Department of Urology
Faculty Members
- Richard J. Macchia, MD, FACS
- Ivan Colón, MD
- Jeffrey Weiss, MD
- Mark Horowitz, MD, FAAP
- Llewellyn Hyacinthe, MD
- Nicholas Karanikolas, MD
- Marc W. Plawker, MD
- Erich Lang, MD
- William Blank, MD
- Jerry G. Blaivas, MD
- Zhonghong Eric Guan, MD, PhD
- Dale Distant, MD
- Andrew J. Combs, RPA-C
- Keith Waterhouse, MD
- Peter T. Scardino, MD
- James Eastham, MD
- Joel Sheinfeld, MD
- MSKCC Department of Urology Faculty
- Motria M. Mishko, Pharm.D
- Lynette Boissiere, RN
- Lorraine Thomas, RN
- Alumnists Who have Joined
Our Core or Voluntary Faculty
After Graduation
Richard J. Macchia, MD, FACS was appointed professor and chairman of the Department of Urology at the State University of New York Downstate Medical School (SUNY-Downstate) in 1982. He is also Chief of Urology at University Hospital Brooklyn and Kings County Hospital Center. He has been an ACGME program director for the urology training program since 1982. The Chancellor of State University of New York appointed him to the rank of Distinguished Teaching Professor in 1997. In December, 2003 he was appointed Consultant, Department of Urology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).
Following his graduation from New York Medical College in 1969, he underwent general surgical training at St. Vincent's Hospital Center in New York City. He then completed his urology residency under Dr. Keith Waterhouse at SUNY Downstate. He was awarded the F.C. Valentine Fellowship of the New York Academy of Medicine. That fellowship was served under Dr. Willet F. Whitmore, Jr. at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) in New York City.
Dr. Macchia served as the chairperson of the Section on Urology of the New York Academy of Medicine and a member of its Advisory Council for 6 years. He is a past chairman of the Academy's Edwin Beer Fund Committee. He was President of the New York Section of the American Urological Association in 1995-1996 and the Brooklyn-Queens-Long Island Urology Society. His memberships include the Society for Urologic Oncology, the Society of University Urologists, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and many others. Dr. Macchia is a former associate editor of Urology, currently manuscript reviewer for 6 major urology journals, a member and team leader of the AUA Program Abstract Review Committee and a regular moderator at scientific sessions for the annual meeting of the AUA. He has been a study section member for the California Cancer Research Program and the NIH. He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Urology Chairpersons and Program Directors.
Under his leadership the department is under constant revision and now includes 7 integrated hospitals and 17 core faculty members. His department holds a full ACGME accreditation. Approximately 120 students from SUNY Downstate have entered urology training since the inception of the AUA Residency Matching Program in 1985.
He and his colleagues were awarded second prize for research at the annual meeting of the AUA in 1980 and 1982 for their early NIH funded work on the relationship of androgen receptors and prostate cancer. An early proponent of alternatives to radical cystectomy, he was guest editor of a special issue of Urology (Vol. 31, 1988) devoted to this subject. He has been a member of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and is currently a member of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). He also has a special interest in urologic legal and ethical issues. Seven years ago the AUA passed a Code of Ethics which, in part because of his long time efforts, includes a section on academic integrity.
Dr. Macchia has lectured at numerous academic institutions and meetings in the US, Europe and Japan. He has also co-authored over 100 scientific articles and abstracts including 26 textbook chapters and proceedings. He has also been co-investigator on many collaborative projects and holds an NCI grant as local principal investigator. He has served on the external advisory boards of several internationally renowned institutions.
