The doctor is in

On a lark, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System President David Dantzker went to fly fishing school with a friend. Now the Bronx-born M.D. is hooked on the sport. A four-time Lexus owner and threetime professor of medicine, Dantzker returned to New York after a 27-year absence that included

so many moves that he says it lends an image that he "either cant keep a job or every time the house needs painting, we move." Now, he often hangs with his wife's school chum, Nelson DeMille, and enjoys as much of the great outdoors as working 15-hour days will allow We caught up with him on an ice cream cone break.

Q: How is the business of health care?

A. We're all trying to survive. It's a tough business. We're trying to position the health system on the cutting edge. But no one's making money in health care now Hospitals certainly aren't doing well. Managed health care - the home grown one, MDNY, got into deep trouble, Aetna fired its CEO, Oxford is having a terrible time. Things are getting more expensive. You get more for your money but it costs more in the end.

Q. Then what's the future?

A: It will get more technologic, and well finally begin to cure some diseases. For the last 2,000 years, we've just been making people comfortable. New breakthroughs in genetics, biology and technologies developed here on Long Island and the rest of the world will change all that. The ability to treat patients has outstripped the willingness to pay for it. People will wake up and realize health care needs to be restructured. It's not a commodity, like gold. It's a natural right people in this country demand. We have to find a way to pay for it.

Q; Is this what you wanted to do with your life?

A: No, I wanted to be a research scientist and I did before this job. Most of my life was about teaching and research. I still do work as a pulmonologist in critical care. It keeps my sanity intact to teach residents and students.

Q: Do people ask you to diagnose their problems when you're out in social situations?

A: All the time. That's why I go to Connecticut. I hobnob with the fishing guys. They don't know what I do. All they care about is using the right fly.

Q: Any regrets?

A: Medicine is a great profession. I don't think I have any great misgivings .... Although, I might not have lived in Texas so long.