- Source: Michael Stifelman
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.
Biography
Michael D. Stifelman, M.D., serves as Chair of Urology at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), Director of Robotic Surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health, and Founding Chair of Urology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. He is an internationally recognized leader in robotic urologic oncology and reconstructive surgery, credited with developing more than a dozen innovative minimally invasive techniques. His team at HUMC was among the first in the U.S. to use the FDA-approved single-port robotic surgical system in 2018.
As Chair of Urology, Dr. Stifelman has overseen significant advancements in clinical care, research, and education. Under his leadership, the department has achieved a 30% increase in patient volume, handled increasingly complex cases, and consistently exceeded national clinical benchmarks. In 2023–24, U.S. News & World Report ranked HUMC’s Urology department 17th nationally.
As director of Robotic Surgery, Dr. Stifelman oversees a system-wide program encompassing multiple service lines. Under his guidance, HUMC became the first hospital in the U.S. to perform 1,000 single-port robotic surgeries using the da Vinci SP system, a milestone reached in 2023.
Dr. Stifelman leads a distinguished research team focused on bladder and prostate cancer, female urologic conditions, and multi-institutional cancer databases. He has authored 198 peer-reviewed articles, 20 book chapters, and 38 surgical videos shared by global organizations such as the American Urological Association.
As an educator, Dr. Stifelman is committed to training the next generation of urologists. He founded HUMC’s urology residency program, which now trains 10 residents, and has served as a guest lecturer and surgeon in 18 countries.
Dr. Stifelman plays a leadership role in prominent organizations, including serving as President of the Society of Urological Robotic Surgeons. He is a faculty member of the American Urological Association, the European Association of Urology, and the North American Robotic Urology Symposium. Additionally, he serves on the advisory board of Intuit Surgical, Inc., and the scientific board of the Institute of Surgical Excellence.
He has been featured in New York Magazine’s annual “Top Doctors” issue for the past decade and has been named to Castle Connolly’s lists of America’s Top Doctors, Top Doctors for Cancer, and New York’s Top Doctors.
Education
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.
Career
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.
Research interests
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.
Clinical trials
Co-Investigator: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group, Multicenter Study of the Safety and Efficacy of Avanafil in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction Following Bilateral Nerve-Sparing Radical Prostatectomy. Sponsor: Vivus, 2009 - 2012. 2. Co-Investigator. EDRN PCA3 Validation Trial and Urinary Reference Set, Sponsor: NIH/Gen-probe, 2009-2012.
Co-Investigator: S12-03826: An International Phase 3 Randomized Trial of Autologous Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy (AGS-003) Plus Standard Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (ADAPT). 2015
Principal Investigator: Pro2016-0416: SurgiQuesT AirSeal in Robotic Partial Nephrectomy – TARPAN STUDY. 2016–present.
Principal Investigator – NCT03694483 Prostasomes as Diagnostic Tool for Prostate Cancer Detection. 2018 – Present.
Patents
Ureteral Tissue Expansion Catheter; United States Patent 63648
Ureteral Stent and Retrieval Means, US Provisional Application 62/803, 179
Honors and awards
Awards and honors include:
1989 – Cum Laude University of Massachusetts
1989 – Louis Berman Research Scholarship
1993 – Alfred A. Angrist Prize for Excellence in Pathology Research
1997 – Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center House Staff Affairs Award
2000 – US Surgical New York Presbyterian Laparoscopic Fellow
2011 – Intuitive Crystal Award
2019 – Best Poster Award, World Congress of Endourology Annual Meeting (Abu Dhabi, UAE) “Operative and functional outcomes for selective clamping in robotic partial nephrectomy for patients with a solitary kidney.”
Memberships
International, National and Regional Committees/ Workshops
Hackensack University Medical Center Committees
Professional Society Memberships
Editorial Positions
Boards and community organizations
Advisory Board, Hospitality Fund, New York, NY
Advisory Board, Health Concepts Partners, Saratoga, New York
Scientific Advisory Board, Surgiquest, New Haven, CT
Advisory Board, Vascular Technology Inc
Scientific Board, Institute of Surgical Excellence
Board Member, Hackensack Meridian Health System
Scientific Advisory Board, CONMED Corporation
Selected works and publications
= Original reports
=Lee M, Lee Z, Strauss D, Jun MS, Koster H, Asghar AM, Lee R, Chao B, Cheng N, Ahmed M, Lovallo G, Munver R, Zhao LC, Stifelman MD, Eun DD. Multi-Institutional Experience Comparing Outcomes of Adult Patients Undergoing Secondary Versus Primary Robotic Pyeloplasty. Urology. 2020 Jul 17:S0090-4295(20)30850-5. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.07.008. [PMID 32687842]
Badani KK, Kothari PD, Okhawere KE, Eun D. Hemal A, Abaza R, Porter J, Lovallo G, Ahmed M, Munver R, Stifelman MD. Selective clamping during robot-assisted partial nephrectomy in patients with a solitary kidney: Is it safe and does it help? BJU Int., Mar 2020; 10.111/bju.15043; (Epub ahead of print).