New York Magazine routinely lists him as one of "The Best Doctors in New York City". He is also routinely listed in Castle-Connolly’s “Best Doctors in America”, the “Guide to America’s Top Urologists” by the Consumer’s Research Council of America and “New York Super Doctors”. In 1994, he was named an honorary alumnus of SUNY Downstate Medical School, received the New York Medical College Alumni Association Medal of Honor, the "Gender Equity Award" from the American Medical Women's Association, and the SUNY Downstate University Hospital Community Advisory Board service award. In 1995, he was elected a faculty member of the AOA medical honor society. In 1997, he received a recognition award from the Daniel Hale Williams Society, an organization of Afro-American and Latino medical students. In 1998, the NY - AUA awarded him the Russell Lavengood Service Award, he accompanied Dr. Robert Furchgott to Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize and was designated Master Teacher in Urology by the SUNY Downstate Alumni Association. In May, 2003 the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health presented him with its Leadership in Urban Medicine Award. In June, 2005 Dr. Macchia was presented with the very first SUNY Downstate College of Nursing Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award. In 2005 Maimonides Medical Center named him the 19th annual Immergut Lecturer. He was named as the physician honoree at the celebration of the 175th anniversary of the founding of Kings County Hospital Center in 2006. In 2007 he became the first president of the Robert F. Furchgott Society. In March 2007 he received the first Golden Apple Teaching Award from the SUNY Downstate Medical School chapter of the AOA honor society. In 2008 he was named the first President of the MSKCC Whitmore Alumni Society, the first person to hold that title.
Ivan Colón, MD is Assistant Professor of Urology and was appointed Vice Chair of the Department of Urology here at SUNY Downstate in February 2008. He came to Downstate having completed a prestigious fellowship in endo-laparasopic urology at Cedars-Sinai Endourology Institute under the guidance of Dr. Gerhard Fuchs, a world-reknowned surgeon and researcher.
Dr. Colón has already garnered a number of awards for his surgical expertise and research work. He has presented papers, in numerous occasions, at the American Urological Association annual meetings as well as the annual meeting at American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Urology. Most recently, his outstanding work will be presented at the World Congress of Endourology in Genoa, Italy. He is actively engaged in a variety of IRB approved research protocols and has additional research papers in preparation.
He received his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and continued there to receive his M.D. degree in 1994. In 1995 he finished his internship year in general surgery at Loyola University Medical Center, in Maywood, Illinois. Dr. Colón completed his urology residency in 2001 at Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn, New York.
Dr. Colón’s areas of expertise include: da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy, laparoscopy, endourology, stone and oncologic diseases, general and minimally invasive urology. Laparoscopically, Dr. Colón is able to perform the removal of adrenal glands, kidneys, prostates and much more, for a variety of conditions, via very tiny incisions. Most of his patients are able to go home after major surgery in 24-48 hours, with minimal pain and the majority of them are able to resume normal daily activities in less than 2 weeks. He is currently the only trained-laparoscopic urologic surgeon in the borough of Brooklyn.
After his time spent at the Endourology Institute, he is able to bring new and very exciting modalities of treatment to the New York area, including the technique of cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is a proven and effective new minimally invasive treatment for prostate and renal cancer. Other minimally invasive techniques that Dr. Colón offers are: retrograde intra-renal surgery for stones and tumors of the kidney without incisions; prostatic microwave thermotherapy and prostatic evaporization via laser for prostatic enlargement and laser treatment of other urological conditions. He is a member of the department's Academic Executive Committee.
Dr. Jeffrey Weiss MD, FACS is Professor of Urology at SUNY Downstate Medical School. He is Associate ACGME Program Director at SUNY Downstate Department of Urology where he serves as member of the Academic Executive Committee. His clinical practice is at the VA New York Harbor Healthcare System in Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn and St. Albans, Queens. Dr. Weiss received an AB in Biochemistry from Cornell University and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Alpha Omega Alpha) in 1978. After a general surgery internship and residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania during which time he served as Housestaff President, he completed his urology residency at the same institution in 1984. Thereafter, he did a fellowship in neurology and urodynamics under the tutelage of Dr. Jerry G. Blaivas.
Dr. Weiss is the primary author of over 200 peer reviewed scientific articles, abstracts and book chapters as well as co-author of 3 urological textbooks. He is a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Urological Association, the International Continence Society, the Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology and the Society of University Urologists, and is a board member of the Brooklyn and Long Island chapter of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Weiss is currently engaged in research regarding the cause and treatment of nocturia, overactive bladder, hemorrhagic radiation cystitis and urologic problems during pregnancy. Dr. Weiss has refereed over 100 manuscript submissions for, among other, the Journal of Urology, Urology, British Journal of Urology International, and European Urology and has written numerous journal editorials. He received “Editorial Reviewer of the Year” honors from the Journal of Urology for Urodynamics and Female Urology in 2008. He directs the Instructional Course on Nocturia at the AUA annual meeting and has been a plenary speaker on multiple occasions at the annual AUA meetings and well as panelist in multiple symposia at the AUA, ICS and EAU meetings.
