Martin I. Surks
<p><strong>Current Activities:</strong> </p>
<ul>
<li>Program Director, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Albert Einstein College of Medicine</li>
<li>Director of the Endocrinology Clinic, Montefiore Medical Center</li>
<li>Consultant in thyroid disease and general endocrinology</li>
<li>Research Mentor</li>
</ul>
<p> <strong>Clinical Practice:</strong></p>
<p>Dr. Surks restricts his consultative practice to disorders of the thyroid gland, and to other disorders of general endocrinology such as diseases of the pituitary, parathyroid glands, gonads, adrenal glands, and to metabolic bone disease.</p>
<p> <strong>Research Interests:</strong></p>
<p>Historical Summary: Major contributions from thyroid research at Montefiore Medical Center began nearly 100 years ago with findings of Dr. David Marine, Chairman of Pathology, that deficiency of iodine was associated with development of goiter and iodine deficiency diseases that affected hundreds of millions of people around the world His studies initiated iodine supplementation to salt in the US, and elimination of this major health problem. A Medical Physics laboratory, the progenitor of Nuclear Medicine Departments, was established in 1945 and was widely known for the earliest studies of radioactive iodine use to treat hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer. From 1960 to 1976, Dr. Jack Oppenheimer published widely on thyroid hormone measurements and metabolism, discovered the nuclear receptor for thyroid hormone and studied its effects on different gene products</p>
<p>Most of Dr. Surks’ research has focused on thyroid physiology, pathophysiology and diseases. For the last five years, he has studied subclinical thyroid diseases, and the characterization of the reference range for serum TSH in human beings. </p>
<p>Dr. Surks is a thyroid disease expert with 40 years of experience in basic and clinical research, education and patient care. In addition to thyroid disorders, his clinical practice focuses on conditions of the pituitary, parathyroid and adrenal glands and on metabolic bone disease. His recent research has involved subclinical thyroid diseases and determining a reference range for TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) levels in people. </p>
<p>A noted educator, Dr. Surks led a collaborative project that culminated in a generic “gold standard” curriculum for endocrinology training programs that is used nationwide. He is author of <em>The Thyroid Book</em> and editor of the <em>Atlas of Clinical Endocrinology Volume I: Thyroid Diseases</em>. He has served on the editorial boards of several journals, including <em>Endocrinology</em> and the<em> Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism</em>, and currently is on the editorial board of <em>Thyroid</em>. </p>
<p>Dr. Surks is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians. He is a former president of the American Thyroid Association and the Association of Program Directors in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. His awards include the American Thyroid Association’s Distinguished Service Award and the Van Meter Award, and the Sidney H. Ingbar Distinguished Service Award of the Endocrine Society. He was also awarded a Mastership by the American College of Physicians in recognition of his contributions to research, education, and teaching.</p>
<ol type="1">
<li>Cases, J.A., Wenig, B.M., Silver, C.E., Surks, M.I. Recurrent acute suppurative thyroiditis in an adult due to a pyriform-sinus (4th branchial pouch) fistula. J Clin Endocrinol & Metab 85:953-956, 2000.</li>
<li>Cases, J.A., Surks, M.I. Changing role of scintigraphy in the evaluation of thyroid nodules; Seminars in Nuclear Medicine, Volume 30:81-87, 2000.</li>
<li>Surks, M.I., ‘Hyperthyroidism’; ‘Hypothyroidism’; ‘Goiter’; ‘Iodine’;;Thyroid Disorders’; ‘Thyroid Function Tests’; in Encyclopedia of Public Health; Editor-in-Chief, Breslow, L., McMillan Reference USA, New York, 2002</li>
<li>Surks, M.I., Hyperthyroidism, Conn’s Current Therapy, 2003 Eds Rakel and Bope; Elsevier Science (USA) 717-720.</li>
<li>Dubenko, M., Breining, W., Surks, M.I. Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis of the breast in a patient with Graves’ disease. 2003 THYROID 13:309-311.</li>
<li>Rizza RA, Vigersky RA, Rodbard HW, Ladenson PW, Young WF Jr, Surks MI, Kahn R, Hogan PF. 2003. A model to determine workforce needs for endocrinologists in the United States until 2020. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88: 1979-1987.</li>