Billah MS, Stifelman M, Lovallo G, Ahmed M, Tsui JF, He W, Munver R. Single port robotic assisted reconstructive urologic surgery – with the da Vinci SP surgical system. Trans Androl Urol. 2020 Apr 9;(2):870-878. doi: 10.21037/tau-2020.01.06. [PMID 32420202]
Jun MS, Stair S, Xu A, Lee Z, Asghar AM, Strauss D, Stifelman MD, Eun DD, Zhao LC. Collaborative of Reconstructive Robotic Ureteral Surgery (CORRUS). Urology. 2020 Jul 15:S0090-4295(20)30829-3. doi: 10.1016/j.urology.2020.06.062. Online ahead of print. [PMID 32681918]
Beksac AT, Okhawere KE, Meilika K, Ige OA, Lee JY, Lovallo G, Ahmed M, Stifelman MD, Eun DD, Abaza R, Badani KK. Should a drain be routinely required after transperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy? J Endourol. 2020 Jun 27. doi: 10.1089/end.2020.0325. Online ahead of print. [PMID 32597218]
White C, Stifelman MD. Ureteral Reimplantation, Psoas Hitch, and Boari Flap. J Endourol. 2020 May; 34(S1):S25-S30. doi: 10.1089/end.2018.0750. [PMID 32459151]
Beksac AT, Okhawere KE, Rosen DC, Elbakry A, Dayal BD, Daza J, Sfakianos JP, Ronney A, Eun DD, Bhandari A, Hemal AK, Porter J, Stifelman MD, Badani KK. Do patients with Stage 3-5 chronic kidney disease benefit from ischaemia-sparing techniques during partial nephrectomy? BJU Int. 2020 Mar;125(3):442-448. doi: 10.1111/bju.14956. Epub 2019 Dec 26. [PMID 31758657]
Zhao LC, Weinberg AC, Lee Z, Ferretti MJ, Koo HP, Metro MJ, Eun DD, Stifelman MD. Robot assisted ureteral reconstruction using buccal mucosa grafts; A multi-institutional experience. Eur Urol, Nov 2017; (Epub ahead of print).
Marien T, Bjurlin MA, Wynia B, Bilbily M, Rao G, Zhao LC, Shah O, Stifelman MD. Outcomes of robotic-assisted laparoscopic upper urinary tract reconstruction: 250 consecutive patients. BJU Int. Oct 2015; 116(4):604-11.
Bjurlin MA, Gan M, McClintock TR, Volpe A, Borofsky MS, Mottrie A, Stifelman MD. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging: Emerging applications in robotic upper urinary tract surgery. Eur Urol. Apr 2014; 65(4):793-801.
Borofsky M, Stifelman MD. Near-infrared fluorescence imaging in robotic partial nephrectomy. In Robotic Renal Surgery: Benign and Cancer Surgery for the Kidneys and Ureters (pp. 89-96). Springer US, 2013.
Hyams ES, Stifelman MD. Robotic Ureteral Reconstruction. Essentials Robotic Surgery. Li Ming Su (Ed), Elsevier. 203-240, New York 2011.
Benway BM, Bhayani SB, Rogers CG, Dulabon LM, Patel MN, Lipkin M, Wang AJ, Stifelman MD. Robot assisted partial nephrectomy versus laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for renal tumors: a multi-institutional analysis of perioperative outcomes. J Urol. Sep 2009; 182(3):866-72.
= Book chapters
=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
= Books
=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
= Abstracts
=Stifelman MD, Desroches B, Deolankar J, Lovallo G, Munver R, Ahmed M. Single Port vs. Multiport Robotic Surgery for the Upper Urinary Tract: Short Term Peri-Operative Outcome Analysis. American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Online, 2020.