Mark Horowitz, MD, FAAP is Clinical Associate Professor of Urology. He was appointed Director, Division of Pediatric Urology on March 1, 2003. After graduating from New York Medical College in 1986, he completed his urology residency at SUNY Downstate, where he received an award for outstanding research. Dr. Horowitz continued his training at the Children’s Hospital of Seattle under Dr. Mike Mitchell during a two-year fellowship in pediatric urology. Dr. Horowitz is a Board certified pediatric urologist and a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics. His practice is based at SUNY Downstate, SIUH and LICH.
His major interests have been in the use of intestine in the reconstruction of the urinary tract and in the urodynamic evaluation of children with voiding dysfunction.
Dr. Horowitz is one of the leading surgeons performing laparoscopic procedures in the evaluation and treatment of multiple anomalies, including intersex, undescended testicles, varicoceles and renal pathologies.
Our graduating chief residents have named him “Teacher of the Year” on 3 occasions.
Dr. Horowitz is a member of the Society for Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons, the American Urological Association and its New York Section, the Society of Pediatric Urologists, the Brooklyn Pediatric Society, the American Association of Pediatric Urologists, the American Association of Clinical Urologists. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Urology.
He has authored multiple textbook chapters and many journal articles in peer reviewed journals. He has presented 60 abstracts to major meetings and has lectured at numerous academic institutions. He organizes and runs the monthly pediatric urology departmental conference and quarterly pediatric urology journal club. He is a member of the department's Academic Executive Committee.
Llewellyn Marc Hyacinthe M.D. FACS has maintained his private practice in Brooklyn, New York since 1996. He received his Undergraduate Degree from Yale University, and his Medical Degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He completed his specialty training in Urology at Lenox Hill Hospital.
Dr. Hyacinthe is currently Director of Urology at Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, and on the Faculty in the Department of Urology at SUNY Downstate Medical School. He is certified by the American Board of Urology, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
Dr. Hyacinthe is one of only a few Urologist in Brooklyn who have the expertise to perform the da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy. He has experience in laparoscopic kidney surgery, minimally invasive therapies for kidney stone disease, medical and surgical treatment for urinary incontinence, surgical management of bladder cancer, and comprehensive treatments for various prostate diseases including prostate cancer. He is a member of the department's Academic Executive Committee.
Nicholas Karanikolas, MD Following his graduation from the SUNY Downstate Medical School in 1998, Dr. Karanikolas completed his urology residency here as well in 2004. He was awarded a fellowship in urological oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and will complete that fellowship on December 31, 2006. Dr. Karanikolas is assistant professor in the Department of Urology and he commenced his clinical activities in our department on 1/1/07. He is director of Urologic Oncology Research and Education and moderator of the monthly multi-disciplinary uro-oncology conference. He is a member of the department's Academic Executive Committee.
Marc W. Plawker, MD is clinical assistant professor of urology. He graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He then completed his pre-urology general surgery in residency training at SUNY Downstate. While a resident in our urology training program he won first place in the Ferdinand C. Valentine Residents Essay Contest on two occasions and also placed third in the Murry Friedman Essay Contest of American College of Surgeons. He has served the department in many capacities. He is the director of the monthly departmental journal club.
Erich Lang, MD joined the SUNY Downstate Medical School Faculty in October, 2005. He was appointed Professor in the Department of Radiology and received a dual appointment to the Department of Urology, where he functions as Vice Chairman for Uroradiology. Dr. Lang completed his radiology residency at the Johns Hopkins University. Following residency he served on the faculties at the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Indiana prior to moving to the Louisiana State School of Medicine. He served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Radiology at LSU in New Orleans from 1976 to 1992. In 1993 he served as visiting Professor of Radiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and at the University of Vienna. From 1999 until joining SUNY Downstate he served as Professor in the Departments of Radiology and Urology at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.
Dr. Lang serves on the editorial boards of many journals including the Journal of Urology. He has coauthored over 200 articles in peer reviewed publications. He has authored over 70 chapters in various textbooks and presented countless numbers of papers at national and international meetings. He has been invited speaker at national and international society meetings and refresher courses around the world.
