VALHALLA, N.Y. (May 5, 2026) — Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) announced that Daniel G. Nicastri, MD, has joined the organization as Section Chief of Thoracic Surgery within the Department of Surgery.
Dr. Nicastri comes to WMCHealth from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he served as an Associate Professor in the Department of Thoracic Surgery and held leadership roles supporting lung cancer care and quality, including coordinating thoracic surgery tumor board and morbidity and mortality conferences. A veteran of the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve who attained the rank of Commander, he held clinical and operational leadership assignments including Staff Surgeon at U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay; Chief of Surgery at a NATO Role 3 hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan; Chairman of the Cancer Care Committee and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital; and Attending Thoracic Surgeon at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
A Brooklyn native, Dr. Nicastri earned his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and received his medical degree from the New York University School of Medicine. He completed a general surgery residency at Mount Sinai, a cardiothoracic surgery residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and a minimally invasive thoracic fellowship at Mount Sinai. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and is licensed to practice medicine in New York.
His clinical expertise includes minimally invasive and robotic lung and esophageal surgery, foregut surgery (including antireflux and hiatal hernia repair), and mediastinal surgery. Dr. Nicastri has authored peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters on topics including early lung cancer screening and surgery, minimally invasive (VATS) lung cancer surgery, lung cancer outcomes, chest wall tumors, and tracheal surgery. He has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and was selected as an American Association for Thoracic Surgery Leadership Academy scholarship awardee.
“For patients facing a lung or esophageal diagnosis, access to the most advanced, least invasive surgical options—close to home—can be life-changing,” said Peter Paige, MD, MMM, CPE, FACEP, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer. “Dr. Nicastri strengthens our ability to deliver minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery, paired with a proven commitment to early lung cancer detection and coordinated, multidisciplinary care.”
Dr. Nicastri will provide thoracic surgical care for patients throughout the WMCHealth Network and will support its commitment to clinical, quality, and academic missions.ports the growth of comprehensive behavioral health services, including emergency mental health services, addiction programs, and an outpatient mental health clinic, ensuring that individuals and families in Poughkeepsie and surrounding communities have greater access to compassionate, high-quality care close to home.