A. L. Mestel
Encyclopedia
Ascher Lawrence Mestel is a pediatric surgeon who lives in Brooklyn
, New York
. He is one of the pioneers in the field of pediatric surgery and is widely published. He is especially well known for the groundbreaking first successful separation of Ischiopagus Tripus conjoined twins
.
From 1944-1946 Mestel served in the United States Navy
. After the Navy he graduated from New York University
in 1947. He then attended SUNY Downstate Medical Center
, where he was elected to the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha
and graduated in 1952. He went on to complete his internship and residency in General Surgery at Beth El Hospital (1952-1957) and a fellowship in Pediatric Surgery in the Hospital for Sick Children
in Toronto, Canada (1957-1958). In addition, he obtained a Masters in Surgery at New York Medical College
in 1958.
Mestel has served as President of the Alumni, Medical Staff, and Medical Board at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees. He has also served as Chairman of the Alumni association and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Alumnae at SUNY Downstate Medical Center
. In addition to his work in the United States, Mestel has worked with Project HOPE (USA)
in Jamaica
.
In 1997, Mestel was awarded the Clarence and Mary Dennis Award for outstanding contributions and significant commitments to the SUNY Downstate Medical Center and to the Brooklyn community. In 1998, he was awarded the Alumni Service Award for providing exceptional service and leadership to the Alumni Association-College of Medicine of SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
Along with his renowned medical career, Mestel is an accomplished sculptor and stained glass
artist. His art has won multiple awards and has been on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, Brooklyn Museum
, Staten Island Cultural Center, and Lever House
. He is also active in the Jewish community, and has served as Chairman of the Board and President of Flatbush Park Jewish Center in Brooklyn. He is retired from practice and lives with his wife Beverly in Mill Basin, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He is one of the pioneers in the field of pediatric surgery and is widely published. He is especially well known for the groundbreaking first successful separation of Ischiopagus Tripus conjoined twins
Conjoined twins
Conjoined twins are identical twins whose bodies are joined in utero. A rare phenomenon, the occurrence is estimated to range from 1 in 50,000 births to 1 in 100,000 births, with a somewhat higher incidence in Southwest Asia and Africa. Approximately half are stillborn, and a smaller fraction of...
.
From 1944-1946 Mestel served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. After the Navy he graduated from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
in 1947. He then attended SUNY Downstate Medical Center
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
The State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, better known as SUNY Downstate Medical Center, is a public university and medical center located in central Brooklyn, New York and the only academic center for health education, research, and patient care serving Brooklyn’s 2.5...
, where he was elected to the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha
Alpha Omega Alpha
The Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, commonly called Alpha Omega Alpha and abbreviated ΑΩΑ or AOA, is a national honor society for medical students, residents, scientists and physicians in the United States and Canada.-History:...
and graduated in 1952. He went on to complete his internship and residency in General Surgery at Beth El Hospital (1952-1957) and a fellowship in Pediatric Surgery in the Hospital for Sick Children
Hospital for Sick Children
The Hospital for Sick Children – is a major paediatric centre for the Greater Toronto Area, serving patients up to age 18. Located on University Avenue in Downtown Toronto, SickKids is part of the city’s Discovery District, a critical mass of scientists and entrepreneurs who are focused on...
in Toronto, Canada (1957-1958). In addition, he obtained a Masters in Surgery at New York Medical College
New York Medical College
New York Medical College, aka New York Med or NYMC, is a private graduate health sciences university based in Westchester County, New York, a suburb of New York City and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area...
in 1958.
Mestel has served as President of the Alumni, Medical Staff, and Medical Board at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees. He has also served as Chairman of the Alumni association and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Alumnae at SUNY Downstate Medical Center
SUNY Downstate Medical Center
The State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, better known as SUNY Downstate Medical Center, is a public university and medical center located in central Brooklyn, New York and the only academic center for health education, research, and patient care serving Brooklyn’s 2.5...
. In addition to his work in the United States, Mestel has worked with Project HOPE (USA)
Project HOPE (USA)
Project HOPE is an international health care organization founded in the United States in 1958. Its most visible aspect was the SS HOPE, the first peacetime hospital ship...
in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
.
In 1997, Mestel was awarded the Clarence and Mary Dennis Award for outstanding contributions and significant commitments to the SUNY Downstate Medical Center and to the Brooklyn community. In 1998, he was awarded the Alumni Service Award for providing exceptional service and leadership to the Alumni Association-College of Medicine of SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
Along with his renowned medical career, Mestel is an accomplished sculptor and stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
artist. His art has won multiple awards and has been on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn Museum
The Brooklyn Museum is an encyclopedia art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 square feet, the museum holds New York City's second largest art collection with roughly 1.5 million works....
, Staten Island Cultural Center, and Lever House
Lever House
Lever House, designed by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and located at 390 Park Avenue in New York City, is the quintessential and seminal glass-box skyscraper built in the International style according to the design principles of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Completed in 1952, it was...
. He is also active in the Jewish community, and has served as Chairman of the Board and President of Flatbush Park Jewish Center in Brooklyn. He is retired from practice and lives with his wife Beverly in Mill Basin, Brooklyn.