William Blank, MD was born and raised in Brooklyn. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. His surgical internship was completed at the University of Virginia and further surgical training was done at Brookdale Hospital Medical Center. He went on to complete his urology training at Brookdale as well. After urology residency Dr. Blank completed his two year fellowship in male fertility and andrology at Cornell University Medical Center. The director of his fellowship training was alumnist Marc Goldstein, MD.
For the past 15 years Dr. Blank has specialized in male fertility and sexual dysfunction. His specialty includes diagnosing and treating male fertility problems, microsurgical vasectomy reversal and the performance of all known sperm retrieval techniques for assisted reproductive treatments. In addition he has been doing the "no-scalpel" vasectomy for over 10 years. Dr. Blank has special interest in diagnosing and treating sexual dysfunction. He stresses non-surgical approaches and has a special interest in the roles that hormones play in men and women.
Dr. Blank was appointed clinical assistant professor in the Department of Urology on February 1, 2001. He was most recently a member of the clinical faculty at SUNY Syracuse.
Jerry G. Blaivas, MD was appointed Adjunct Professor, Department of Urology at SUNY Downstate Medical School in November 1, 2008. His principal role in the Department of Urology is to involve our residents and medical students in his research. This provides our residents with an outstanding opportunity to develop their research skills and inprove their knowledge of voiding disfunction. Dr. Blaivas has been working with our residents and medical students in numerous productive clinical research projects which resulted in presentations at national meetings such as the American Urological Association and International Continence Society as well as publication in the Journal of Urology. He is also Clinical Professor of Urology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University and Medical Director of Urocenter of New York. He is an Attending Surgeon at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital. He is former Professor of Urology and Vice Chairman of the Department of Urology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chief of Urology at Helen Hayes Hospital and director of Urogynecology at Lenox Hill Hospital.
He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology, the F. Brantley Scott M.D. Award from the American Foundation for Urologic Disease and the Paul Zimskind Award from the Urodynamic Society. He was recently honored by the establishment of the Jerry G. Blaivas Honorary Lectureship, Society of Urodynamics and Female Urology. In addition, he has been listed in Top Doctors in America and Top Doctors in New York since the publications' inception in 1992.
Dr. Blaivas is the Founder of the major scientific journal Neurourology and Urodynamics and was Editor-in-Chief from 1981 - 2006. He is on the editorial board of many other journals and is the primary author of over 300 peer review scientific articles, book chapters and reviews. In addition, has edited and/or authored seven books.
Dr. Blaivas is a world expert in the field of female urology, reconstructive surgery, male and female voiding dysfunction, incontinence, neurogenic bladder and urodynamics. He is a thoughtful and innovative researcher who has pioneered surgical procedures to correct stress incontinence and urinary fistulas.
Dr. Blaivas is Founder of the not-for-profit organization, The Institute for Bladder and Prostate Research, which is dedicated to research relating to the lower urinary tract in men and women.
Dr. Blaivas was appointed Adjunct Clinical Professor at SUNY Downstate Medical School on November 1, 2008. His role in the department is education and research.
Zhonghong Eric Guan, MD, PhD was appointed Adjunct Professor, Department of Urology, at SUNY Downstate Medical School in November, 2008. He received his MD and PhD from Tongji Medical University in China. Thereafter, he did a fellowship in pharmacology, molecular biology and nephrology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. After completion of his urology residency at the Union Hospital of Tongji Medical University in 1993, he joined the faculty and is currently professor at the same institute. He is also a Senior Director of Global Medical at Pfizer, where he leads medical efforts to support urology research for new urological treatments worldwide.
Dr. Guan has authored for over 40 peer reviewed scientific articles and his articles have been cited over 600 times. He has lectured at many academic institutions and meetings in the US, Europe and Asia. He was one of the first to demonstrate that PDE-5 inhibitors may protect against renal failure and to discover that MAPK intracellular signal transduction pathways mediate inflammatory cytokine signaling. He is currently engaged in research regarding voiding dysfunction and lower urinary tract problems. He is a member of many professional societies, including the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology.
His role at SUNY Downstate encompasses education of our medical students and residents as well as collaborative research with out students, residents, and faculty.
Dale Distant, MD received a dual appointment to the Department of Urology in October, 2005. He is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery.
