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Biography
Ascher Lawrence Mestel (born 17 September 1926) is a pediatric surgeon who lives in Brooklyn, New York.He is one of the pioneers in the field of pediatric surgery and is widely published. He is especially well known for the groundbreaking first successful separation of Ischiopagus Tripus conjoined twins.
From 1944–1946 Mestel served in the United States Navy. After the Navy he graduated from New York University in 1947. He then attended SUNY Downstate Medical Center, where he was elected to the medical honor society Alpha Omega Alpha and graduated in 1952. He went on to complete his internship and residency in General Surgery at Beth El Hospital (1952–1957) and a fellowship in Pediatric Surgery in the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada (1957–1958). In addition, he obtained a Masters in Surgery at New York Medical College in 1958.
Mestel has served as President of the Alumni, Medical Staff, and Medical Board at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees.He has also served as Chairman of the Alumni association and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Alumnae at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. In addition to his work in the United States, Mestel has worked with Project HOPE (USA) in Jamaica.
In 1997, Mestel was awarded the Clarence and Mary Dennis Award for outstanding contributions and significant commitments to the SUNY Downstate Medical Center and to the Brooklyn community. In 1998, he was awarded the Alumni Service Award for providing exceptional service and leadership to the Alumni Association-College of Medicine of SUNY Downstate Medical Center.
Mestel is also an accomplished sculptor and stained glass artist. His art has won awards and has been on exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Staten Island Cultural Center, and Lever House. He is also active in the Jewish community, and has served as Chairman of the Board and President of Flatbush Park Jewish Center in Brooklyn. He is retired from practice and lives with his wife Beverly in Mill Basin, Brooklyn.
