Message from the Chair

Welcome to the Ruth J. and Maxwell Hauser and Harriet and Arthur H. Aufses, Jr., MD, Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai.

Throughout the formation and expansion of the Mount Sinai Health System, the Department of Surgery has remained steadfast in our commitment to providing exceptional patient-centered care, conducting ground-breaking research, and training tomorrow’s surgical pioneers. Continuing our legacy as leaders in the field of health care and surgical innovation remains our constant focus.

The symbiotic relationship between Mount Sinai’s eight hospitals and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai represents a unique model in medical and surgical education. Mount Sinai attracts clinicians, educators and researchers who are interested in developing new therapeutics and diagnostics. The downstream effect of this model is the practical realization of science in patient care. Our patients benefit from real-world discoveries happening every day at Mount Sinai. The students we train today become the surgical pioneers, brilliant researchers, and superb educators of tomorrow.

Here is a small sampling of some noteworthy accomplishments and ongoing projects in the Department of Surgery:

  • Seven new full-time faculty members joined the Department of Surgery in 2020, with specializations in vascular surgery, colon and rectal surgery, pediatric surgery, and plastic surgery. We expect to hire additional faculty in 2021 specializing in bariatric surgery, and colon and rectal surgery, among others.
  • Exciting new capital projects will continue in 2021, including the build of an entirely new outpatient center for our transgender surgery program, and the construction of a first-class Simulation Center for our residents and fellows.
  • The Transgender Surgery program remains one of the busiest service lines in the department. We have increased our full-time faculty by three times to handle the volume of qualified patients. Our program remains one of only a few in the nation to train future surgeons in transgender and gender reassignment surgery through our fellowship program.
  • Our residency and fellowship programsremain widely sought-after. In 2020, we accepted 44 new residents in the areas of plastic and reconstructive surgery, vascular surgery and general surgery, and three research residents. We now offer fellowships in nearly all areas of surgical specialty, including: clinical laparoscopic surgery; colon and rectal surgery; critical care medicine; surgical oncology; transgender surgery; transplant surgery; and vascular surgery.
  • The Julius and Joan Jacobson Aortic Disease Center continues to advance research and treatment efforts by building one of the largest research databases in the country to track the potential for aortic disease prevention.
  • A novel technique for breast reconstruction after breast cancer, the prepectoral breast reconstruction, is being performed in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery to offer women less pain and a more natural range of motion after surgery.
  • Robotic surgery is now available at all of our eight hospitals, offering patients and surgeons an expanded scope of treatment options based on condition.
  • Our Global Surgical Health Programcontinues to flourish, sending faculty and students to the Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Peru, and now to Uganda, Africa where we have constructed a completely self-sustaining surgical facility which uses some of the most novel technology on the market right now, powered by Microsoft.
  • Across the Mount Sinai Health System, our hospitals perform well on quality metrics established by reputable organizations such as the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Vascular Surgery and the Endocrine Surgery Quality Foundation. Our comprehensive quality program, which includes General, Vascular, Colorectal, Endocrine and Pediatric Surgery in addition to Surgical Oncology, Bariatrics, Transgender and Plastic/Reconstructive Surgery, ensures we are not only providing excellent clinical outcomes but also a safe and stable environment.

It is because of these highlighted areas and many more that our Department of Surgery is a leader in patient care, education, and research. As Chair of the department, I am exceedingly proud of our sustained excellence, continued growth, and inspired vision for the future. I invite you to see for yourself what makes Mount Sinai's Department of Surgery so special. Exceptional programs. Exceptional leaders. Exceptional surgical care.

Michael L. Marin, MD, FACS
The Jacobson Professor of Surgery
Chairman, Department of Surgery
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Surgeon-In-Chief
Mount Sinai Health System