He received his M.D. degree from SUNY Downstate Medical School in 1986 as a member of the Alpha Medical Honor Society. His residency in general surgery was at SUNY Downstate followed by fellowships in renal transplant surgery at SUNY Downstate and in liver transplantation surgery at Baylor University. Since returning to SUNY Downstate in 1993, he has received consistent praise from residents in the Department of Urology for his significant contributions to their education and for his assistance in various clinical cases.
In 2003 he received an award from the graduating chief residents in recognition of his special contributions. Only four individuals outside the department have received this award. Dr. Distant instructs our residents in the technique of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
Andrew J. Combs, RPA-C joined the Department of Urology in July, 1990. Mr. Combs has responsibilities in the clinical care, academic, and educational areas. He was appointed as Clinical Instructor in 1994 and was promoted to his current position of Clinical Assistant Professor in 1996. He is also on the adjunct staff as a guest lecturer and clinical preceptor for the SUNY - Brooklyn Physician Assistant Program.
Mr. Combs is a graduate of the Long Island University – Brooklyn Hospital P.A. Program and was granted a BS degree in Health Science by Long Island University in June, 1979. He is a registered Physicians Assistant with the State of New York, as well as an AUAA Certified Urologic Physicians Assistant. He is also a NCCPA Certified Physicians Assistant recertified in both primary care and surgery. He is licensed by the New York State Department of Health as a certified EMT-D.
His academic responsibilities include training of the urology residents in the performance and interpretation of urodynamics studies and the mentoring of residents and medical students in the management of adult and pediatric patients with voiding dysfunction.
Mr. Combs is co-author on 23 papers published in peer reviewed journals and 2 text book chapters. He has also presented abstracts at over 40 regional, national and international meetings.
Clinically, he is supervisor of adult and pediatric urodynamic laboratories. His responsibilities include performance of all aspects of urodynamic testing, including complex multichannel voiding pressure studies, EMG, videourodynamics, renal pelvic pressure studies and biofeedback training. Management of adult and pediatric patients with voiding disorders as well as congenital and acquired urinary tract disease fall within his purview. He is the coordinator of urologic care for the spina bifida clinic. He overviews the performance of bladder ultrasound, transrectal ultrasound of the prostate and TRUS assisted prostate biopsy and assists in the operating room and cystoscopy suite.
Keith Waterhouse, MD receiving the F. C. Valentine Medal of theNew York Academy of Medicine With Richard J. Macchia, MD (right) and Kenneth I. Glassberg, MD (left)
Keith Waterhouse, MD – Professor Emeritus and Founding Chairman: Keith Waterhouse was born in Derby, England in 1929, son of a North of England country doctor, and raised in Northumberland. He attended the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Royal Grammar School; Emmanuel College Cambridge and Oxford University Medical School, obtaining his medical qualification in 1953. He completed his training in urology at Kings County Hospital in 1959 under Dr. Frank Hamm. Within six years he became a Full Professor at the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, the Head of Division of Urology and Urologist-in-Chief at Kings County Hospital. In 1969 urology was granted departmental status and at that time Dr. Waterhouse became Chairman of the Department of Urology.
Dr. Waterhouse served as Chairman of the Section on Urology of the New York Academy of Medicine, President of the New York Section of the American Urological Association, President of the Section on Urology of the New York Sate Medical Society and President of the Brooklyn-Long Island Urological Society. Nationally recognized posts he has held included President of the Section of Urology of the American Academy of Pediatrics and chairman of the Residency Review Committee for Urology of the American Medical Association. Internationally, he served as an active member of the International Society for Urology and one of the American Delegates in 1978.
He has been a visiting professor at many institutions, both in the United States and abroad, and an honorary member of the Italian, Panamanian and Australasion Urological Societies. He was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1982.
In 1967, at age thirty-eight, he was elected to the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons and in 1978 to the prestigious Clinical Society of Genitourinary Surgeons.
Dr. Waterhousexs first article in 1959 entitled ÒRepair of the Injured UreterÓ, is a classic. Within three to four years of its publication, he became one of the worldxs foremost authorities on urologic problems in children and the individual most identified with popularizing the voiding cystourethrogram in the United States. He was one of the first to recognize the relationship between posterior urethral valves and changes at the bladder neck.
