Marc Goldstein is Senior Scientist with the Council’s Center for Biomedical Research and the Hardy Distinguished Professor and Surgeon-in-Chief of Male Reproductive Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. He came to the Council in 1980 as a fellow mentored by the late C. Wayne Bardin. He was also Assistant Physician at Rockefeller University Hospital. After completing his fellowship in 1982 Goldstein continued his appointment with the Council and RU Hospital. He was the Population Council’s representative with a team of international experts sent to China in 1985 and 1986 to see their new methods of contraception. This led to Goldstein introducing the No-Scalpel Vasectomy to the Western World, considered the Urology Guidelines the preferred method of vasectomy. Goldstein introduced the Shang Ring non-surgical circumcision device which dramatically reduced transmission of HIV and HPV. Goldstein also collaborated with the late Matthew P. Hardy on phthalates impairing masculinization and fertility in male mice and rats. Going forward, Goldstein’s interests include non-surgical male contraceptive development and environmental effects on testicular function.
Goldstein is a pioneer of microsurgery to treat obstructive azoospermia and varicocele. He received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society of Male Reproductive Medicine and Urology. He has authored or co-authored over 300 publications. His “Atlas of Male Infertility Microsurgery” (Springer/Nature) was published in October 2023. Prior to his urology and scientific careers, he was a Vietnam Era Flight Surgeon who flew over 80 missions in F-4 Phantom aircraft as a Major in the US Air Force. Drawing on that experience, Goldstein was the first surgeon to introduce check-lists to his operating room in 1982.
Goldstein graduated Summa Cum Laude from SUNY Downstate. Goldstein has completed 20 New York City Marathons.