Skip to main content

Peter Schlegel, MD

Ro Advisor

Peter Schlegel, MD, is a Ro Advisor, board-certified urologist, and internationally acclaimed expert in the treatment of male fertility. For nearly 20 years, Dr. Schlegel served as the chair of Urology at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. During his tenure, he led the department to achieve recognition as one of the top five Urology Departments in the United States, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report. Dr. Schlegel was also the senior associate dean for Clinical Affairs at Weill Cornell Medical College, where he also held the titles of James J. Colt Professor of Urology and Professor of Reproductive Medicine. 

After graduating from the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Chan Medical School, Dr. Schlegel completed his residency in General Surgery and Urology at John Hopkins Hospital. He then went on to pursue two fellowships: one in Medical Oncology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and another in Male Reproduction at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell. 

Dr. Schlegel has made—and continues to make—a monumental impact on the field of male infertility. He pioneered new genetic analyses to understand non-obstructive azoospermia (a severe form of male infertility) and developed microTESE, the leading sperm retrieval method for this condition. He was also the first to publish on and demonstrate the effectiveness of aromatase inhibitors (medications that reduce estrogen) for treating infertility. 

Dr. Schlegel’s medical contributions have been recognized by a series of national and international awards, including the Established Clinician Award from the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology and the Barringer Medal from the American Association of Genitourinary Surgeons, the Distinguished Surgeon Award from the Society for Reproductive Surgery and the Maurice R. Greenberg Award from Weill Cornell Medical Center. 

Dr. Schlegel lives in New York City with his wife, Samantha Pfeifer, MD, and enjoys sailing, skiing, golf, and other sports. You can check out his website for more information. 

Education 

Certifications

Professional accomplishments 

Published articles 

*selection from 350 total publications 

  • Brant, A., Lewicki, P., Zhu, A., Rhodes, S., Arenas-Gallo, C., Shoag, J. E., Schlegel, P. N., & Halpern, J. (2024). High variability in self-pay pricing for vasectomy and vasectomy reversal in the United States. Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, 56(2), 98–105. doi:10.1111/psrh.12266

  • Kang, C., Punjani, N., Kashanian, J. A., & Schlegel, P. N. (2024). Age, Sperm Retrieval, and Testicular Histology in Klinefelter Syndrome. The Journal of urology, 211(1), 163–169. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000003737

  • Marinaro, J. A., Brant, A., Kang, C., Punjani, N., Xie, P., Zaninovic, N., Palermo, G. D., Rosenwaks, Z., & Schlegel, P. N. (2023). Successful cryptozoospermia management with multiple semen specimen collection. Fertility and sterility, 120(5), 996–1003. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.07.019

  • Marinaro, J. A., Punjani, N., Gal, J., Mielnik, A., & Schlegel, P. N. (2024). Sperm production is stable over time for men with azoospermia factor c Y-chromosome microdeletions. Fertility and sterility, 121(1), 117–120. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.09.005

  • Punjani, N., Marinaro, J. A., Kang, C., Gal, J., Rippon, B., Jotwani, R., Weinberg, R., & Schlegel, P. N. (2024). Gabapentin for Postoperative Pain Control and Opioid Reduction in Scrotal Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. The Journal of urology, 211(5), 658–666. doi:10/1097//JU.0000000000003884

  • Ramirez-Fort, M. K., Kardoust-Parizi, M., Flannigan, R., Bach, P., Koch, N., Gilman, C., Suarez, P., Fort, D. V., McClelland, S., 3rd, Lange, C. S., Mulhall, J. P., Fort, M., & Schlegel, P. N. (2024). Preservation of male fertility in patients undergoing pelvic irradiation. Reports of practical oncology and radiotherapy: Journal of Greatpoland Cancer Center in Poznan and Polish Society of Radiation Oncology, 28(6), 835–845. doi:10.5603/rpor.98731