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Eric Max Bortnick, MD, MMSc

Assistant Professor
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About

Titles

Assistant Professor

Biography

Dr. Eric M. Bortnick is an Assistant Professor of Urology who specializes in the treatment of children and adolescents with genitourinary problems. A native of New Jersey, he received a Bachelor of Sciences degree from the University of Michigan. For medical school, he graduated from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai with a distinction in research and was voted a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society by his fellow classmates. He stayed at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to complete his residency in Urology. He completed his Pediatric Urology Fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, where during his training he also received a Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Education at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Bortnick is committed to providing compassionate, high-quality medical and surgical care to all of his patients. He understands the deep trust that it takes for a parent or caregiver to put their child in the hands of another, and works with his dedicated team to provide the time, resources, and support necessary to all his patients in a child-friendly environment. His clinical interests include congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract including hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux, undescended testicles, hernias, hydroceles, hypospadias, and kidney stones. He offers both traditional and minimally invasive options to treat these diagnoses in a manner that best serves his patients and their families.

Dr. Bortnick’s research interest involve improving communication and education between medical specialties, and using simulation as a tool to improve surgical education and outcomes. He is an author of many original research articles in both urologic and educational literature, has presented his work at local, national, and international conferences, and holds a provisional patent on an educational manikin to teach his fellow practitioners how to properly perform the male infant genital physical exam and diagnose undescended testicles.

Appointments

  • Urology

    Assistant Professor
    Primary

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Fellow
Boston Children's Hospital (2024)
MMSc
Harvard Medical School (2023)
Resident
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2021)
Intern
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2017)
MD
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (2016)
BS
University of Michigan (2012)

Research

Research at a Glance

Publications Timeline

A big-picture view of Eric Max Bortnick's research output by year.
14Publications
83Citations

Publications

2024

2023

2022

2020

Clinical Care

Overview

Eric Max Bortnick, MD, MMSc, is a pediatric urologist who specializes in caring for children and adolescents with genitourinary issues, including problems affecting the bladder, genitals, kidneys, ureter, and urinary tract. He provides both traditional and minimally invasive treatments.

He has special expertise in such areas as undescended testicles, hernias, hypospadias (when the opening of the urethra is located on the underside of the penis instead of the tip), vesicoureteral reflux (a condition causing urine to flow backward from the bladder), and congenital anomalies.

Dr. Bortnick also treats infants and consults with pregnant women, providing prenatal care if a congenital genitourinary issue is suspected. These visits are more common as improvements in ultrasound imaging have contributed to better identification of congenital issues with the kidneys and urinary tract, he explains.

“I spend a lot of time with my patients,” Dr. Bortnick says. “I draw pictures for them and make sure they can explain back to me what I’m describing.” Parents and other family members are always an important part of the care as well, he adds. “I like to have everyone, including parents and other family members, come together as a team to determine the best care for their child.”

Dr. Bortnick is an assistant professor of urology for Yale School of Medicine. In addition to his medical degree, he has a master’s degree in medical education from Harvard Medical School. “When I was choosing my career, I was deciding between becoming a doctor or a teacher, and I developed an interest in training medical students and trainees. That work has given me a better understanding of how to discuss potentially complex issues in ways that my patients can understand,” he says.

Clinical Specialties

Pediatric Urology

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