Highlights

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell: Teenager’s Visit to ZSOM Lab Puts a Human Face on Congenital Heart Disease

First-year medical students from the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell had a profound learning experience on April 16 when a seventeen-year-old Lynbrook High School student with congenital heart disease visited the Structure Lab, acting as a “living specimen” and enhancing the five-week cardiovascular curriculum. Born with a single-ventricle heart, Aidan Pearsall shared his story and images of his reconfigured heart during an ultrasound, effectively transforming textbook defects into a powerful, living lesson, humanizing the realities of heart defects. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Cardiothoracic Surgeon Selected for a National Fellowship

Allison J. McLarty, MD, General Ting Feng Cheng Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Department of Surgery in the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University, has been named a 2026–27 Fellow of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program. Dr. McLarty will begin her fellowship in June. Learn more.

Commencement

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Downstate Marks Historic Commencement; Class of 2026 Begins Its Journey of Service and Leadership

As SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University President Wayne J. Riley, M.D., MPH, MBA, MACP, looked across the Amphitheater at Coney Island during Downstate’s 2026 Commencement ceremony, he reflected on how meaningful this moment was for the university community. This year marked the first time in Downstate’s history that graduates from all five schools and colleges came together for a single university-wide commencement ceremony. It felt less like five separate academic units celebrating individual accomplishments and more like one community recognizing a shared purpose. Learn more.

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine: Hooding 2026 – From Students to Doctors

“I will be mindful always of my great responsibility to preserve the health and the life of my patients, to retain their confidence and respect both as a physician and a friend…”

Those were the words that graduates from the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (NYITCOM) Class of 2026 affirmed while pledging the osteopathic oath at this year’s Hooding Ceremonies in Old Westbury, N.Y., and Jonesboro, Ark. Learn more.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Einstein Celebrates 68th Commencement

Albert Einstein College of Medicine honored the Class of 2026 at its graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 20 in David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center. Einstein conferred 172 M.D. degrees and 24 Ph.D. degrees. Seventeen graduates of Einstein’s Medical Scientist Training Program received both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees, and 12 individuals received M.S. diplomas in either bioethics or clinical research methods. Three graduates completed a five-year program leading to an M.D. degree from Einstein and an M.P.H. degree from the City University of New York’s Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Compassion, Discovery, and Care – Celebrating the VP&S Class of 2026

Surrounded by family, mentors, and classmates, nearly 200 graduates of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons crossed the stage on May 20 to receive their MD or PhD degree, marking the culmination of years of rigorous training. The ceremony in The Armory honored 134 students who received MD degrees from VP&S and 61 students who received PhD degrees in biomedical sciences from Columbia’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Newly Minted MDs Celebrate, Start Residency Training in July

The latest class of new physicians from the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University received their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degrees at the RSOM’s 52nd Convocation. Most graduates will be launching their careers in July as residents practicing in New York State and around the country. Learn more.

New York Medical College Class of 2026 Marks New Chapter

At New York Medical College’s 167th Commencement, the SOM Class of 2026 celebrated the beginning of their careers as physicians. After years of hard work in the classroom, breakthroughs in research labs, lessons in clinical settings, and service to the community, graduates proudly crossed the stage at the Westchester County Center on May 18 to receive their degrees surrounded by family, friends, faculty, and administration. Learn more.

CUNY School of Medicine: Class of 2026 Commencement

On May 21st, CUNY School of Medicine held its MD Commencement for the Class of 2026, its first as an independent medical school under the leadership of Dean Carmen Renée Green, MD. CUNY Board of Trustees member Herminia Palacio, MD, MPH, offered congratulatory remarks and presided over the Hippocratic Oath ceremony. Dr. Sandra Gold, EdD and her late husband, Dr. Arnold P. Gold of The Arnold P. Gold Foundation, received an honorary degree for their lifelong commitment to humanism in healthcare. In her keynote address, NYC Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Helen Arteaga, PhD, shared, “You can’t change this world, but you can change this block.” Dr. Arteaga received the H. Jack Geiger Social Mission Icon Award at the event. We look forward to seeing our newest physicians transform the health outcomes of their communities, one block at a time.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine: TouroCOM Middletown Celebrates Class of 2026 at Ninth Commencement

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Middletown held joyous ninth commencement ceremonies Monday, June 1, for the graduating Class of 2026 at the Paramount Theater in Middletown, surrounded by proud family, friends, faculty and administration. Following a processional, Color Guard, and Pledge of Allegiance led by military students and their commissioning, Touro University Executive Vice President Rabbi Krupka delivered a heartfelt invocation, followed by entertainment by the American Jewish band Pey Dalid. Learn more.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine: TouroCOM Harlem Celebrates New Class of Osteopathic Physicians at Lincoln Center

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Harlem graduated its 15th class of Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine at jubilant ceremonies attended by faculty, administration, family and friends on Thursday, May 28 at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. After a warm opening by Master of Ceremonies Dr. Nadege Dady, the graduates were led in procession by a bagpiper and a color guard unit, followed by a rendition of the National Anthem from international operatic soprano Celsea Bonagura; a military commissioning of two graduates; and an invocation by Executive Vice President and University Ombudsman Rabbi Moshe Krupka. Learn more.

