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Benjamin Samstein, M.D.

Transplant Surgery

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Personal Statement

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Benjamin Samstein, MD is Chief of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery in the Department of Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine and Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University. Dr. Samstein is the Surgical Director of the Living Donor Liver Transplant Program at NYP. Dr. Samstein is a renowned pioneer in minimally invasive liver surgery and state-of-the-art laparoscopic techniques for liver cancer. Dr. Samstein is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.

Read about Dr. Samstein in the Wall Street Journal, Organ Donors Give the Gift of Life

Read Sisters rejoice in successful liver transplant; need great for donors

Medical Marvel features the story of a woman who became a living donor for her cousin

Biographical Info

Benjamin Samstein, MD is Chief of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery in the Department of Surgery at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine and Professor of Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Samstein is the Surgical Director of the Living Donor Liver Transplant Program at NYP. Dr. Samstein is a renowned pioneer in minimally invasive liver surgery and state-of-the-art laparoscopic and robotic techniques for liver cancer. He is an expert in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma as well as metastatic cancers to the liver. He is also expert in vascular reconstruction techniques that enable resection for otherwise unresectable cancers. Dr. Samstein is a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.

Dr. Samstein heads up the multidisciplinary liver transplantation and hepatobiliary surgery team at NYP/Weill Cornell. His specialties include the most advanced laparoscopic and robotic procedures for liver cancer, benign liver tumors and hepatobiliary pancreatic disease. He has been invited to talk about minimally invasive liver surgery throughout the world. He is a member of many surgical societies including a founding member of the International Laparoscopic Liver Society (ILLS), American Society of Transplant Surgery, American Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA). He was the Chair of the Medical Advisory Board of LiveOnNY and served as the Regional representation to the Liver and Intestine Committee of UNOS from 2014 to 2016. Dr. Samstein is well-published in the field, authoring more than 80 peer-reviewed articles in prestigious medical and surgical journals, books and book chapters.

Other areas of clinical expertise include hepatic adenoma, hepatic hemangioma, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal metastasis, and liver and kidney transplant.

Dr. Samstein received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 1992 and earned his MD at the State University of New York at Stonybrook in 1997. He did his internship and residency in general surgery at NYP/Columbia, and completed a research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in 2001. He completed a fellowship in ASTS Multi-organ transplant at NYP/Columbia in 2006. He was Assistant Professor of Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center from 2006 to 2015. He served as Program Director of the transplant surgery fellowship at Columbia University from 2007 to 2015. He is a reviewer for American Journal of Transplantation, Transplantation, Liver Transplantation, Pediatric Transplantation, Clinical Transplantation among other journals.

Honors and Awards

Arnold P. Gold Award for Humanism in Medicine, 2003-2004

NIH National Research Service Award

NIH Gastrointestinal Training Grant, Mayo Clinic, 1999-2000

Board Certifications
American Board of Surgery
Clinical Expertise
Hepatic Adenoma
Liver Transplantation
Hepatic Hemangioma
Hepato-Biliary Surgery
Cholangiocarcinoma
Surgical Procedure, Laparoscopic
Colorectal Metastasis
Hepatobiliary Cancer
Laparoscopic Procedure for Liver Surgery
Living Donor Transplantation
Liver Tumor
Liver Surgery
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Liver Resection Surgery
Minimally Invasive Solid Organ Surgery
Polycystic Liver Disease
Liver Cancer
Cystic Disease of Liver
Bile Duct Cancer
PSC (Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis)
Liver Disease
Languages
English
Education 
  • M.D.
    State University of New York at Stony Brook, School of Medicine
    1997
  • A.B.
    Cornell University
    1992
Appointments 
  • Attending Surgeon
    NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Professor of Surgery
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University

Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.

No External Relationships Reported