Dr. Schuster, left, observes a fellow researcher.
Dr. Victor Schuster, Professor of Medicine (Nephrology) and Chair of the Department of Medicine from 2003 to 2014, has assumed the role of Senior Vice Dean at Einstein, effective August 1, 2014. In this newly created position, Dr. Schuster is mentoring physician-scientists, assisting the Dean's office in Institutional Advancement activities, and continuing his laboratory-based research and teaching activities in nephrology.
Dr. Schuster completed a medical degree at Washington University, St. Louis, an internal medicine residency at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he was chief resident, and a nephrology fellowship at Southwestern Medical School, Dallas. His first faculty position was at the University of Iowa.
In 1988, Dr. Schuster moved to Einstein, where he became Chief of the Division of Nephrology in 1993 and Chief of the unified Montefiore Einstein Division of Nephrology in 1998. He was Vice Chairman for research in the Department of Medicine from 2000 to 2002. From 2002 to 2014, he was Baumritter Professor and University Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Montefiore Einstein.
Dr. Schuster's research has focused for 35+ years on the interactions between vasoactive hormones and epithelial transport. His laboratory was the first to show that angiotensin II directly modulates fluid reabsorption by the proximal tubule. In 1995, the Schuster Laboratory discovered the prostaglandin (PG) transporter "PGT", a finding he has extended to human and mouse genetics, zebrafish, and drug discovery. more research info
Dr. Schuster was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation (1992) and the Association of American Physicians (1998). Active in clinical medicine and teaching, he serves as the attending physician both on the Renal Consult Service and the inpatient Internal Medicine service. He is a frequent discussant of clinical cases with the house staff and regularly lectures on renal physiology, pathophysiology, disease, and translational research careers to the Einstein medical students, MD-PhD students, renal fellows, and CRTP students. He has held national leadership positions in the Chairs of Medicine organization ("APM") and the Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, as well as in the International Society of Nephrology.
"This new position allows me not only to bring our research to the bedside but also to foster the shared academic missions of Einstein and Montefiore," said Dr. Schuster.
Dr. Laurie Jacobs, Professor of Clinical Medicine (Geriatrics) and Vice Chair of Clinical and Educational Programs for the Department of Medicine has assumed the role of Interim Chair while a national search is conducted.
In announcing his imminent transition to his new role in his 446th Departmental Newsletter on July 25, 2014, Dr. Schuster said, "These twelve years as chair have been extremely rewarding, not least because I’ve had a lot of help from many amazing people. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve Einstein and Montefiore as chair; to serve the faculty, trainees and staff; and to serve the patients of our community."