Michael Prystowsky, MD, PhD, professor and chairman of pathology at Montefiore Einstein, received the 2026 American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) Robbins Distinguished Educator Award. He was among eight ASIP honorees recognized at the recent Pathobiology 2026 conference in Fort Myers, FL.

The Robbins Distinguished Educator Award goes to a senior ASIP member who has made a sustained impact on pathology education at the regional, national, or international level. The award honors Dr. Stanley L. Robbins, whose textbooks have shaped medical education for generations.

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Dr. Prystowsky pictured with ASIP president-elect Jonathon Homeister, MD, PhD, left, and ASIP president Pilar Alcaide, PhD.

Reflecting on his career as a physician-scientist, administrative leader, and educator, Dr. Prystowsky said: "I have been fortunate during the past forty years to have the opportunity to participate in and lead program development for training graduate students, medical students, fellows, and faculty. These team efforts require dedicated colleagues; I am grateful for their support and for all that they have taught me."

Nominator Tiffany Hébert, MD, professor of pathology and residency program director at Montefiore Einstein, cited his commitment to residency training as a defining contribution. "Dr. Prystowsky stands out for highly valuing the importance of residency training in the department,” said. “He has been an incredible support and integral part of curricular innovations in the residency program: our novel 4-year curriculum, pathology residency onboarding program, and team-based autopsy training, which have all been published in Academic Pathology."

The strength of Dr. Prystowsky’s nomination was also reflected in letters from national leaders in pathology education. Richard Conran, MD, PhD, of Eastern Virginia Medical School, Old Dominion University, highlighted Dr. Prystowsky's work developing undergraduate medical education competencies for the Association for Academic Pathology, noting his commitment to ensuring students understood pathologists as experts in laboratory medicine.

Donald Karcher, MD, immediate past chair of pathology at The George Washington University, pointed to his leadership of the Association of Pathology Chairs Undergraduate Medical Education Committee and the educational case studies in Academic Pathology. "These case studies have been recognized nationally as a major resource for all medical students," he said. adding how Dr. Prystowsky’s work has influenced the education and continuing education of pathology residents and practicing pathologists across practice settings.