Renowned Pioneer in Microsurgery and Male Infertility Has Innovated Numerous Surgical Techniques
Dr. Marc Goldstein
NEW YORK (July 31, 2008) — An internationally recognized pioneer in microsurgery and male infertility, Dr. Marc Goldstein has been named the Matthew P. Hardy, Ph.D. Distinguished Professor in Reproductive Medicine and Urology at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Dr. Goldstein is surgeon-in-chief of male reproductive medicine and surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he directs the Men's Service Center of the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Microsurgery of the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and the Department of Urology. He is also senior scientist with the Population Council's Center for Biomedical Research, located on the campus of The Rockefeller University.
"A leader in his field, Dr. Goldstein has developed or refined nearly every microsurgical procedure currently used for treating male infertility," says Dr. Peter Schlegel, chairman of the Department of Urology at Weill Cornell Medical College and urologist-in-chief at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "As one example, his microsurgical vasectomy reversal has been shown to be highly effective, resulting in more pregnancies than any other technique."
Endowed by an anonymous donor, the named professorship honors the late Dr. Matthew P. Hardy, who was adjunct professor of reproductive biology in urology at Weill Cornell Medical College and senior scientist at the Population Council.
"Before his tragic death last November, Dr. Hardy had become one of the pre-eminent reproductive biologists in the country, recognized for his innovative, groundbreaking studies on the origin and development of Leydig cells, the hormone-producing cells of the testis," says Dr. Schlegel. "I can think of no more fitting way to honor Matt's memory than with this professorship, which will support the very kind of medical research that he valued so much."
"Matt was an exemplary scientist, teacher, mentor and human being. He was also my main research collaborator and close friend," adds Dr. Goldstein. "I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to remember him through this endowed position."
Dr. Hardy died shortly after completing his 11th New York City Marathon last November. Dr. Goldstein has completed 20 New York City Marathons, including 10 with Dr. Hardy. Together they were leaders of the Weill Cornell Department of Urology's "Urinary Track" team.
In another recent honor for Dr. Goldstein, on May 28, he was the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Science degree from his alma mater, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center. Previously, the institution honored him in 1997 with a Master Teacher in Urology Award, and in 2002, with a Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award.
Dr. Marc Goldstein
Dr. Marc Goldstein received his M.D. degree from State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, summa cum laude. He completed his surgical internship and residency training at Columbia before entering the U.S. Air Force as a flight surgeon, rising to the rank of major. He then returned to SUNY-Downstate to do his urology residency, graduating in 1980, when he started fellowship training at The Population Council and The Rockefeller University. He joined the Weill Cornell faculty in 1982, quickly progressing to the level of professor of urology with tenure in 1994.
He has published more than 230 original manuscripts and book chapters, with many of his articles representing landmark contributions to the field of male reproductive medicine and microsurgery. His innovations are documented in nine current patents, some of which are routinely applied in clinical care. He is past-president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. He has received more than 13 "best paper" or "best video" awards from the American Urological Association (AUA), ASRM or other major societies. He has been honored by RESOLVE and the American Infertility Association for his "Outstanding Dedication and Commitment to Family Building"; received the 2002 John Kingsley Lattimer Award in Urology from the Kidney and Urology Foundation of America; and is the recipient of the 2007 Howard and Georgeanna Jones Lifetime Achievement Award of The American Fertility Association, which was presented to Dr. Goldstein by Sugar Ray Leonard.
Dr. Matthew Hardy
Dr. Matthew Hardy (1957-2007) received his Ph.D. in biology at the University of Virginia and completed postdoctoral work with at Johns Hopkins' School of Hygiene and Public Health. In 1990, he joined the Population Council as staff scientist, later promoted to scientist and senior scientist. He also held joint appointments at The Rockefeller University and at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Dr. Hardy's research focused on the development of the adult population of Leydig cells in the testes, demonstrating the sequence of events that occur to form the adult population, and the mechanisms by which the sequence is regulated. He made the counterintuitive observation that androgen is involved in the differentiation of Leydig cell precursors, a critical and now well-accepted observation.
He authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications; co-authored the well-known and highly cited book, "The Leydig Cell"; and published more than 30 chapters. He was co-editor of the Journal of Andrology from 2002 to 2007. He was chair of the Bylaws Committee for the Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), and a member of the editorial boards of Archives of Andrology; Biology of Reproduction, Endocrinology, and Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. He was named the 2000 Young Andrologist by the American Society of Andrology, and before his death, he was to be recognized with the ASA Distinguished Service Award at the 2008 ASA Annual Meeting.
Weill Cornell Medical College
Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University's medical school located in New York City, is committed to excellence in research, teaching, patient care and the advancement of the art and science of medicine, locally, nationally and globally. Weill Cornell, which is a principal academic affiliate of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, offers an innovative curriculum that integrates the teaching of basic and clinical sciences, problem-based learning, office-based preceptorships, and primary care and doctoring courses. Physicians and scientists of Weill Cornell Medical College are engaged in cutting-edge research in areas such as stem cells, genetics and gene therapy, geriatrics, neuroscience, structural biology, cardiovascular medicine, transplantation medicine, infectious disease, obesity, cancer, psychiatry and public health — and continue to delve ever deeper into the molecular basis of disease in an effort to unlock the mysteries of the human body in health and sickness. In its commitment to global health and education, the Medical College has a strong presence in places such as Qatar, Tanzania, Haiti, Brazil, Austria and Turkey. Through the historic Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Cornell University is the first in the U.S. to offer a M.D. degree overseas. Weill Cornell is the birthplace of many medical advances — including the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer, the synthesis of penicillin, the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S., the first clinical trial of gene therapy for Parkinson's disease, the first indication of bone marrow's critical role in tumor growth, and most recently, the world's first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. For more information, visit www.med.cornell.edu.
Andrew Klein
ank2017@med.cornell.edu