Lee Z, Asghar A, Strauss D, Lee R, Slawin J, Koster H, Jun M, Komaravolu S, Metro M, Stifelman MD, Zhao L, Eun D. A Multi-Institutional Experience with Robotic Ureteroplasty with Buccal Mucosa Graft: An Updated Analysis of Intermediate-Term Outcomes. American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Online, 2020.
Lee Z, Ashgar A, Koster H, Lee R, Strauss D, Lee M, Komaravolu S, Kim D, Metro M, Stifelman MD, Eun D. Ureteral Rest is Associated With Improved Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Robotic Ureteral Reconstruction of Proximal and Middle Ureteral Strictures. American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Online, 2020.
Billah M, Ahmed M, Desroches B, Munver R, Lovallo G, Stifelman MD. Single Port Robotic Pyeloplasty: Similar Outcomes, Excellent Cosmesis. (Video) American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Online, 2020.
Stifelman MD, Bhayani S, Figenshau R, Porter J. A Multi-Center, Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Study to Evaluate The Safety of a Valve-Less Trocar Insufflation System (AirSeal) vs. Conventional Insufflation for the Management of Pneumoperitoneum During Robotic Partial Nephrectomy. American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Online, 2020.
Billah M, Kim D, Youssef P, Kothari P, Deolankar, J, Komaravolu S, Stifelman MD: Single port robotic pyeloplasty: Similar outcomes, excellent cosmesis (Video). World Congress of Endourology 37th Annual Meeting, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, October 29-November 2, 2019.
John Stites*, Benjamin Press, Helaine Koster, Tenzin Lama-Tamang, Greg Lovallo, Mutahar Ahmed, Ravi Munver, Stifelman MD. Hackensack Multi-Disciplinary Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy (RPN) Pathway: Improving Quality Metrics. American urological Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 2018.
Ziho Lee, Aaron Weinberg, Mark Ferretti, Benjamin Waldorf, Eric Cho, Daniel Eun, Lee Zhao, Stifelman MD. A Multi-institutional Experience with Robotic Ureteroplasty with Buccal Mucosa Graft. American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Boston, MA 2017.
Marshall S*, Taneja SS, Huang WC, Stifelman MD. Retroperitoneal Partial Nephrectomy for Posterior Tumors: Is it Better Than the Transperitoneal Approach?. American Urological Association Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL., 2014.
For a complete list of publications, visit Michael Stifelman’s Google Scholar page.
Teaching videos in distribution
= American Urologic Association
=Robotic bladder diverticulectomy: The NYU technique
Robotic assisted pyeloplasty reproducing the open approach.
Robotic Ureterocalycostomy: The NYU technique
Robotic sacrohysteropexy: The NYU technique
Robotics in the management of mid ureteral obstruction.
Robotic assisted re-implant and psoas hitch in the treatment of distal ureteral stricture.
Laparoscopic pyeloplasty for secondary ureteropelvic junction obstruction.
Robotic partial nephrectomy: The NYU technique
Robotic ureteroureterostomy for the management of retrocaval ureter.
Robotic partial nephroureterectomy for a duplicated collecting system and ectopic ureter.
Robotic partial nephrectomy: Dealing with dilemmas.
Robotic ureterolysis and omental wrap: Lessons learned from 24 cases.
Rennoraphy during robotic partial nephrectomy: Progression of technique.
Transmesenteric Robotic Pyeloplasty in a horse shoe kidney.
Retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy: A novel four arm approach.
= World Congress of Endourology
=Laparoscopic approaches to the renal hilum: Retroperitoneal, transperitoneal, and hand assisted.
Pediatric laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: The NYU technique.
Da Vinci assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty.
Da Vinci surgical system assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy.
Robotic pyeloplasty reproducing the open approach.
Robotic ureterolysis with omental wrap: The NYU technique.
Robotic ureteroureterostomy for the management of retrocaval ureter.
Robotic partial nephroureterectomy for a duplicated collecting system and ectopic ureter.
Laparoscopic doppler technology: Applications in laparoscopic pyeloplasty, radical and partial nephrectomy.
Retroperitoneal robotic partial nephrectomy: A novel four arm approach.
Selective clamping using a novel fluorescence imaging technique.
References
External links
Dr. Michael Stifelman at Hackensack University Medical Center
Hackensack University Medical Center Department of Urology
Google Scholar: Michael Stifelman
Experts in Surgery: Michael D. Stifelman, M.D.
Twitter: @mdstifelman
YouTube: Michael Stifelman
