amilia Schrier earned her medical degree and completed her ophthalmology residency at the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. She went on to complete a Cornea External Disease fellowship at North Shore University/Cornell.

She went on to become the Director of Clinics at Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital (MEETH) for 6 years. She then joined the faculty at Columbia University, Harkness Eye Institute, where she became the DeVoe-Srinivasan Professor and Director of Eye Clinics. She then went on to join Northwell Health as Professor of Ophthalmology at the Zucker School of Medicine. She is the Director of Education, and Director of the Cornea External Disease Fellowship at MEETH, and now most recently adding a new chapter as the Director of Greenwich Village Ophthalmology.

Dr. Schrier has authored, and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and presentations related to anterior segment, cataract, cornea, and infectious disease, presenting and teaching nationally and internationally. Pioneering work with penetration of fluoroquinolones, cross linking and infectious keratitis, and immunotherapies related to graft rejection are some of the subjects she has presented. She is founding member of the New York Chapter of Women in Ophthalmology and is an active member of The New York Ophthalmologic Society. Her clinical practice includes research and teaching within the Northwell Health System and extends to Cornell and Downstate.

She has received numerous Master Teacher Awards from MEETH, Columbia, and Downstate throughout the years, having dedicated most of her career to training medical students, residents, and fellows. She has received recognition from Castle Connolly, New York Times Best Doctors, and New York Best Doctors.

Dr. Schrier is passionate about the importance of teaching and has been privileged to organize or be a part of several global missions to Haiti, Peru, and India.

Dr. Emily Ceisler is a board certified pediatric ophthalmologist and strabismus surgeon with a private practice in Manhattan and Westchester County. She performs the majority of her pediatric eye surgery at the NYU Medical Center. She is also an attending surgeon at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary.

Mara’s physical therapy expertise lies in evaluating and treating all types of patients with facial paralysis and synkinesis. Her experience began at the Facial Nerve Center at Mass Eye and Ear Infirmary in 2004 and has expanded to include the New York Facial Paralysis Center. Mara’s approach emphasizes patient education to empower you to understand your facial function. Individual treatment sessions, either virtually or in person, include soft tissue mobilization, neuromuscular retraining, relaxation, as well as specific movement strategies to improve facial function and quality of life.

In addition to treating patients Mara also lectures on Facial Rehabilitation at the university level, as well as at the International Facial Nerve Symposium. Additionally, she has published peer-reviewed research articles and instructional webinars on the role of physical therapy in facial nerve dysfunction. Mara is a member of the Sir Charles Bell Society and Facial Palsy UK, an international group of medical professionals dedicated to sharing ideas about the treatment of facial palsy. Physical Therapy with Mara provides you with the tools to self-manage your facial paralysis independently. An individualized home exercise program is the mainstay of the physical therapy program. In her spare time, you can find Mara with her family of 4, at the yoga studio, or running or walking with anyone who will join her for some exercise.

Korrey is an occupational therapist who has over 26 years of experience working in the field of Occupational Therapy as a neuro-therapist and coach.

Korrey trained at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Downey, CA, and received her coaching certification from Coach Training Alliance.

She helps people with facial paralysis understand the neuroscience behind their thoughts and emotions and educates them on the importance of cultivating mental muscles in order to navigate life’s challenges with skill and resilience. She uses the 3-step Positive Intelligence framework to help her clients build the mental muscles needed to manage mental and emotional energy more efficiently based on the concept of neuroplasticity.

Leah Segelov is an experienced Physical Therapist whose practice spans over three decades, with specialized expertise in facial paralysis and synkinesis since 2016. Her compassionate, patient-centered approach empowers individuals to comprehend their condition and actively participate in their rehabilitation. Leah’s comprehensive care addresses a wide range of symptoms associated with facial paralysis including facial muscle weakness, asymmetrical facial movements, facial muscle tightness, muscle spasms or twitches, synkinesis, incomplete eye closure as well as oral-motor functional difficulties. With a deep appreciation for each person’s goals, Leah’s detailed clinical assessment facilitates a personalized plan of care in helping individuals achieve improved facial movement and function, a more confident smile, and renewed quality of life.

Drawing from her extensive background in motor learning and movement science, Leah’s treatment philosophy centers on teaching patients to become experts in their own facial function. Central to her methodology is neuromuscular retraining, employing focused techniques on restoring balanced and coordinated facial movements. Her comprehensive therapeutic framework integrates anatomical education, facial movement retraining, soft tissue massage and stretching, eye closure and eye care strategies, breathing regulation, and mindfulness-based interventions; it further encompasses functional rehabilitation strategies for essential activities including eating, drinking, and speaking. This multifaceted therapeutic approach has helped countless individuals regain not just physical function, but also their confidence in social situations and everyday life.

Her clinical expertise extends across the full spectrum of facial nerve pathologies, encompassing idiopathic conditions such as Bell’s Palsy, infectious etiologies including Ramsay Hunt Syndrome and Lyme disease, traumatic injuries, and more complex cases involving acoustic neuromas, cholesteatomas, and post-surgical facial reanimation. She collaborates with Dr. Teresa O in managing botox treatments for synkinesis and coordinating post-operative rehabilitation. Leah’s advanced training in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction enables her to address the complex interplay between facial nerve and jaw function.

Educated in Sydney, Australia, Leah earned her Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy in 1990. Her pursuit of excellence led her to New York, where she completed her Master of Arts in Motor Learning and Movement Science at Columbia University’s Teachers College in 1996. After years of clinical experience in hospital and private practice settings, Leah opened her own private practice, Segelov Physical Therapy, PLLC in 2015. Leah’s commitment to continued education in her field and integration of current research ensures her practice remains on the cutting edge of facial nerve rehabilitation.

As an active member of the Sir Charles Bell Society, Facial Therapy Specialists International, the Acoustic Neuroma Association and the American Association of Orofacial Pain, Leah stays at the forefront of advancements in facial nerve rehabilitation, ensuring her patients benefit from the latest research and best clinical practices.