Sam L. Unterricht, MD, Elected President Of State Medical Society

TARRYTOWN, NY (04/16/2013)(readMedia)-- Sam L. Unterricht, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist who practices in Brooklyn, was elected President of the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) at its 207th annual House of Delegates (HOD) meeting in Tarrytown, NY, on April 13. Dr. Unterricht previously served as Treasurer and, most recently, as President-Elect of the state's principal professional organization for physicians. As President-Elect, he helped to oversee the organization's public health and legislative activities.

Dr. Unterricht earned a BS degree, cum laude, in chemistry from Brooklyn College and his MD degree from the SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn (Downstate). After completing internship training at Loma Linda University, Dr. Unterricht returned to Downstate, where he completed his residency training in ophthalmology, served as Chief Resident, and completed fellowships in vitreo-retinal surgery and in neuro-ophthalmology.

Board Certified in Ophthalmology, Dr. Unterricht currently serves as Chief of Ophthalmology, Retina and Neuro-Ophthalmology at New York Methodist Hospital, Chief of Retina Services at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and Assistant Attending in Retina and Neuro-opthalmology at Interfaith Medical Center. He limits his practice to vitreo-retinal surgery and neuro-ophthalmology and has developed innovations in several examination and surgical techniques.

Dr. Unterricht teaches ophthalmology at SUNY-Downstate and at the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also teaches at several hospitals and enjoys having medical students rotate through his private office. An avid photographer, Dr. Unterricht has over a million medical images in his collection and has lectured locally and internationally.

Dr. Unterricht was honored with the Master Teacher Award in Ophthalmology from his SUNY-Downstate Alumni Association and the Distinguished Service Award from the Sickle Cell-Thalassemia Patients' Network. He is frequently listed in both Best Doctors and Top Doctors.

Dr. Unterricht has been actively involved with organized medicine for much of his career. He was president of the Medical Society of the County of Kings, as well as chair of its board of trustees. He was also president of the Brooklyn Ophthalmological Society and is a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists and the North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society. Dr. Unterricht's service to MSSNY has included representing both Kings and Richmond Counties as a councilor and actively participating on MSSNY committees for health system reform, physician advocacy and federal candidate evaluation. He has been part of MSSNY's delegation to the AMA for five years.

Dr. Unterricht currently resides in Hewlett with his daughters, Rachel, a science teacher, Allison, a graduate student in psychology and Stephanie, a graduate student in education.

Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state's principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

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