<li>Surks MI, Ortiz E, Daniels GH, Sawin CT, Col NF, Cobin RH, Franklyn JA, Hershman JM, Burman KD, Denke MA, Gorman C, Cooper RS, Weissman NJ. Subclinical thyroid disease: Scientific Review and Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management. JAMA, 2004; 291: 228-238. </li>
<li>Col, NF, Surks MI. and Daniels GH: Subclinical thyroid disease: Clinical Applications. JAMA 2004; 291: 239 – 243.</li>
<li>Senzel L, Surks MI, and Buettner C: Polyuria and abdominal pain in a young Jamaican woman. Laboratory Medicine, 2004; 35: 100 – 103.</li>
<li>Surks MI: Response: to ‘Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction: A joint statement on management from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Thyroid Association and The Endocrine Society’ THYROID, 2005,15:32-33. </li>
<li>Surks MI: COMMENTARY: Subclinical Thyroid dysfunction: A joint statement on Management from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Thyroid Association, and The Endocrine society. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005, 90: 586-. 588</li>
<li>Surks, MI, Goswami G, Daniels GH: CONTROVERSY IN CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY: The thyrotropin reference range should remain unchanged. J ClinEndcrinol Metab 2005; 5489 – 5496.</li>
<li>Surks, MI Hypothyroidism: New issues and controversies. The Endocrinologist. 2006.16: 203-208.</li>
<li>Meyerovitch J, Rotman-Pikiely P, Sherf M, Battat E, Levy Y, Surks MI: Serum thyrotropin (TSH) measurements in the community: 5-year follow-up in a large network of primary care physicians. Archives Internal Med 2007; 167: 1533 – 1538</li>
<li>Surks MI, Hollowell JG. Age-specific distribution of serum TSH and antithyroid antibodies in the United States population; Implications for the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol & Metab 2007; 92: 4575-4582</li>
<li>Surks MI, Hollowell JG: Age-specific distribution of serum TSH and antithyroid antibodies in the United States Population; Implications for the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol and Metab 2007; 92: 4575-4582.</li>
<li>Surks, MI. 2008. Should the upper limit of the normal reference range for TSH be lowered? Nature Clinical Practice: Endocrinology and Metabolism 4: 370-371</li>
<li>Surks MI 2008 Concise Review: TSH reference limits: Emerging concepts and implications for the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism. Clin Thyroidology 20:4-5.</li>
<li>Atzmon G, Barzilai N, Hollowell JG, Surks MI, Gabriely I: 2009 Extreme longevity is associated with increased serum thyrotropin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94:1251-1254.</li>
<li>Atzmon G, Barzilai N, Surks MI, Gabriely I 2009 Genetic Predisposition to Elevated Serum Thyrotropin is Associated with Exceptional Longevity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94: 4768-4775</li>
<li>Surks MI 2011 Milestones in Thyroid Research at Montefiore Medical Center: 1920 – 2011: History and Personal Reflections--in press</li>
<li>Cases, J.A., Wenig, B.M., Silver, C.E., Surks, M.I. Recurrent acute suppurative thyroiditis in an adult due to a pyriform-sinus (4th branchial pouch) fistula. J Clin Endocrinol & Metab 85:953-956, 2000.</li>
<li>Cases, J.A., Surks, M.I. Changing role of scintigraphy in the evaluation of thyroid nodules; Seminars in Nuclear Medicine, Volume 30:81-87, 2000.</li>
<li>Surks, M.I., ‘Hyperthyroidism’; ‘Hypothyroidism’; ‘Goiter’; ‘Iodine’;;Thyroid Disorders’; ‘Thyroid Function Tests’; in Encyclopedia of Public Health; Editor-in-Chief, Breslow, L., McMillan Reference USA, New York, 2002</li>
<li>Surks, M.I., Hyperthyroidism, Conn’s Current Therapy, 2003 Eds Rakel and Bope; Elsevier Science (USA) 717-720.</li>
<li>Dubenko, M., Breining, W., Surks, M.I. Sclerosing lymphocytic lobulitis of the breast in a patient with Graves’ disease. 2003 THYROID 13:309-311.</li>
<li>Rizza RA, Vigersky RA, Rodbard HW, Ladenson PW, Young WF Jr, Surks MI, Kahn R, Hogan PF. 2003. A model to determine workforce needs for endocrinologists in the United States until 2020. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88: 1979-1987.</li>
<li>Surks MI, Ortiz E, Daniels GH, Sawin CT, Col NF, Cobin RH, Franklyn JA, Hershman JM, Burman KD, Denke MA, Gorman C, Cooper RS, Weissman NJ. Subclinical thyroid disease: Scientific Review and Guidelines for Diagnosis and Management. JAMA, 2004; 291: 228-238. </li>
<li>Col, NF, Surks MI. and Daniels GH: Subclinical thyroid disease: Clinical Applications. JAMA 2004; 291: 239 – 243.</li>
<li>Senzel L, Surks MI, and Buettner C: Polyuria and abdominal pain in a young Jamaican woman. Laboratory Medicine, 2004; 35: 100 – 103.</li>