Weill Cornell Medicine’s Commencement

Weill Cornell Medicine: Medical College Class of 2026 Celebrated at Commencement

When Dr. Sarah Wozniak was applying to medical schools after completing her undergraduate degree at Rice University, she discovered the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights, Weill Cornell Medicine’s student-run asylum clinic and the first of its kind at an American medical school. “I was always very interested in immigration advocacy,” said Dr. Wozniak, whose mother is from Indonesia. “Hearing her story about her pathway to this country, as well as our family’s, just made me really want to learn skills to support people who are going through immigration journeys.” Learn more.

Weill Cornell Medicine: Graduate Students Shine in School’s First Dedicated Commencement

When Dr. Louisa Schilling was 15 years old, she read a book called “The Brain that Changes Itself,” by Norman Doidge. Her father, who has a doctorate in microbiology and immunology, received it at a conference and it ended up in his daughter’s hands. Her immediate reaction: “I want to study the brain.”

“The book was all about neuroplasticity, and I was really taken by the idea that what we spend our time doing changes our brain, “she said. “And I just felt empowered by that idea—that what I chose to spend my time doing would change me fundamentally.” Learn more.

Student and Alumni News

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell Showcases Student Research in Scholarly Concentrations and Celebrates 10 Years of Transformative Leadership

Fourth-year medical students at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell who completed specialized scholarly concentration programs showcased a broad range of health care and medical education research posters during the annual Capstone Project Poster Presentation on May 6. This year, 31 students completed coursework in one of five concentrations offered by the medical school, focusing on leadership, medical education, humanities in medicine, interprofessional primary care, and point-of-care ultrasound. The posters covered a wide range of research topics, from assessing enhanced recovery protocols to examining the use of AI in clinical decision-making. Learn more.

New York Medical College: Graduating Student Receives National Public Health Service Award

Sumaita Mahmood, M.D., M.P.H., a member of the New York Medical College (NYMC) School of Medicine (SOM) Class of 2026, is the national recipient of the prestigious 2026 United States Public Health Service Award. The award was presented to Dr. Mahmood during the SOM Awards Ceremony on the NYMC Campus on May 15. Mahmood’s leadership as a medical student reflected a deep commitment to public health, service, and community engagement. Learn more.

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine: NYITCOM Honors Alumni and Community Partners

On April 28, community members from the College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) gathered at the Garden City Hotel for a dinner honoring outstanding alumni and supporters. Held annually, NYITCOM’s Alumni Awards Dinner recognizes the medical school graduates and community partners whose impact exemplifies NYITCOM’s commitment to advancing osteopathic medicine through patient-centered care, leadership, and service. This year’s program honored a group of physicians and advocates whose work spans clinical excellence, mentorship, and community influence. Learn more.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Public Health Research Day 2026 Showcases Student Innovation, Collaboration, and Career Inspiration at Mount Sinai

Public Health Research Day, hosted by the Graduate Program in Public Health, recently celebrated student research from the master’s programs in the Department of Public Health at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The event, held on Thursday, May 21, began with two keynote speakers who are both alumni of Mount Sinai. Learn more.

Faculty News

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Downstate Urology Research Featured at National AUA Meeting

Faculty, trainees, and collaborators from our Department of Urology made a strong showing at the 2026 American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., presenting eight research abstracts on topics including urinary health, men’s health, diabetes-related bladder conditions, device safety, and population health. Several studies examined the relationship between urologic conditions and broader health issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses, reflecting the growing recognition that urinary and sexual health are closely connected to overall health and well-being. Learn more.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Five Einstein Faculty Members Elected to Prestigious Medical Societies

Five members of Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s faculty were elected to two leading honorary societies earlier this month. Three were inducted into the Association of American Physicians (AAP), which is dedicated to advancing medical knowledge through basic and clinical science, and two into the American Society of Clinical Investigation (ASCI), which promotes medical research, education, and training of young scientists. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: VP&S Academy of Clinical Excellence Inducts Seventh Class

On May 7, sixteen Columbia physicians were recognized for outstanding patient care with their induction into the Academy of Clinical Excellence of the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Recognized by their peers, ACE inductees are full-time faculty who have served at Columbia for five or more years and exhibit exemplary patient care marked by evidence-based clinical science and compassionate humanism. Learn more.

CUNY School of Medicine: City & State Recognizes Dr. Carmen Renée Green

As Dean of Manhattan’s only public medical school, Dr. Carmen Renée Green is recognized for training the doctors New York needs and New Yorkers want to see. This year, she has advanced CUNY School of Medicine’s academic medicine mission to improve health outcomes with a 98% residency match rate, and with over 50% of the graduating Class of 2026 choosing to practice primary care in healthcare provider shortage areas throughout New York City and State. Expanding upon the Sophie Davis School for Biomedical Education’s founding principles to increase pathways to medical education, access and affordability of medical education remain Dean Green’s priority in the years ahead, as the national physician shortage is estimated to reach 86,000 by 2036. Learn more.

More News

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Spearheading Precision Education – Improving Communication in Medical Training

Precision medicine, which uses an individual patient’s genetic information to tailor treatment, has shown evidence of improving outcomes, particularly for those who don’t respond well to standard treatment. Mount Sinai educators are now exploring whether the same concept of precision can be applied to the way medical training is carried out, leading to improvements in learning efficiency. Learn more,