News from AMSNY

AMSNY is deeply grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the Legislature for 25 years of continuous support for programs that create opportunities for students pursuing careers in medicine and science and that help expand New York’s healthcare workforce. The budget includes $3.644 million for the AMSNY Scholars in Medicine & Science programs, which support students across the educational continuum who are pursuing careers as physicians and scientists. These programs will serve more than 1,500 students across New York State in the upcoming year.

The Legislature’s $1.25 million investment in the AMSNY Scholarship in Medicine program will reduce financial barriers to medical education. Scholarship recipients commit to practicing medicine in shortage areas in New York State for at least two years after completing their training, ensuring that more New Yorkers have access to the highest quality of healthcare. To read AMSNY’s budget statement, click here.

Highlights

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo: Afghan Refugees in WNY Will Benefit From Mental Health Support Thanks to State Grant

The New York State Office of Mental Health has awarded the University at Buffalo Department of Psychiatry a $200,000 grant to provide culturally appropriate, trauma-informed mental health support for Western New York’s Afghan community. The grant advances the work of Parveen Attai, a third-year medical student, and her faculty mentor, Jamal B. Williams, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry, both in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB. Learn more.

University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry: Grant to ‘HELP’ University of Rochester Staff Advance in Careers, Fill Key Healthcare Roles

The University of Rochester has been awarded a $3.8 million, five-year Healthcare Education and Life-Skills Program (HELP) grant from New York State to expand career opportunities for employees while filling some of its most high-demand positions. URochester is among 21 organizations to receive HELP funding, which was announced in September 2025. It will use the funding to boost its existing Career Pathways Program (URCP) by providing additional assistance—including full tuition coverage—and other resources for eligible employees on track to become surgical technologists, radiologic technologists, or dental assistants. Learn more.

Match Day

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Match Day 2026 – The Next Step Toward Driving Change

Each student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has their own personal story about what led them to want to become doctors and researchers, but they share a common vision: to improve health care as we currently know it. For this year’s graduating students, the next step on that journey began with Match Day, when they learned where they will be placed to continue their residency training. Learn more.

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine: Match Day 2026 – The Road to Residency

On March 20, future physicians from the College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (NYITCOM) Class of 2026 convened at events on Long Island and in Arkansas to celebrate a key milestone in their medical education journey: Match Day. The much-anticipated annual event takes place on the third Friday of March, with NYITCOM’s graduating class joining thousands of other future physicians across the country in discovering their residency placements, or “matches.” Learn more.

Student News

New York Medical College Students Bring Creativity and Connection to Behavioral Health Care

On weekends, New York Medical College (NYMC) third- and fourth-year medical student-volunteers visit the children and adolescent units at the Westchester Medical Center’s (WMC) Behavioral Health Center (BHC) in a new pilot program. Students organize and lead music, art, writing, mindfulness, yoga, dance, and other educational activities to reinforce coping skills patients need to succeed both during inpatient care and at home. Learn more.

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell: ZonoSlam – Ultrasound Training Meets Creative Competition

Students are trained in ultrasound from day one during their medical education at the Donald and Barbara School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, which includes the opportunity to participate in ZonoSlam. The only medical school competition of its kind in the New York metropolitan area, ZonoSlam is a student-driven event, designed to showcase ultrasound skills through creative challenges — such as blindfolded scans and ultrasound charades — to test imaging, anatomy, and physics knowledge. Learn more.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: IMPact Day Celebrates Einstein Medical Students’ Research Achievements

Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s M.D. students displayed posters and presented lectures on their research at the annual IMPact Day event, which celebrates their professional and personal growth and scholarly excellence. More than 150 students and faculty mentors gathered in Lubin Dining Hall on March 11 for the event, which included 117 posters and seven podium presentations – the largest showcase since the event was launched in 2023. Learn more.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine: Expectant Mothers in West Africa Receive Newborn Kits Courtesy of TouroCOM Students

Students at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) in Middletown partnered with the global health nonprofit F.L.I.G.H.T. to assemble newborn care kits for expectant mothers in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The initiative was part of a collaborative maternal health initiative and organized by second-year medical student Natalie Asemi, communications director for F.L.I.G.H.T. and president of the T.E.A.C.H. Review Club at TouroCOM. Learn more.

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo: Learning by Listening – The Health Mentors Program

For decades, Bob Graham has been living with hemophilia, a disorder that impairs blood clotting. His wife, Jessica, has von Willebrand disease, a condition marked by a deficiency of a clotting protein called von Willebrand factor. For years the Grahams have been attending medical appointments, monitoring their health, stocking emergency medicines, and talking to doctors, lots of doctors. Learn more.

