Aug 10–15 · "Meet Our Leadership"
🧵 Dr. Mark Schoenberg has trained urologists for over two decades.
Here are 4 things he taught me about surgical mentorship that changed how I think about residency training:
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Lesson 1: Autonomy isn't given. It's earned — but the bar is set low on purpose.
At Montefiore, you operate early. Not because we're reckless. Because we believe the only way to learn surgery is to do surgery.
By the end of PGY-2, our residents have logged cases most programs save for chief year.
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Lesson 2: The best mentors don't just teach technique. They teach judgment.
Dr. Schoenberg's favorite OR question: "What would you do if I wasn't here?"
It's not a test. It's training for the day when the answer actually matters.
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Lesson 3: Culture eats curriculum for breakfast.
You can teach anyone to do a robotic prostatectomy.
You can't teach a program to genuinely care about its people.
That part? It has to come from the top.
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Lesson 4: "The program belongs to the residents."
Dr. Schoenberg says this in almost every meeting.
When residents propose changes — to the curriculum, the call schedule, the social media — they're taken seriously.
One PGY-3 told me: "I came from a place where 'resident input' meant a survey nobody read. Here, I proposed a schedule change as a PGY-2. Implemented in two weeks. I still can't believe that."
The people doing the training should have a voice in how it's done.
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These aren't slogans. They're how Montefiore actually operates.
And they start with a Chairman who believes that elite training and genuine humanity aren't opposites.
They're the same thing.
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🎬 Watch Dr. Schoenberg in his own words — and reply with: what matters most to you in a program?
Clip: Mark Schoenberg - What makes Montefiore special - Vert.mp4
Caption:
"Elite training and genuine humanity aren't opposites. They're the same thing."
Dr. Mark Schoenberg has led Montefiore Urology for over a decade. Here's what he believes: the best programs don't choose between clinical excellence and resident wellbeing. They build both.
Watch the full clip — then reply with: what matters most to you in a program? We read every response.
Photo: screenshot-6.jpeg — Dr. Alexander Small with the Stanley Boczko Teacher of the Year Award
🏆
Dr. Alexander Small.
Stanley Boczko Teacher of the Year.
The award is named for a Montefiore legend — Dr. Boczko shaped surgical education here for decades. His standard was simple: teach every resident like they're going to be your own surgeon one day.
Dr. Small carries that legacy forward.
Residents describe his teaching style as "demanding but never demeaning." The kind of attending who pushes you to be better — and stays after rounds to make sure you got there.
Teaching at Montefiore isn't a checkbox on the way to a promotion. It's the whole point.
Congratulations, Dr. Small. You make this program what it is.
Carousel: "The People You'll Train With" — 6 slides
Slide 1: [Montefiore blue background] THE PEOPLE YOU'LL TRAIN WITH Meet the faculty who make Montefiore different.
Slide 2: [Photo: Dr. Schoenberg frame from clip] Dr. Mark Schoenberg — CHAIRMAN "Elite training built on genuine mentorship." • 20+ years training urologists, 100+ graduates • National leader in urologic oncology • Philosophy: "The program belongs to the residents."
Slide 3: [Photo: Dr. Watts] Dr. Kara Watts — FEMALE PELVIC MEDICINE "What makes Montefiore special? The people. The volume. The autonomy." • Director of Female Pelvic Medicine • Research focus: patient-reported outcomes • Known for: making complex cases make sense
Slide 4: [Photo: Dr. Sankin] Dr. Alexander Sankin — UROLOGIC ONCOLOGY "You operate early. You present nationally. You're treated as a colleague." • 500+ robotic cases annually • Resident favorite for OR teaching • Known for: pushing residents to think, not just follow
Slide 5: [Photo: screenshot-6 — Dr. Small with award] Dr. Alexander Small — 🏆 TEACHER OF THE YEAR "Demanding but never demeaning." • Stanley Boczko Teacher of the Year 2026 • General urology & endourology • Known for: staying after rounds until everyone gets it
Slide 6: This is just the beginning. Next week: 5 more faculty members. 5 more perspectives. Save this carousel. Comment your biggest question — we'll answer it on camera.
📄 What Our Faculty Published This Year
Montefiore Urology's research is shaping the field. Here are 3 publications from our faculty you should know:
1️⃣ Dr. Kara Watts published a study on patient-reported outcomes after pelvic organ prolapse surgery in Urology — showing that shared decision-making improves satisfaction by 40%.
2️⃣ Dr. Alexander Sankin contributed to a multi-institutional trial on adjuvant immunotherapy for high-risk renal cell carcinoma — published in JCO.
3️⃣ Dr. Alexander Small presented outcomes on same-day discharge after ureteroscopy at the AUA Annual Meeting — showing it's safe, effective, and preferred by patients.
Why this matters: our faculty don't just teach — they advance the field. And as a resident, you'll be part of that work from day one.
Save this thread. Follow #UroMatch for more research highlights all season.
Photo: screenshot-4.jpeg — 3 faculty outdoor portrait
Caption:
The faculty you'll train with. The mentors who'll shape your career.
Left to right: Dr. Alexander Sankin, Dr. Mark Schoenberg, Dr. [Name]
This is Montefiore Urology.
Article: "Building Elite Surgical Training, One Resident at a Time"
Dr. Mark Schoenberg has a phrase he uses constantly: "The program belongs to the residents."
It's not rhetoric. At Montefiore Einstein Urology, residents propose curriculum changes. They shape the call schedule. They run the social media. When a PGY-2 says something isn't working, people listen — including the Chairman.
This philosophy has produced over 100 graduates who now lead departments, direct fellowships, and train the next generation across the country.
This week, we're introducing the faculty who make this culture possible — starting with Dr. Schoenberg himself, and including this year's Stanley Boczko Teacher of the Year, Dr. Alexander Small.
Read the full profile at [link]. Then reply: what quality matters most in a surgical mentor?
🧵 What makes a great surgical mentor?
We asked 5 of our residents. Here's what they said:
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"Someone who pushes you without breaking you." — PGY-3
"The best teachers at Montefiore don't just show you how to do something. They put the scalpel in your hand and say 'you're ready.' That trust changes everything."
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"Someone who stays late." — PGY-4
"Our faculty don't clock out after cases. They stay. They debrief. They make sure you understood why we did what we did — not just what we did."
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"Someone who admits when they don't know." — PGY-2
"The most impressive thing a senior attending can do? Say 'I'm not sure about that — let's look it up together.' It models intellectual humility. It makes you unafraid to ask questions."
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"Someone who sees you as a colleague." — PGY-5
"By chief year, our attendings treat you as a partner. You're making real decisions. You're teaching juniors. The transition from 'student' to 'surgeon' isn't abrupt — it's gradual, supported, and real."
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Great mentorship isn't about being nice. It's about caring enough to push.
At Montefiore, we've built a culture around that idea.
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This week we're introducing the mentors who make it happen. Bookmark this thread — drop a reply with who YOU want to hear from next.
Weekend plans?
Ours involve catching up on journals, hitting the climbing gym, and maybe — just maybe — sleeping past 6 AM.
How are you spending yours?
Story 1: [Faculty clip: 15s from Sankin] "Dr. Sankin on why he chose Montefiore — full Reel in our feed."
Story 2: [Poll] "We introduced 4 faculty this week. Which clip was your favorite?" - Dr. Schoenberg - Dr. Small (Teacher of the Year!) - Dr. Watts - Dr. Sankin