<li>Surks MI: Response: to ‘Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction: A joint statement on management from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Thyroid Association and The Endocrine Society’ THYROID, 2005,15:32-33. </li>
<li>Surks MI: COMMENTARY: Subclinical Thyroid dysfunction: A joint statement on Management from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Thyroid Association, and The Endocrine society. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005, 90: 586-. 588</li>
<li>Surks, MI, Goswami G, Daniels GH: CONTROVERSY IN CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY: The thyrotropin reference range should remain unchanged. J ClinEndcrinol Metab 2005; 5489 – 5496.</li>
<li>Surks, MI Hypothyroidism: New issues and controversies. The Endocrinologist. 2006.16: 203-208.</li>
<li>Meyerovitch J, Rotman-Pikiely P, Sherf M, Battat E, Levy Y, Surks MI: Serum thyrotropin (TSH) measurements in the community: 5-year follow-up in a large network of primary care physicians. Archives Internal Med 2007; 167: 1533 – 1538</li>
<li>Surks MI, Hollowell JG. Age-specific distribution of serum TSH and antithyroid antibodies in the United States population; Implications for the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol & Metab 2007; 92: 4575-4582</li>
<li>Surks MI, Hollowell JG: Age-specific distribution of serum TSH and antithyroid antibodies in the United States Population; Implications for the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism. J Clin Endocrinol and Metab 2007; 92: 4575-4582.</li>
<li>Surks, MI. 2008. Should the upper limit of the normal reference range for TSH be lowered? Nature Clinical Practice: Endocrinology and Metabolism 4: 370-371</li>
<li>Surks MI. 2008 Editorial: New evidence against lowering the thyrotropin reference limits. Clin Thyroidology 20: 8</li>
<li>Surks MI 2008 Concise Review: TSH reference limits: Emerging concepts and implications for the prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism. Clin Thyroidology 20:4-5.</li>
<li>Atzmon G, Barzilai N, Hollowell JG, Surks MI, Gabriely I: 2009 Extreme longevity is associated with increased serum thyrotropin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94:1251-1254.</li>
<li>Atzmon G, Barzilai N, Surks MI, Gabriely I 2009 Genetic Predisposition to Elevated Serum Thyrotropin is Associated with Exceptional Longevity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 94: 4768-4775</li>
<li>Surks MI 2011 Milestones in Thyroid Research at Montefiore Medical Center: 1920 – 2011: History and Personal Reflections--in press</li>
</ol>
<p>Martin I. Surks, MD, MACP, is an attending physician, Professor, Medicine, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Program Director Emeritus, Endocrines Clinic (1976-2018) at Montefiore Einstein. Dr. Surks’ clinical practice focuses on disorders of the thyroid gland and other disorders of general endocrinology such as diseases of the pituitary, parathyroid glands, gonads and adrenal glands, and metabolic bone disease.</p><p>After completing his Bachelor of Arts at Columbia College in 1956, Dr. Surks pursued his medical education at New York University - Bellevue College, earning his Doctor of Medicine in 1960. He began his postdoctoral training at Montefiore and completed it at Veterans Administration Hospital in 1963. Dr. Surks then returned to Montefiore to complete a postdoctoral research fellowship in arthritis and metabolic diseases in 1964.</p><p>The majority of Dr. Surks’ research focuses on thyroid physiology, pathophysiology and diseases. Most recently, he has studied subclinical thyroid diseases and the characterization of the reference range for serum TSH in human beings. He has shared his research in major peer-reviewed journals, and through editorials, abstracts, books and letters, having published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and 2 books. He has also served on the editorial boards of several medical journals including <em>Endocrine Research, Thyroid</em> and the <em>Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism</em>.</p><p>Dr. Surks is a Master of the American College of Physicians, a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. He is past President of the American Thyroid Association and the Association of Program Directors of Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Surks has earned many accolades throughout his career, including the Distinguished Service Award from the American Thyroid Association, the Sidney H. Ingbar Distinguished Service Award from the Endocrine Society and the Physician Recognition Award from the American Medical Association.</p>