During his long and storied career spanning four decades at Montefiore Einstein, Dr. Philip Lief loved the institution deeply.

Esteemed Colleague

"I used to tell him that if we looked at his blood cells under the microscope, we could see the word 'Montefiore' stenciled on them," said Victor Schuster, MD, former Chair of Medicine (2002 to 2014) and now a Professor in the Departments of Medicine (Nephrology) and Senior Vice-Dean.

Dr. Lief , who died August 23, at age 81, served with Dr. Schuster as Vice Chair of Medicine until summer 2012. "He knew everything about everything and everybody, in the two institutions, and the Department," Dr. Schuster recalled. "His wisdom and knowledge saved me many times from making wrong decisions." Dr. Lief also served as Associate Vice Chair of Medicine from 1991 to 1998 (while serving as Interim Internal Medicine Residency Program Director); as Vice Chair of Medicine in 1998 under Dr. James Scheuer; and as Interim Chair of Medicine, in 1999, when Dr. James Hardin was named Chair.

Known for his steadfast work ethic – "the first to come, and last to leave" – and his effusive and flattering manner to those he interviewed, Dr. Lief was also known to ruffle some feathers. "Sometimes Phil got cranky," Dr. Schuster said, "and this could be misinterpreted; it wasn't that he was an angry man, it simply was that he had the highest standards and could be impatient with those who didn't share them."

Born in 1940 at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, and raised in Jamesburg, New Jersey, Dr. Lief was the son of a country doctor whose patients often paid him with local produce from their farms. After graduating cum laude from Yale, Philip Lief received his medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. He first came to Montefiore for residency training in 1965; during his last year of residency, he met Edna, his wife of 51 years, on a blind date arranged by a colleague.

After residency, Dr. Lief left the Bronx to train as a research fellow in nephrology at Tufts University in Boston. He then spent two years serving during the Vietnam War at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, California, where he was head of Medicine and an attending nephrologist. Following his military service, Dr. Lief returned to the Bronx in 1972 as an instructor of Medicine and attending nephrologist. During his four decades at Montefiore, he rose to the rank of professor and served as an outstanding physician, researcher, mentor, and leader until his retirement in early 2017.

"Dr. Lief was a consummate clinician, a brilliant teacher, and a role model to many," said Yaron Tomer, MD, Chair of the Department of Medicine. "His legacy lives on in the numerous physicians he trained to always seek excellence in patient care."

Memorable Mentor

In 1992, Dr. Lief served as co-program director for the fledgling Internal Medicine Residency Program at Montefiore. He then became its interim program director, a role he remained in for three years while serving concurrently as Associate Vice Chair of Medicine.

While others might have coasted through this interim period, Dr. Lief was not typical.

Jeffrey Weiss, MD, first met Dr. Lief as a senior resident and considers him his first real mentor. "He drove us hard, and I was blown away by his knowledge and pursuit of the best path for each patient," said Dr. Weiss, who is now Montefiore's Institutional Medical Director and an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine (General Internal Medicine).

"He brought in articles every day and I wondered if he ever slept," Dr. Weiss recalled. "During the first of several Yankee games to which he invited me, I saw his humor and personal side. When I naively pitched starting academic Hospitalist programs and running the medical service as a chief resident, everyone laughed but Phil. He gave me a chance and always had my back."

Dr. Weiss added: "There are thousands of Montefiore alumni across the country, like me, who have Phil's voice in their heads, encouraging them always to do more and to think more critically about their patients, and how to be a more effective physician."

Joseph Deluca, MD, first met Dr. Lief in 1991-92, during his third-year clerkship at Einstein and sub-internship at Jacobi Medical Center, where Dr. Lief gave resident conferences. Dr. DeLuca, now the Associate Division Head of the Division of General Internal Medicine and Medical Director of the Comprehensive Health Care Center (CHCC), was among the Internal Medicine firm leaders during a transitional time in the residency program. "He followed the Socratic teaching method and forced us learners to think on our feet," he said. "Dr. Lief dedicated much time and effort to understand all the ACGME requirements and regulations and worked to firm up the residency program. During this period, the IM residency underwent a comprehensive RRC residency review, to which Dr. Lief dedicated himself tirelessly."

Dr. Deluca remembers Dr. Lief for his commitment to the Department of Medicine and his dedication to the residency program. "He held strong convictions and while one might not always have agreed with his positions, he garnered respect for his tenacity and strong work ethic."

Marta Rico, MD, PhD, was recruited by Dr. Lief to Montefiore in 1988 from Mount Sinai, where she was the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, to become the Medical Director at CFCC and then Firm Leader in the residency program.

"Through the subsequent years, he was an unwavering supporter of our efforts to improve the clinic experience for both residents and patients," said Dr. Rico, who is also an assistant professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine).

She recalls Dr. Lief's energy and focus, his attention to detail and his love of teaching. During his long career at Montefiore, he trained thousands of residents and trainees.

"He was indefatigable, exacting, and thrived on complex problems, both clinical and administrative," said Dr. Rico. "I admired his ability to stay engaged, never lose interest, always learn and look for a challenge. No retirement or burnout for him! I always envisioned him making rounds way into his old age, surrounded by students, residents and fellows, challenging and cajoling them into learning Medicine, and am saddened that he could not do this for another twenty years."

Master Teacher

After stepping down as IM Residency Program Director in 1998, Dr. Lief worked on the renal consult service and as a teaching hospitalist. He led and actively participated in the Department's teaching and training programs, providing morning and noon conferences and chief of service and hospitalist conferences, and served on countless Montefiore and Einstein committees.

Will Southern, MD, MS, Division Chief, Hospital Medicine, was a medical student when he met Dr. Lief in 1991.

"My strongest impression was that he was an outstanding doctor, with an extensive knowledge base, who held all learners to a high standard while being nice about it," Dr. Southern said.

When he returned to Montefiore Einstein in 2002 to interview for a position, Dr. Southern got to see another side of his former teacher.

"I was struck by the funny person and Yankee fan that I had not seen before," he said. "As I developed a career and took on new roles, Phil was always there as a friend, mentor and advocate. Phil was the best I have ever seen at giving Chief of Service Rounds. His extraordinary breadth of medical knowledge matched his clinical reasoning and the ability to explain that reasoning to all levels of learners. He was a master teacher."

Role Model and Inspiration

Dr. Lief's love for medicine inspired his son, Michael, and daughter, Amy, to follow in their father's footsteps. Michael, an internist who was a medicine resident and infectious disease fellow at Montefiore, and Amy, a pediatrician, who did her pediatric residency training here, saw firsthand how fulfilling a career as a doctor could be.

"My father showed me that it was an honor to care for others and that a physician has a deep responsibility to pay close attention to details and to work to make honest and compassionate decisions," said Amy. "He showed me the importance of reading and researching and asking questions to do the best job possible. He was also a terrific judge of intelligence and character."

Indeed, there were many sides to Philip Lief. He was a serious athlete, having played three varsity sports in high school. He was a die-hard Yankees fan, an opera lover, and a passionate gardener. Above all, he was a devoted family man.

"He worked harder than anyone else I've encountered in my life," said Amy, "but somehow, he made it home each night for family dinners and cooked us hot breakfasts on the weekends."

Dr. Lief's son Michael recalled fond memories with his dad. He said, "I don't often remember my father saying no, whether it was having a catch in the waning sunlight of the backyard or spending countless summer evenings with a son obsessed with catching fish, but too young to do it himself."

To make a donation in Dr. Lief's honor, go to www.montefiore.org.