Robert Dring, MD, is a general surgeon and colorectal surgeon at North Shore University Hospital and Northwell Health Physician Partners Surgical Specialties at Great Neck. He specializes in minimally invasive surgery for both colorectal cancer and benign colorectal conditions including diverticulitis, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. He also performs procedures including gallbladder and hernia surgery, as well as advanced colonoscopy."Being a surgeon is all I ever wanted to do," says Dr. Dring. "I've always loved working with my hands. And I love the process of figuring out how to solve patients' problems." Dr. Dring attended New York Medical College, where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. After completing his surgical residency at the University of Connecticut, he completed his fellowship in colon and rectal surgery at Northwell's North Shore University Hospital and Long Island Jewish Medical Center, joining the surgical team at North Shore in 2005. "I like to make patients feel comfortable-add some humor and make them laugh," says Dr. Dring. "I'm here to help them through what may be a difficult time." Dr. Dring is an assistant professor of surgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and has co-authored numerous scholarly articles and presented at medical conferences across the country. He is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons."It's all about getting people better and back to their lives," says Dr. Dring of being a physician. "That's really the best part."