Our Department has been making strides in women’s health care and research since The Mount Sinai Hospital appointed its first gynecologist in 1877. Throughout the years, our faculty members have been adding significant accomplishments to the field both within Mount Sinai and in the greater medical community.
Historic Milestones
1877
Emil Noeggerath becomes the first gynecologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital.
1892
Joseph Brettauer and Florian Krug assume joint leadership of the Department.
1916
Hiram Vineberg succeeds Florian Krug.
1925
Robert Tilden Frank assumes leadership of the Department.
1931
Robert Tilden Frank coins the term PMS.
1937
Isidor Clinton Rubin succeeds Robert Tilden Frank.
1947
Morris Goldberger is appointed Chief of the Department.
1952
The Klingenstein Pavilion opens, providing the most modern and comprehensive obstetrical and nursery services in New York City.
1952
Alan Guttmacher becomes Chief of the newly named Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
1958
Samuel Geist serves as Co-Director with Isidor Clinton Rubin and assumes leadership of the Department upon Rubin's death.
1962
Saul Gusberg succeeds Alan Guttmacher as Chairman and Director. During his time at Mount Sinai, Gusberg establishes the first Gynecological Oncology program and fellowship.
1972
The Department starts using ultrasound in its perinatal medicine practice.
1973
Shin-Yee Chen, David Koffler, and Carmel J. Cohen demonstrate the presence of cell-mediated immunity in patients with cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers––a finding that would establish a basis for the benefits of immunotherapy.
1977
Howard Bruckner, Carmel J. Cohen, Gunter Deppe, and colleagues are among the first to demonstrate the utility of cisplatinum in the treatment of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix.
1977
Carmel Cohen introduces minimally invasive surgery to the Division and adds training in laparoscopic procedures to the fellowship program.
1981
Nathan G. Kase succeeds Saul Gusberg. A specialist in gynecology and reproductive endocrinology, Kase provided the first demonstration that the human ovary could synthesize testosterone in vitro.
1982
Richard Berkowitz introduces the modern use of ultrasound to the practice of perinatal medicine at Mount Sinai.
1985
Richard Berkowitz is appointed Chairman of the newly renamed Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology.
1986
The first successful intrauterine transfusion of blood is given by the intravascular route without the use of fetoscopy.
1994
Rhonda Sperling, senior author on the landmark AIDS Clinical Trials Group paper, documents how antiviral therapy used during labor and the neonatal period dramatically reduces vertical transmission of the HIV virus from pregnant women to their babies.
2003
Michael Brodman becomes the fourth chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science.
2007
The Family Planning Division is created.