University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry: $30 Million Gift from Saunders Foundation Supports Department of Orthopaedics, School of Nursing

The Saunders Foundation, led by University of Rochester Trustee Emeritus E. Philip (Phil) Saunders, has made a $30 million commitment to the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) to support research and clinical programs in orthopaedics as well as a new endowed professorship, and to provide the School of Nursing with educational funding. Learn more.

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell: Broadridge Funds New Zucker School of Medicine Endowed Deanship for Medical School Scholarships

Northwell Health and the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, in partnership with Broadridge Financial Solutions, have announced the establishment of an endowed deanship supporting medical student scholarships, funded by a generous $3 million gift from Broadridge Financial Solutions. The newly named Deborah and Lawrence Smith Dean of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell position honors the institution’s founding dean and his late wife, who both played pivotal roles in the school’s creation in 2008. Learn more.

Education & Training

New York Medical College: Regeneron’s Immersive Drug Development Elective Equips Future Physicians with Unique Industry Insights

Medical students at New York Medical College gain unique insights into the drug development process through an elective focused on this critical aspect of medicine, made possible by a collaboration with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, a top biotechnology company based in Tarrytown, New York. Learn more.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine Summer Pathway Programs Expose Students from the Bronx and Beyond to Medical Careers and World-Class Scientific Research

More than 200 high school and college students, most from groups historically underrepresented in science and medicine, spent this past summer at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where they gained hands-on research training in cancer, HIV, and other chronic diseases, shadowed physicians, and became more aware of the need to address health disparities. The six- and eight-week summer pathway programs were geared to students from the Bronx, with one open to young people nationwide. Learn more.

Student News

CUNY School of Medicine: In ‘ASCO Daily News,’ CUNY Medicine Student Examines Barriers to Training and Equity in Politically Charged Healthcare Climate

“As a future oncologist,” writes Rachelle Monteau, a third-year medical student at CUNY School of Medicine, “I must consider many things when applying to and ranking a residency program, from the quality of the mentorship and facilities to the state and local politics that may directly affect my reproductive and civil rights, my capacity to learn best practices in dismantling structural racism, or my ability to speak freely about global conflict.” Learn more.

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell Celebrates the Class of 2028’s Transition to Medical Professionals During Fourteenth White Coat Ceremony

On October 18, 2024, the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell held its fourteenth White Coat Ceremony at the Long Island Marriott Grand Ballroom. Surrounded by their families, friends, faculty, and school administrators, 101 first-year medical students participated in the ceremony, donning the iconic white coat — the representative emblem of the medical field, for the very first time. Learn more.

Awards & Grants

CUNY School of Medicine: amNY Metro Names CUNY Medicine’s Dean Green to the ‘2024 Power Players in Education’ List

Recognized as a visionary leader who is committed to advancing health equity, Carmen Renée Green, MD, Dean of the CUNY School of Medicine and the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program, has been named a “2024 Power Player in Education” by amNY Metro and PoliticsNY. Selected for her transformative approach to medical education, Dean Green is guiding CUNY Medicine to the forefront of medical education, with a focus on addressing the social determinants of medical education and eliminating barriers for students historically and traditionally underrepresented in medicine. Learn more.

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine Recognized for Its Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The Health Professions HEED Award is a national honor recognizing health colleges and universities in the United States that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. NYITCOM will be featured along with 70 other recipients in the November/December 2024 issue of Insight Into Diversity magazine. Learn more.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine: Commitment to Diversity Shines With TouroCOM’s Sixth HEED Diversity and Inclusion Award

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) has been awarded the 2024 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award. A national honor, the HEED Award is bestowed by Insight Into Diversity magazine to recognize national U.S. colleges and universities for their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Learn more.

New York Medical College Student Awarded Prestigious AAMC Scholarship for Leadership in Tackling Health Inequities

In recognition of her demonstrated leadership to eliminate inequities in medical education and health care, New York Medical College student Sumaita Mahmood has been awarded the 2024 Herbert Nickens Medical Student Scholarship by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). Mahmood was presented with the scholarship during AAMC’s annual meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, in November. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons’ Uma Reddy Elected to National Academy of Medicine

Uma M. Reddy, professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and professor in the Heilbrunn Department of Population & Family Health in the Mailman School of Public Health, is among a select group of leaders in medicine and health elected this year to the National Academy of Medicine. Learn more.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Computational Psychiatry Postdoctoral Fellow Earns NIH Director’s Early Independence Award

Cognitive scientist, computational neuroscientist, well-being researcher—it’s hard to choose only one label to describe Shawn Rhoads, PhD, who recently completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the Center for Computational Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai Health System. But one title that sticks is recipient of the 2024 National Institute of Health (NIH) Director’s Early Independence Award. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Biomedical Engineering Professor to Receive National Award

