Michael D. Stifelman (born May 7, 1967) Michael D. Stifelman, M.D., is Chair of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center, Director of Robotic Surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health, and Professor and Inaugural Chair of Urology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.
An internationally recognized pioneer and leader in robotic urologic oncology and upper tract urinary reconstructive surgery, Dr. Stifelman has performed more than 4,000 robotic procedures and pioneered more than a dozen minimally invasive surgical techniques. His team was among the first in the nation to use the single port robotic surgical system after FDA approval in 2018.
Dr. Stifelman is known for his role in developing surgical innovations including robotic partial nephrectomies, near infrared fluorescence imaging for renal surgery, IRIS 3D imaging to improve surgical outcomes, the buccal mucosa tissue grafting procedure for ureteral reconstruction, and the use of single port robotic surgery to access urologic organs using the extraperitoneal approach.
Dr. Stifelman serves as Professor and Founding Chair of Urology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. As Chair of Urology, he inaugurated the department’s residency program which now includes 10 residents. He has been an invited lecturer and guest surgeon in 18 countries across six continents and served as a full professor of Urology at NYU School of Medicine for 16 years.
Additionally, Dr. Stifelman is on the faculty of numerous organizations including the American Urological Association (AUA), European Association of Urology (ERUS), and the North American Robotic Urology Symposium (NARUS). He is on the Advisory Board of Intuit Surgical, Inc, and the Scientific Board of the Institute of Surgical Excellence. Dr. Stifelman is the president-elect of the Society of Urological Robotic Surgeons (SURS).
An innovator and thought leader in the field of minimally invasive surgery, Dr. Stifelman’s research has won numerous prestigious awards with a focus on developing and evaluating new technologies and refining their roles in the operating room. Dr. Stifelman has published 198 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts, 20 invited reviews/book chapters and 38 surgical technique videos that have been distributed by the American Urologic Association, European Urology and World Congress of Endourology.
Dr. Stifelman has been recognized by Castle Connolly’s New York Top Doctors, America’s Top Doctors, and Top Doctors for Cancer, as well as in the annual “Top Doctors” issue of New York Magazine for the past 10 years.
Dr. Stifelman earned his undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Massachusetts and his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. He completed his internship and residency in general surgery, as well as his urology residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, NY, serving as chief resident in urology during his final year. He received his fellowship in endourology and laparoscopy at Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY, and is board certified in urology.
Dr. Stifelman currently serves as Professor and Inaugural Chair of Urology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine; Chair of Urology, Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center; Director of Urologic Oncology at John Theurer Cancer Center; and Director of Robotic Surgery, Hackensack Meridian Health.
Dr. Stifelman joined HackensackUMC in 2016 from NYU Langone Medical Center in New York, NY, where he served in the following roles: Professor of Urology, NYU School of Medicine; Director of the Robotic Surgery Center, NYU Langone Medical Center; and Chief of Urology Services, Tisch Hospital.
Dr. Stifelman’s current translational research interests include prostasomes for prostate cancer detection, creating a biorepository of urologic cancers, and amniotic membrane nerve regeneration.
Clinical research interests include the evaluation of minimally invasive surgical procedures — specifically robotic reconstruction of the urinary tract and robotic partial nephrectomy — to replace open surgical treatments; developing and standardizing teaching of advanced robotic techniques for residents and practicing surgeons; using near-infrared fluorescence imaging in robotic surgical procedures to improve tissue healing and minimize trauma to surrounding tissues; evaluation of buccal mucosa for ureteral substation and augmentation; and effects of intra-abdominal pressures during laparoscopic surgery on intraoperative and postoperative outcomes.
Awards and honors include:
International, National and Regional Committees/ Workshops[6]
2003 | Italian Renal Transplant Workshop, Rome, Italy |
2004 | Post Graduate Education Review Committee, AUA, Houston, TX |
2007 | Robotic Urologic Working Group, Anaheim, CA |
2013 | Robotic Partial Nephrectomy Working Group, Cleveland, OH |
2015 | Board Member, Institute of Surgical Excellence |
2017–present | North American Robotic Urologic Symposium |
Hackensack University Medical Center Committees
2016–present | Disease Specific Certification Committee for Renal Cancer |
2016–present | Disease Specific Certification Committee for Prostate Cancer |
2016–present | OR Committee |
2017–present | Director, Robotic Surgery Committee |
2017–present | Medical Executive Committee |
2017–present | HMHP Board |
2019–present | HMH Network Robotics Workgroup |
2019–present | HUMC Length of Stay Committee, Physician Leader |
Professional Society Memberships
1999–present | American Urologic Association[7] |
2000–present | Society of Endourology[8] |
2000–present | New York Section, American Urological Association[9] |
Editorial Positions
Consulting Editor: | Journal of Robotic Surgery
Journal of Clinical Medicine |
Ad Hoc Reviewer: | Journal of Urology[10]
Urology |
Journal of Endourology[11] | |
British Journal of Urology |
Sivarajan G, Munver R: Laparoscopic, Laparoendoscopic Single-Site, and Robot-Assisted Living Donor Nephrectomy. In: Smith’s Textbook of Endourology, 4th Ed. Smith AD, Preminger GM, Kavoussi LR, et al (Eds.). Hoboken, United States: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Chapter 108, 2019
Techniques of Robotic Urinary Tract Reconstruction Stifelman, M. (Ed), Zhao, L. C. (Ed), Eun, D. D. (Ed), Koh, C. J. (Ed) (2021) This book provides a complete and thorough guide to the performance of robotic urinary tract reconstruction procedures, including the principals of successful reconstructive … Available Formats: Hardcover eBook
For a complete list of publications, visit Michael Stifelman’s Google Scholar page.