Brain surgery is a relatively new and mysterious profession, but neurosurgeon Dr. Theodore H. Schwartz pulls back the surgical drapes on this lifesaving specialty in GRAY MATTERS: A Biography of Brain Surgery (Dutton; on sale August 13, 2024.) In this warm, rigorous, and deeply insightful book, Dr. Schwartz brings readers into his world and shows them what it’s like to hold the scalpel, wield the drill, extract a tumor, fix a bullet hole, and remove a blood clot—when every second can mean the difference between life and death. 

GRAY MATTERS tells the riveting tale of how brain surgery arrived at its current state and why the road to manipulating this extraordinarily complex three-pound organ has not always been smooth. Throughout GRAY MATTERS, Dr. Schwartz presents case studies that bring to life the complexity and fragility of the brain. Readers will explore the brain injuries and surgeries of figures like Presidents Lincoln, Kennedy, and Biden; screen stars Bob Saget, Michael J. Fox, Emilia Clarke, and Natasha Richardson; athletes Muhammad Ali, NFL Player “Iron Mike” Webster, and Lance Armstrong; and many others. In each person’s story, he pinpoints critical moments where brain surgeons made the crucial difference and what was really on the line. 

With 30 years of experience, including his current role as a professor of neurosurgery at Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Schwartz has a unique lens into the field and invited guests to join him for an unforgettable afternoon in the Hamptons celebrating his book launch. The event was hosted by Susan and Jeff Goldenberg, in partnership with BELLA Magazine, and special guest and actor, Mark Feuerstein.

Feuerstein can currently be seen in MGM+’s Hotel Cocaine and in Apple’s The Lady In The Lake.  He was recently nominated for a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for his work on The Baby-Sitter’s Club, opposite Alicia Silverstone. He was featured in movies like Practical Magic, What Women Want and In Her Shoes. Mark was in TV shows like The West Wing, Power, Prisonbreak, and Good Morning, Miami. He also starred in and developed the CBS comedy series 9JKL, and was on FX’s Better Things, opposite Pam Adlon. Feuerstein is best known for his starring role as Dr. Hank Lawson on USA’s hit series Royal Pains, which aired for 8 seasons. 

The celebration took place at the couple’s beautiful Hamptons residence and guests were treated to cocktails and catering by Ask Ilysa, with event planning by Ilysa Steinberg. BELLA Magazine’s stylists, The Style Duo, dressed both Dr. Scwartz and Mark in blazers by designer Elie Balleh, who was also in attendance. Notable guests also included Dina Lohan and Michael Sisti, the neurosurgeon who trained and mentored Dr. Scwartz.

For more from Dr. Schwartz, follow on Twitter and Instagram @tedschwartz13 and visit his website, TheodorehSchwartzMD.com.