NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx Celebrate Dr. Stephen Factor and His Fifty Years of Service to the Hospital
In addition to his role at the hospital, he has taught at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and contributed to many academic publications
Jun 27, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx CEO Christopher Mastromano announced that Dr. Stephen Factor, a pathologist who has served at Jacobi for fifty years, will be retiring today. Dr. Factor has had a long and distinguished career, serving in several leadership positions within the hospital and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he contributed to dozens of academic publications.
Dr. Factor graduated from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1968. After a short stint in the U.S. Army in 1971, he returned to Jacobi Hospital in 1975 to complete his residency and obtain board certifications. During this time, he also became a licensed Laboratory Director. He then began his research on pathology and Cardiovascular Diseases, collaborating with the legendary cardiologist Dr. Edmund Sonnenblick. Sonnenblick is considered a pioneer in the field of cardiology; his research is used for much of the modern treatment for heart failure. Factor and Sonnenblick would collaborate on cardiovascular pathology and other search programs over the next three decades. Factor has also lectured extensively around the world on heart disease, Diabetes, Heart Failure, and Cardiovascular Pathology.
In addition to his academic pursuits, Dr. Factor continued to rise through the ranks, becoming the Chair of Pathology at Bronx Municipal Hospital, which would later become Jacobi Medical Center and eventually NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi, as it is known today. With his team, he worked on early papers examining the strong correlation between diabetes and cardiovascular disease. At the time, it was considered an unproven theory, but it is now accepted as conventional wisdom today.
“Even from my medical school days, I really enjoyed my time here at Jacobi,” said Dr. Factor. “We’re one of the leading hospitals in the country for research and care. It’s an unbelievably exciting place to be!”
Beyond his research, Dr. Factor was active in many professional societies and publications, becoming a founding member and former president of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology and the founding editor of the journal Cardiovascular Pathology.
In recent years, Dr. Factor helped lead his department through the COVID-19 pandemic, which required extensive examination and care of patients, their remains, and how to help loved ones access end-of-life care. He has also continued to teach aspiring doctors who enter Einstein College about the need for research and pathology.
“I was probably the last generation of physicians who was taught the physical diagnostics of examining patients. With today’s technology, it’s a bit of a lost art. I can still hear things on a stethoscope that would escape most people today,” explained Dr. Factor.
As he entered into this new professional chapter of his life, Mr. Mastromano and hospital leadership recognized Dr. Factor with a certificate of appreciation for his 50 years of service to the Jacobi family.
“Dr. Factor has been an integral part of our hospital for decades,” said Mr. Mastromano. “While we will certainly miss him here at Jacobi and North Central Bronx if anyone has ever put in the time for a well-earned retirement, it’s him!”
While retiring from Jacobi and North Central Bronx Hospitals, Dr. Factor plans to continue consulting on medical research and is considering writing another book. His first book “Handbook of Pathology and Pathophysiology of Cardiovascular Disease,” co-written with Maria A. Lamberti-Abadi and Jacobo Abadi, was published in 2002. As one professional chapter closes, Factor’s dedication to science and research remains everlasting.
“I’ll have my microscope with me wherever I go,” said Dr. Factor.
Factor is also planning to spend more time with his wife, Sandra, a retired attorney; his son, Jason; and his daughter, Rachel, who followed him to Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Jacobi Hospital, and then into the field of pathology. Rachel teaches at the Duke University School of Medicine and practices diagnostic breast pathology and cytology at Duke University Medical Center. The Factors have four grandchildren and many dogs and cats. They live in Redding, Connecticut.
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Contact: John Doyle, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx, 718-918-4055, 917-553-4642
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region’s only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi’s Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/locations/jacobi/.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (NCB) is a member facility of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, NCBH specializes in women’s and children’s services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. NCBH is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/locations/north-central-bronx/.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
