Malcolm Z. Roth, M.D. ‘82
School of Medicine
What made you choose New York Medical College?
The reputation of New York Medical College as a school that provides a very strong and broad based clinical experience was a critical factor. Also, having the options to do rotations in suburban or urban settings gave students the ability to preview the experiences they might have for residency training. Furthermore, the ability to choose from a diversity of hospitals including Metropolitan, Lincoln, Lenox Hill, Stamford, Danbury, Westchester Medical Center and many others gave students a wealth of options.
What is your fondest memory of New York Medical College?
The friendships formed during the basic science years kept me sane and balanced, but my third-year surgery rotation at Cabrini Medical Center was the highlight. There were only three of us, and the surgical faculty, attending physicians and residents, gave us incredible attention and nurturing. If I had not been afforded the freedom to experience the full spectrum of surgical specialties, I might never have realized that plastic surgery was the field that would spark my interest and become my passion.
What is your current professional role/position and what are some highlights of your career track?
I have been the chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at Albany Medical Center for five years. I had previously been at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., for 17 years, where I was the director of plastic surgery and hand surgery and Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, where I was the director of plastic surgery for six years. I have also been an active member of the Medical Society of the State of New York and have been the president of the New York County Medical Society, the New York Society for Surgery of the Hand, the New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. I am currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Based on your experiences, what advice would you give to future students and future alumni of New York Medical College?
Find your passion. The ever-changing challenges of a career in medicine make it more important than ever before to build a career in a field you will find rewarding so that when you wake up every morning, you will be happy to go to work. Also, try to learn as much about the business of medicine as possible, so you will be prepared for the realities of life that will come after residency and fellowship training.
When you’re not working, where are you most likely to be found and what are you most likely to be doing?
I love to travel with my wife, Lisa. In addition to exploring different cultures, we enjoy spending time relaxing in warm weather by the water, sleeping late, reading a good book and having a nice meal. Balancing work and life at home is critical to my happiness and success. Of course, I still bleed Yankee blue pinstripes.