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine: Rediscovering Her Calling

Perry Rosen recalls being five years old when she first made the rounds with her father, a rheumatologist, through one of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ hospitals. She describes watching him speak with patients, gather their histories, and work toward diagnoses as fascinating—like solving a mystery where the outcome could improve someone’s life. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Incoming VP&S Student Already Making (Brain) Waves

Incoming VP&S student Haroon Arain credits NYP and Columbia pre-college programs for launching him toward a career in medicine, and for the past six months he’s “paid it forward” by teaching neuroscience to local students through a new program called CU-HERE. Arain was 10 years old when he moved with his family to Washington Heights from Karachi, Pakistan. A year later, he enrolled in NewYork-Presbyterian’s Lang Youth Medical Program, a six-year science enrichment program for students living in Washington Heights and Inwood. Learn more.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: How to Navigate Couples Match for Residency

It began with a shared connection: Jiwoo Park and Daniel Kwon, students at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, met on the second day of orientation. When Ms. Park introduced herself as being from Colorado, her classmates told her she “had to meet Daniel,” who is also Korean American and from Colorado. They learned they shared almost parallel lives: both grew up in the suburbs of Denver, and worked in biotech and pharmaceutical firms during their gap years. Ms. Park and Mr. Kwon soon started dating. Learn more.

Faculty News

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: William Wertheim Named One of Crain’s New York Business 2026 Notable Leaders in Healthcare

William Wertheim, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President of Stony Brook Medicine, has been named one of Crain’s New York Business 2026 Notable Leaders in Healthcare. This prestigious recognition honors professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in healthcare, driven meaningful organizational advancement and contributed significantly to their institutions and the broader medical community. Learn more.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Teresa Y. Smith-Bellille Selected for ELAM Fellowship

We are proud to congratulate Teresa Y. Smith-Bellille, M.D., MSEd, FACEP, Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education and Interim Chair of Emergency Medicine, on her selection to the 2026–2027 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program at Drexel University College of Medicine. ELAM is one of the nation’s premier leadership fellowships for women in academic health care. Learn more.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine: “All the Empty Rooms” Wins Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film

Touro University extends its heartfelt congratulations to the producers, filmmakers, and entire creative team behind All the Empty Rooms, which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film at the 98th Academy Awards. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Hashim Al-Hashimi Elected to the National Academy of Sciences

Hashim Al-Hashimi, the Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, has been elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Dr. Tara Huston Named Medical Director of the Stony Brook Medicine Breast Care for CIN

Tara L. Huston, MD, FACS, of the Stony Brook Medicine Department of Surgery’s Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, has been appointed Medical Director of Stony Brook Medicine’s Breast Care Service for the Clinically Integrated Network (CIN). She will work with senior leadership from the breast cancer team (including Drs. Brian O’Hea, Cindy Lee, and Allison Stopeck), CIN leadership and the Cancer Center. Learn more. Learn more.

Weill Cornell Medicine: Dr. Laura Riley to Unify Women’s Health Care Across Weill Cornell in New Role

To Dr. Laura Riley, Weill Cornell Medicine’s prowess in caring for women from birth to adulthood is the institution’s best kept secret. “Weill Cornell is uniquely positioned to provide exemplary care to women, helping them live longer and healthier, and creating evidence for treatment and prevention,” said Dr. Riley, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Given Foundation Professor in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. “We need women to know what we can do for them and expand those offerings—because that’s what they deserve.” That is precisely what she aims to do as Weill Cornell’s inaugural executive director for women’s health. Learn more.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Ulrich Steidl, M.D., Ph.D., Named Director of Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center

International leader in blood cancer and stem cell research, Ulrich Steidl, M.D., Ph.D., has been named director of the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center (MECCC) and vice president of cancer medicine at Montefiore Einstein. He has acted as interim director of MECCC, which is a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center, since late 2025. Learn more.

More News

Weill Cornell Medicine: Centering DEI in Community—and Courage

Even as the national conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion is muted, Weill Cornell Medicine continues its work to make sure everyone has a seat at the table. That was the message relayed on April 23 by Dr. Linnie Golightly, provost and senior associate dean of academic affairs at CUNY School of Medicine. Dr. Golightly was joined by Dr. Heidi Bender, inaugural associate dean for faculty engagement and inclusion, and Fanesse Acquaye, executive director of the Office of Culture, Inclusion & Employee Experience for a fireside chat, as part of the institution’s eighth annual Diversity Week. Learn more.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Cancer Symposium Highlights Prevention and Disparities

Downstate recently hosted the 11th Annual Cancer Health Promotion Symposium, bringing together students, trainees, physicians, scientists, nurses, and community members for a day of focused discussion on cancer prevention and health disparities. The Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, and the Brooklyn Health Promotion Center organized the symposium in partnership with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, with support from the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research. Learn More.

New York Medical College Students Honor Those Who Teach Beyond Their Lifetime During Convocation of Thanks

Though first-year students at New York Medical College (NYMC) change each year, the annual tradition of the Convocation of Thanks continues, offering medical and speech-language pathology students the opportunity to express their gratitude to the families of loved ones whose bodies were graciously donated to NYMC for the study of anatomy. Through music, poetry, and reflection, the students honored their “first patients” and “first teachers” in the anatomy lab during this year’s moving and inspiring Convocation on April 24. Learn more.

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell Inducts 2026 Class of AOA Honor Medical Society Inductees – Dr. Robert L. Johnson, Visiting Professor from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Delivers Keynote

The Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society welcomed 42 new members from the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell into its prestigious ranks during an induction ceremony held at the school on March 24. The AOA is a national medical honor society founded in 1902. Each year, it recognizes top-performing medical students, residents, and fellows from across the country for professionalism, leadership, scholarship, and research. Learn more.