Remembering Dr. Stephan Kamholz
On Thursday, June 11, Einstein and Montefiore lost a superb mentor and compassionate physician when Stephan Kamholz, M.D., died from complications of COVID-19. A longtime member of the Einstein and Montefiore community, most recently, Dr. Kamholz served as chair of medicine at Maimonides Medical Center, in Brooklyn, where he lost his battle with the deadly virus. He was 72.
Dr. Gordon F. Tomaselli, Einstein's Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean, recalled his time as an Einstein medical student when Dr. Kamholz was an attending at Jacobi, noting, “Dr. Kamholz was a master clinician, an incredible teacher with encyclopedic knowledge, but most importantly he was a wonderful man.”
Dr. Kamholz trained in internal medicine and pulmonary diseases at Montefiore, where he was an attending pulmonologist in the 1980s and was involved in early solitary lung transplants. He went on to become chair of medicine at SUNY Downstate, Northshore, and Long Island Jewish Medical Center before returning to the Bronx as chair of medicine at Jacobi; he remained in that role until 2013, when he moved to Maimonides.
A giant in the field of academic medicine, Dr. Kamholz was known as a caring and passionate mentor who was eager to share his knowledge with all. “He had a profound impact on medicine trainees throughout the NYC area through his many leadership roles at several institutions,” said Dr. Julia Arnsten, chief of the division of general internal medicine.
In an email to Einstein faculty, Dr. Ed Burns, executive dean, described Dr. Kamholz as, “the quintessential academic physician, knowing all of the literature and teaching it to trainees with not a hint of hubris.” He added, “He was a resolute champion for patients and distinguished himself by advocating for the best level of care for all patients, regardless of their financial resources.”
To honor his legacy, his family has established the Stephan L. Kamholz, M.D., Memorial Scholarship, which will assist new generations of Einstein students in their journey to becoming physicians—a career that gave Dr. Kamholz’ life incredible joy, meaning, and purpose.
Individuals wishing to honor this legacy may make a donation online to the Kamholz Memorial Scholarship Fund using the form provided or can send a check payable to “Albert Einstein College of Medicine,” indicating “Kamholz Scholarship” in the memo line. Checks may be mailed to: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Health System, Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Office of Development, Block Building, 7th Floor, Bronx, NY 10461.
We extend our deepest condolences to the entire Kamholz family. (Dr. Kamholz’ daughter Dr. Sandra Oza is assistant professor of medicine, in the division of general internal medicine, at Einstein and Montefiore.)
Editor's Note: If you would like to leave a remembrance of Dr. Kamholz, please visit our In Memoriam page.
Posted on: Monday, July 06, 2020