In 1971 Dr. Waterhouse introduced the transpubic surgical approach to the lower urinary tract, and subsequently the use of the transpubic approach for the repair of membranous urethral strictures. This procedure, one of the most innovative in urology, is frequently referred to as the ÒWaterhouse Repair.Ó Later he published the largest series on boys who had undergone repair of a traumatic urethral stricture.
After a serious illness in 1983, Dr. Waterhouse retired to Naples, Florida where he studies Floridian and Moesoamerican archeology. He is a past president of the Southwest Florida Archeological Society and a trustee of the Florida Archeology and Historical Conservancy.
In 1992 the Section on Urology of the New York Academy of Medicine awarded him the F.C. Valentine Medal for career achievement in Urology.
Peter T. Scardino, MD, Department of Urology, SUNY Downstate, was appointed Professor on March 1, 2000. He and his staff educate our residents when they are on rotation through Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for 4 months during the U-2 year.
Peter T. Scardino, MD is Chairman, Department of Urology, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center since 1999. Additionally, he is Professor of Urology, the Department of Urology in the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College at Cornell University. He served as Chief of the Urology Service in the Department of Surgery and the Murray F. Brennan Chair of Surgery as his initial appointment at MSKCC, which began in June of 1998.
Dr. Scardino is the former Russell and Mary Hugh Scott Professor and Chair of the Scott Department of Urology at the Baylor College of Medicine and Chief of the Urology Service at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. He was a member of the Baylor faculty beginning in 1979 and appointed Distinguished Service Professor in 1995. Under Dr. Scardino’s leadership, the Baylor urology department became one of the distinguished research and teaching centers in urology. Dr. Scardino, as principal investigator, received over $15 million in research grants from private foundations and from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), including the award of the first of three Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPOREs) in prostate cancer with funding of $2.2 million per year. Additionally, the department houses the Matsunaga-Conte Prostate Cancer Research Center, a special designation created by Congress and awarded to Baylor by the Director of the NCI.
Dr. Scardino has gained international recognition for his work on urologic cancers, especially the early detection, natural history, and treatment of clinically localized prostate cancer. He has treated dignitaries from around the world, including two former presidents of Turkey. His major areas of expertise are the surgical treatment of prostate cancer, particularly radical prostatectomy, and the early detection of these cancers and assessment of their prognosis. However, he also lectures widely on the natural history of prostate cancer, including watchful waiting. His research focuses on finding new markers to predict the behavior and response to treatment of prostate cancer and investigating the role of gene therapy for prostate cancer. Results of Dr. Scardino’s research have been published in over 200 articles and book chapters, more than 100 of which have appeared in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Scardino served as an editor of the book Comprehensive Textbook of Genitourinary Oncology, the second edition of which will be published in 2000. He also wrote and presented "Straight Talk on Prostate Health", an educational video shown nationally on the Public Broadcasting System.
Dr. Scardino has received many honors for his teaching and research. In 1989, he was presented the American Urological Association’s Gold Cystoscope Award which is presented to the individual who has contributed the most to urology within ten years of residency. In 1996, Dr. Scardino received the Eugene Fuller Triennial Prostate Award of the American Urological Association and was elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. In 1997 he was presented with the American Foundation for Urologic Disease Presidential Award. Additionally, Dr. Scardino has been named as one of the best doctors in America by Good Housekeeping (1991), Town & Country (1995), and American Health (1996) magazines.
A graduate of Yale University and Duke University School of Medicine, which recognized him with the Distinguished Alumnus Award in November 1999, Dr. Scardino completed residency training in surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, followed by a laboratory and clinical fellowship in surgery and urologic oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda. He then completed his urological residency at the University of California-Los Angeles School of Medicine before going to Baylor in 1979.
James A. Eastham, MD, MD was appointed Adjunct Professor, Department of Urology, at SUNY Downstate Medical School in May 2009. He is also is Professor and Chief of the Urology Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dr. Eastham received his medical degree from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in urology at Los Angeles County - University of Southern California Medical Center. He went on to complete a fellowship in urologic oncology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Prior to his appointment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Eastham was an assistant and associate professor in the Department of Urology at Louisiana State University in Shreveport and Chief of Urology at Overton-Brooks Veterans Administration Medical Center in Louisiana.
