Born in New York City on March 21,1939, to Lillian and Dr. Abner Kurtin, he attended The Fieldston School and graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1961. Following Princeton, Dr. Kurtin received his medical degree from Columbia P&S, interned at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, and did his residency in dermatology at NYU Hospital. He was in private practice in Manhattan from 1969 until 2006. After a long and successful career in New York, Dr. Kurtin then moved to Atlanta, where he joined a private dermatology group, before retiring in 2011.

With teaching as his first love, Dr. Kurtin joined the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in 1965 and remained an active member of the staff until his death. He participated in the training of over 200 residents, several of whom said they chose to become dermatologists after taking an elective with him during their medical school training. During his time involved with the program, Dr. Kurtin was twice named  "Teacher of the Year.”  In 2012 he received the prestigious  "Lifetime Achievement Award “ "for decades of teaching and mentorship to the next generation of dermatologists."  

Dr. Kurtin was a competitive swimmer, earning the title of All-American, and setting records at Princeton University. He continued to compete in Masters Swimming up until his 60s and achieved top rankings many times.

He is survived by his children Abner of Chestnut Hill, Mass., Sarah Levy of Atlanta, Ga., and Liz Steinberg of New York City as well as by grandchildren Catherine, Alexander, and Anna Kurtin; Alexa and Dylan Levy; and Nicole and Olivia Steinberg. He is also survived by his brother Jonathan of New York City,and sisters Joan Tobin of Westport, Conn., and Dr, Laura Alpern of El Paso, Texas, and his son-in-laws Dr Jason levy and mathew Steinberg,

Gifts can be sent to:

“Stephen Brill Kurtin Educational Fund”
Department of Dermatology

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai 
One Gustave L. Levy Place ( Dept. Box # 1047) 
New York, NY  10029-6574