Jessica Wong Lim, MD

Description

Jessica Lim, MD, is an otolaryngologist at Lenox Hill Hospital. She joined Northwell Health in 2007.Dr. Lim got her start in the field long before medical school when her father, an otolaryngologist, would bring her to the hospital so she could see the operating room and meet other healthcare professionals. Sometimes, they would run into patients while out on errands, and Dr. Lim remembers how friendly and warm those encounters could be.“He loved what he was doing, and that inspired me, ” she recalls. Like her father, she sees patients of all ages, from babies to older adults, and appreciates that she can offer a continuum of care that includes detailed explanations of a treatment path, including printed material they can bring home and reliable websites where they can learn more about their condition.“Patients know that I'll listen to them and help them solve their problems, that I’ll explain what's happening in non-technical language and educate them about their disease process, ” she says. “When people understand the goals of their treatment, they feel more supported in their care.” Dr. Lim attended West Virginia University School of Medicine and completed a residency at New York University School of Medicine and a fellowship at Rush University Medical Center. In addition to her clinical duties, Dr. Lim prioritizes training residents and medical students in otolaryngology treatment, acting as resident site director for otolaryngology at Northwell. She also focuses on innovative procedures like sialoendoscopy. This procedure involves removing salivary stones that form in the salivary gland. Without this minimally invasive procedure, surgeons would have to remove the entire gland, which leaves patients challenged with chronic dryness in the mouth, an external scar, and potential injury to the nerves around the gland. Dr. Lim also in working on research focused on the role of scars in thyroid and parathyroid surgery.An aspect of Northwell Dr. Lim finds particularly helpful is the collaborative environment, which creates a sense of teamwork not just with other specialists, but also with a patient’s entire care team, including friends and family.“When you have a large group of people working for each patient, that’s truly optimal treatment, ” she says. “I appreciate being able to provide as many resources as possible, and to broaden care in meaningful ways.”