Dr. Eastham's research has focused on the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer, with a particular interest in improving oncologic and quality-of-life outcomes after radical prostatectomy. He has authored or co-authored over 200 articles which have appeared in peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, Journal of Urology, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Urology, and Transplantation. In addition, he has authored numerous book chapters, reviews, monographs, and abstracts. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of several professional societies including the American Urologic Association, the Society of Urologic Oncology, and Societé Internationale D'Urologie.
Joel Sheinfeld, MD was appointed Adjunct Professor, Department of Urology, at SUNY Downstate Medical School in June, 2005. He is an internationally recognized urologic surgeon with special expertise in retroperitoneal surgery and the care of patients with testicular cancer. He was born in Caracas, Venezuela and received a B.A from Cornell University and his M.D from the University of Florida in 1981. He completed his urology residency at the University of Rochester Medical School in 1986 and was a fellow in urologic oncology as a AUA Scholar at Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) until 1989 when he joined the staff. He is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Department of Urology at MSKCC and Professor of Urology, Weill College of Medicine, Cornell University. His clinical practice and research initiatives are focused on innovative treatment methods and refining surgical approaches for the management of testicular cancer.
In addition to numerous visiting professorships and editorials boards, Dr. Sheinfeld has been the recipient of grants and awards including the American Urologic Association First Prize in Clinical Research, the American Cancer Society Development Award and a Faculty Recognition Award. He has authored 190 papers, editorials, book chapters and abstracts in the medical literature. Dr. Sheinfeld is the 3rd recipient of the Orchid of Life Award from the Craig Tifford Foundation.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Department of Urology Faculty
Back row: Dr. Laudone, Dr. Donat, Dr. Mulhall, Dr. Dalbagni, Dr. Sandhu, Dr. Bochner, Dr. Touijer, Dr. Parra, Dr. Coleman, Dr. Carver, Dr. Rabbani.
Front row: Dr. Guillonneau, Dr. Sogani, Dr. Scardino, Dr. Eastham, Dr. Sheinfeld, Dr. Russo, Dr. Herr.
Motria M. Mishko, Pharm.D was appointed as clinical instructor of urologic pharmacy in July, 2000. She earned her doctorate in pharmacy in May, 1995 and was recruited to SUNY Ð Downstate in July, 1999 as research pharmacist involved in many of the research projects at this medical school.
Her activities in the Department of Urology include clinical care, research and education. She routinely attends the department conference and lectures on uro-active drugs. She participates in the clinical care of patients at University Hospital, Brooklyn by reviewing their medications, ensuring that medications are being taken properly, and educating the patients regarding the risks and benefits of each drug. She then gives feedback to the physicians. Dr. Mishko is also a key player in the evolving complimentary medicine program of the department.
Lynette Boissiere, BS, RN was appointed in 1985 to the position of Nursing Care Coordinator for the cystoscopy unit at KCHC in 1985. Her current activities involves managing the surgical and medical activities of our cystoscopy unit, develop plans, administration of medication to patients with advanced prostate cancer and assisting our physicians and residents in providing direct medical care to our patients. She is also the department's principal associate for participation in out reach programs and the Annual Hospital Health Fair. She also conducts annual workshop for the association of certified surgical technologists and other social/civic organizations. Throughout her career she has developed extensive hands-on and managerial nursing skills for both medical/surgical units and behavior modification units. She is a member of International Urology Services, Inc., the Society of Urological Nurses Association, the New York State Nurses Association and the Association of Operating Room Nurses.
Lorraine Thomas Bio coming soon.
ALUMNISTS WHO HAVE JOINED OUR CORE OR VOLUNTARY FACULTY AFTER GRADUATION
Nicholas Karanikolas, MD, 2004
Rosalia Misseri, MD, 2004
Michael Volpe, MD, 2001
Joel Sherman, MD, 1998
Marc Plawker, MD, 1997
Dhanan Etwaru, MD, 1995
Mark Horowitz, MD, 1992
Adley Raboy, MD, 1990
Mark Irwin, MD, 1988
Samanthi Raju, MD, 1988
Alex Latyshevsky, MD, 1987
Richard Reiser, MD, 1984
Aizid Hashmat, MD, 1980
Gobind B. Laungani, MD, 1977
Kenneth I. Glassberg, MD, 1975
Richard J. Macchia, MD, 1974
Peter Caponegro, MD, 1973
