Robert Charles Block, M.D., M.P.H.

(Pronouns: he/him/his)

Contact Information

Phone Numbers

Appointment: (585) 341-7800

Administrative: (585) 275-8784

Office: (585) 275-3356

A member of the University of Rochester Medical Faculty Group

An Accountable Health Partner

Accepting New Patients

Biography

Dr. Robert Block specializes in the care of patients with hyperlipidemia. His expertise includes the diagnosis and treatment of patients with complex lipid disorders and familial cholesterol diseases. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, and also in Clinical Lipidology.

Research

Research: The primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease through public health measures and medical practice redesign as well as the investigation of pathophysiologic mechanisms by which disease develops. His sub-focus is the role of fatty acids and cardiovascular disease. Given his years of clinical practice, Dr. Block's research interests are quite broad. His research, however, focuses on the investigation of how nutrition affects the risk of cardiovascular disease. This interest is most intense regarding the role of fatty acids and their metabolites on heart disease risk, particularly in those with coronary artery disease. He has completed a recent study of the relationship of blood levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids and the risk of recurrent coronary artery events. He is interested in understanding the role of biomarkers, such as fatty acids, for clinical use as well as in helping to understand heart disease pathophysiology. He has published regarding the clinical use of measuring lipoprotein(a) in predicting risk of cardiovascular disease in different populations and regarding the need for an integrated approach to cardiovascular disease modification. His clinical, teaching, and research expertise merge to generate novel hypotheses, many of which involve patient perspectives and goals. With his students, he focuses on creating direct patient and public health experiences by having them shadow patient visits, participate in meetings, and collaborate on his research projects. His career interests translate into his daily life as well, as he often runs or bikes to work in order to advance the adoption of a healthy, preventive lifestyle.

Credentials

Specialties

Education

1991
MD | New Jersey Medical School

2006
MPH | University of Rochester School of Medicine/Dentistry

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

08/01/2004 - 07/31/2006
Fellowship at University of Rochester Medical Center

07/01/1992 - 06/30/1995
Residency in Internal Medicine at Mayo Foundation Rochester

07/01/1991 - 06/30/1992
Internship in Internal Medicine at Michigan State University Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies

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Awards

2020
ICARE Award of Excellence for contributions to the Heart and Vascular Webinar
Sponsor: University of Rochester
Location: Rochester, NY

2020
University of Rochester Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2019
University of Rochester Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2017
University of Rochester Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2016
University of Rochester Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2015
University of Rochester Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2014
University of Rochester Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2014
Gold Star Human
Sponsor: Office of Human Subjects Protection-Quality Improvement Program
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2013
University of Rochester Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2013
Excellence in Research Incentive Program Award
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2013
Excellence in Research Incentive Program Award
Sponsor: University of Rochester

2013
Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester

2011
University of Rochester Strong Star Certificate of Appreciation
Location: University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY

2008
Community Health Improvement Clerkship (CHIC) recognized as an innovative element of the curriculum. Dr. Block was Co-Director.

2008
Sandra Daugherty Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Disease or Hypertension Epidemiology
Sponsor: American Heart Association

2006
Elizabeth Barrett-Connor Award Finalist
Sponsor: American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology & Prevention
Location: Chicago, IL

1997
Dictator of the Year, Honorable Mention
Sponsor: Dartmouth Transcription Department

1987
Medical Student Research Award
Sponsor: Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society

1987
Scudder Association Scholarship for students involved in humanitarian work
Sponsor: Scudder Association

1986
Scudder Association Scholarship for students involved in humanitarian work
Sponsor: Scudder Association

Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (KL2) Scholar

Dean's List, Multiple
Sponsor: Rutger's University
Location: New Brunswick, New Jersey

Honorable Mention, Dictator of the Year
Sponsor: Dartmouth Medical Transcription Department
Location: Hanover, New Hampshire

Fellow
Sponsor: American College of Physicians

Fellow
Sponsor: National Lipid Association

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Publications

Journal Articles

4/20/2023
, Haycock PC, Borges MC, Burrows K, Lemaitre RN, Burgess S, Khankari NK, Tsilidis KK, Gaunt TR, Hemani G, Zheng J, Truong T, Birmann BM, OMara T, Spurdle AB, Iles MM, Law MH, Slager SL, Saberi Hosnijeh F, Mariosa D, Cotterchio M, Cerhan JR, Peters U, Enroth S, Gharahkhani P, Le Marchand L, Williams AC, Block RC, , , , , , , , , , , Amos CI, Hung RJ, Zheng W, Gunter MJ, Smith GD, Relton C, Martin RM. "The association between genetically elevated polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of cancer." EBioMedicine.. 2023 Apr 20; 91:104510. Epub 2023 Apr 20.

3/18/2023
Wojdak C, Silvey P, Coykendall C, Lin YS, Bansal A, Shannon K, Wagner H, McIntosh S, Block RC. "Indicators of Self-Determination in Therapeutic Songwriting Lyrics Created by Adults with High LDL Cholesterol." Journal of music therapy.. 2023 Mar 18; Epub 2023 Mar 18.

2023
Nathan J., Wojdak C., Williams, G., McIntosh, S., Coykendall C, Lin, Y., Thevenet-Morrison K., Block R.C. "Effects of a Pilot Therapeutic Songwriting Intervention on Motivation in Patients with Severe Hypercholesterolemia." Music and Medicine. 2023; .

Books & Chapters

2013
Chapter Title: Angiogenesis Modulations in Health and Disease
Book Title: Angiogenesis Modulation by Arachidonic
Author List: Block RC, Yalcin M, Srinivasan M, Georas S, Mousa SA.
Published By: Springer Science+Business Media 2013 in Dordrecht

2012
Book Title: "Hyperlipidemia". Manual of Outpatient Cardiology
Author List: Woolf K, Connell R, Block R
Edited By: John Bisognano, G. Ronald Beck, Ryan W. Connell
Published By: Springer-Verlag 2012 in London

2009
Chapter Title: The Prevention of Ischemic Heart Disease
Book Title: Rochester Heart Failure Book
Author List: Sherazi S, Block RC
Edited By: John Bisognano
Published By: Springer 2009

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Reviews

At URMC, we believe that patients should be empowered to make the right decisions regarding their personal healthcare. To do so, transparency is critical. URMC partners with Press Ganey, to survey our patients about all aspects of their care experience. We are now putting this pertinent information at your fingertips by displaying star ratings for our providers along with anonymous patient comments on our website. This will help you make better-informed choices about how and with whom you seek care. Click here to learn more about the surveys used to generate this vital information.