Albert Altchek, MD received academic recognition at the Bronx High School of Science (Arista), Phi Beta Kappa in College (4 years in 2 ½ years), and Alpha Omega Alpha in Medical School.  During medical school summer vacation he was an Acting Intern at Bellevue Hospital and did renal research in the Department of Physiology.

Following a one year rotating internship at Mount Sinai he was a resident at Beth Israel Hospital for 2 years and then at Mount Sinai Hospital for 3 more years during which time he had extraordinary surgical experience and continued research.

He did pioneer work in devising a technique of renal biopsy in women with preeclampsia, (a complication of pregnancy) and did electron microscopy.  He found that glomerulus intercapillary (mesangial) cells exist (with light microscopy it was uncertain) and increased in preeclampsia, that worsening of preexisting hypertension was due to superimposed preeclampsia, and that there was a lesion in the renal loop of Henle matching the rise of serum uric acid which is diagnostic of preeclampsia.  He lectured extensively in Mexico where preeclampsia-eclampsia was a big problem and was made Honorary President of the Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.  His picture is in the lobby of I.M.S.S. Number 1 Hospital in Mexico City (the largest Mexican maternity hospital).

He has always been on the teaching staff at Mount Sinai Hospital.  In addition for several years he was also invited to be at the same time on the teaching staff of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx.

At one time he was on the active staff of 6 hospitals aside from Mount Sinai including Lenox Hill Hospital, Women’s Hospital, St. Lukes Hospital, Flower and Fifth Ave Hospital, Beth Israel Hospital, and Doctor’s Hospital.  Of course the travel made it impossible.

He produced several films on surgical techniques.

He has always been interested in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology has been a pioneer in the field and was a Founding Father of the North American Society for  Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.

He has conducted three clinics in Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, including at Lenox Hill Hospital for 20 years, as well as an active continuing private office consultation.

He has done a large series of corrective surgery for congenital anomalies especially MRKH syndrome.

He has conducted an Annual Postgraduate Course on Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital for the past 13 years with an increasing attendance.  On April 3, 2009 there were 350 attendees.

He has lectured in Switzerland, Italy, France, Argentina, Canada and Mexico, as well as the USA. 

He has written and continues to write many papers in the field.  He has edited six books on the uterus and ovary; all received good reviews including from the New England Journal of Medicine.  The last was Pediatric Adolescent and Young Adult Gynecology, 2009, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.  The foreward was written by a Director of the National Institute of Health, Dr Alan DeCherney.

He is Clinical Professor with Tenure in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Chief of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, Attending Obstetrician-Gynecologists at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Hospital and Attending Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital.

He has always been in private practice and on the voluntary staff of hospitals.

Aside from adults he is one of the few gynecologists in the country who also has an active practice in pediatric and adolescent gynecology.

He is sensitive to the anxiety of the young patient.  His medical school had psychiatry for all 4 years.  He wrote a chapter on Psychologic Aspects of Gynecologic Problems in the young patient in a book for psychiatrists from Mount Sinai Hospital.

He is a Board Certified Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons, and a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine.

He was previously Chairman of the Section on Obstetrics and Gynecology of the N.Y. Academu of Medicine, and Chairman of the Committee on Maternal Welfare of the NY County Medical Society. 

Currently Dr. Altchek has two papers being published at the same time in two different countries, which I believe is the first time that is done by a physician.