Yi-Xian Qin, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the Renaissance School of Medicine and in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook University, will receive the 2025 Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES)  Christopher Jacobs Award for Excellence in Leadership. The annual award, established in 2019, honors the memory and contributions of Christopher R. Jacobs, PhD, co-founder and council member of the Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (CMBE) Special Interest Group (SIG) under BMES. Learn more.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Dr. Marla Sacks Honored with the 2024 Dr. Hilary Sanfred Award for Leadership in Surgery from the Association of Women Surgeons Foundation

The SUNY Downstate Department of Surgery is proud to announce that chief resident Dr. Marla Sacks is the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Dr. Hilary Sanfey Award from the Association of Women Surgeons Foundation. The Dr. Hilary Sanfey Award recognizes an outstanding resident who demonstrates potential as a future leader in surgery. Learn more.

Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University Start-Up Captures Another Award

DUB Therapeutics, an Upstate Medical University-based start-up creating siRNA therapeutic that aims to prevent corneal scarring and inflammation and promote regenerative healing, has won the $10,000 Alan W. Rothschild Innovation Award at the Biotech Innovation Pitch. The Alan W. Rothschild Innovation Award honors Rothschild’s life, which was one of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit and provides support to individuals and startups who demonstrate excellence in innovation. Learn more.

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo Names Daniel Woo New Chair of Neurology

Daniel Woo, MD, professor of neurology and rehabilitation medicine in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and associate director of clinical research at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, has been appointed the Irvin and Rosemary Smith Endowed Chair of the Department of Neurology in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, effective Dec. 1. Learn more.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Teresa Bowman, Ph.D., Named Chair of Developmental & Molecular Biology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Stem cell researcher Teresa Bowman, Ph.D., has been appointed chair of the department of developmental & molecular biology (DMB) at Albert Einstein College of Medicine after a comprehensive national search. Dr. Bowman will begin her new role on December 1, following the longtime leadership of Richard Stanley, Ph.D. “Dr. Bowman has demonstrated her leadership abilities, commitment to mentorship, and dedication to the College of Medicine since she joined us in 2013,” said Yaron Tomer, M.D. Learn more.

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo Initiative Aims to Save Lives by Registering AEDs

Only 10% of victims of sudden cardiac arrest survive, and that number is even lower in areas with health inequities. Cardiac arrest victims who receive a shock from an automated external defibrillator (AED) prior to EMS arrival have 2-3 times better odds of survival. The problem is that in most communities, the locations of AEDs are unknown to citizens and even first responders. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Department of Microbiology and Immunology Named a National “Milestones” Program

The Department of Microbiology and Immunology in the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony Brook University was named a “Milestones in Microbiology” site for its advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases globally. The designation by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) recognizes academic and research programs in which “major developments and pivotal discoveries occurred.” Learn more.

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine Named an Apple Distinguished School

The field of medicine is in a state of transition, with physicians increasingly called upon to leverage digital technology and find innovative ways to provide top-notch care. Before stepping foot in a clinic, future physicians at the College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM)—a medical school positioned at the intersection of healthcare and technology—leverage digital and mobile tech to gain a deeper understanding of the human body’s complexities. Learn more.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: How Did These New York City Teachers Spend Their Summer? In Mount Sinai Labs, Improving Their Science and Teaching Skills

New York City high school teacher Christine Chan, middle school teacher Elsa Rosario, and assistant principal Kathy Pham gained hands-on experience in science content, communications, and teaching at Mount Sinai as part of a Summer Research Program for Science Teachers. They recently returned to their classrooms energized with fresh ideas to inspire a love of science in their students. Learn more.

Weill Cornell Medicine: Learning from Excellence: FDA Commissioner Kicks off Dean’s Distinguished Lecture Series

Health care in the United States is at a crossroads, said U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf, in large part due to a confluence of post-COVID disinformation, rising cardiovascular mortality rates, a heavier burden of chronic diseases and decreased life expectancy. New York state however stands out as a bright spot. Learn more.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Men Lead Change as Domestic Violence Awareness Advocates and Allies

Downstate remains a committed advocate for domestic violence awareness, particularly its impact on seniors, ethnic minorities, and marginalized groups. Recently, we hosted Men Leading Change: A Call to Action Against Domestic Violence, a robust panel discussion that explored the vital and increasing role men play in ending domestic violence, aiming to inspire leadership, advocacy, and support for survivors. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Eighth Annual Velocity Ride Brings Together Columbia Community in Fight Against Cancer

The Columbia community and supporters gathered in the Hudson Valley on Oct. 6 for the eighth annual Velocity: Columbia’s Ride to End Cancer. This year’s Velocity raised more than $1 million and attracted nearly 600 participants to support the work of researchers at Columbia’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center. Velocity cyclists had the option of riding 15K, 50K, or 100K, while many others participated through Velocity Your Way, choosing their own activities (ranging from hiking and yoga to Zumba and swimming). Learn more.