News from AMSNY

AMSNY Student Advocacy Day in Albany

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell: First Medical Students to Train on da Vinci 5 Surgical System

Second-year medical students at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell were among the first in the nation to train on the da Vinci 5 Surgical System, the latest robotic surgical technology from Intuitive. This innovative system enhances minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, leading to improved patient outcomes. The use of the da Vinci 5 is provided to the students as an integral part of the Surgical Skills Course, designed by the American College of Surgery for surgery residents. Learn more.

Weill Cornell Medicine: A Decade of Narcan Training: Expanding Access and Education

The Weill Cornell Medicine Program for Substance Use and Stigma of Addiction, under the leadership of Dr. Jonathan Avery, Vice Chair for Addiction Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, has proudly distributed naloxone rescue kits (Narcan) to the New York City community for 10 years. This initiative is part of a broader effort to combat the opioid crisis in the United States, which has claimed countless lives and continues to be a grave concern. Learn more.

New York Medical College Launches Illuminating Discovery Symposium Series on Biomedical Imaging

New York Medical College (NYMC) was filled with scientific curiosity and collaboration as the inaugural Illuminating Discovery Symposium brought together leading minds in biomedical imaging. Researchers, students, postdocs, professors, and professionals from NYMC and Touro University (TU), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and beyond gathered for a day of groundbreaking presentations and discussions. Learn more.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: New Curriculum for the Master of Science in Biomedical Science Program Provides More Options for Students

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, part of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has announced a new curriculum structure for its Master of Science in Biomedical Science (MSBS) program. The MSBS program, started in 2005, features the multidisciplinary research education available at the school, a commitment to translating fundamental biomedical research into disease prevention and novel therapies, and a dedication to preparing students to contribute to the biomedical enterprise in the non-profit or for-profit sectors. Learn more.

Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell Medical Students Showcase Ultrasound Skills at Second Annual ZonoSlam Competition

Over 125 medical students from seven institutions competed in the second annual ZonoSlam ultrasound competition, held at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell on February 22, 2025. ZonoSlam is the only medical school ultrasound competition in the New York metropolitan area. Ultrasound, a fundamental tool for nearly all medical specialties, enables quality patient care at the bedside. Learn more.

Student News

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: A Mount Sinai Medical Student, Whose Work Helped a Young Boy Recover From Nearly Drowning, Reflects on Her Research and Aspirations

Helen Gordan, a second-year medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, recently won best clinical case abstract at the New York Chapter of the American College of Cardiology Fellows in Training competition. Her abstract titled “Unraveling a Genetic Diagnosis After a Near Drowning Incident” describes the diagnostic odyssey of a 9-year-old boy who was cared for at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital after he was resuscitated from near-drowning in a swimming pool. Learn more.

Weill Cornell Medicine: Dr. Joseph E. Safdieh Appointed Senior Associate Dean for Education

Dr. Joseph E. Safdieh, an esteemed and longstanding Weill Cornell Medicine medical educator and neurologist, has been appointed senior associate dean for education at the institution, effective May 19. Dr. Safdieh will lead the institution’s Office of Medical Education and oversee the overall living and learning experience of Weill Cornell Medical College’s students. Learn more.

Albany Medical College: Dr. Megan Gerber Named Assistant Dean of Health Humanities

Megan Gerber, MD, MPH, has been appointed assistant dean of health humanities, a new position aimed at fostering an understanding of how the arts and social sciences can be used to explore the human experience in health and illness, and integrating those perspectives into medical education, research, and clinical practice. A primary care physician, Dr. Gerber joined Albany Med in 2021 as chief of General Internal Medicine and vice chair of the Department of Medicine for Faculty Development. She has also served as advising dean and has been an advocate for students’ efforts in the medical humanities. Learn more.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Dr. Moro O. Salifu Appointed Governor-Elect Designee of the American College of Physicians

Moro O. Salifu, M.D., MPH, MBA, MACP, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, was elected as the Governor-elect Designee for the New York Brooklyn/Queens/Staten Island Region of the American College of Physicians (ACP). This appointment reflects Dr. Salifu’s longstanding commitment to advancing internal medicine, fostering professional development, and improving healthcare outcomes. His election highlights Downstate’s leadership in medical education and healthcare innovation. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: SBU-Mentored High School Student Named Finalist in Regeneron Competition

Forty finalists have been named in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, including one mentored by a Stony Brook University faculty member.  Agnieszka B. Bialkowska, associate professor in the Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine, mentored finalist Emma Wen from John L. Miller Great Neck North High School in Great Neck, New York, for her project “AUM-302, A Novel Triple PIM/PI3K/mTOR Inhibitor, Offers Promising Potential in Reducing the Growth of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Spheroids and Organoids.” Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Department of Medicine Celebrates Black History Month

The Department of Medicine celebrated Black History Month on Feb. 13 with food, music, and a talk by William Turner, associate professor of medicine at VP&S. Turner—who majored in Black Studies in college—spoke about the contributions, challenges, and triumphs of African American physicians in the United States and at Columbia University. Learn more.

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo: Hauptman-Woodward Institute Officially Joins UB

It’s official. Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute (HWI) formally joined the University at Buffalo on Jan. 2 after the two entities finalized the legal transfer of HWI assets to the university. The move, which commenced in May, places the nearly 70-year-old institute and its building on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus within the university’s research and educational ecosystems. Learn more.

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University: Mind Games: Your Brain is Easier to Trick Than You Think

Magic and neuroscience may seem like an unlikely pair, but they share more in common than one might expect. Susana Martinez-Conde, Ph.D., professor of Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Physiology & Pharmacology, recently joined Neil deGrasse Tyson, Ph.D., and co-host Gary O’Reilly on StarTalk to explore the science behind illusions. Learn more.

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: Sharing “Untold Stories” of Health Care History

In recognition of Black History Month, the African, Black, and Caribbean Employee Resource Group and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center hosted an event titled “Untold Stories in Health Equity,” highlighting overlooked leaders in health care and encouraging participants to document and share other untold stories. Learn more.

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences at University at Buffalo Community Table Event Celebrates School’s Partnership With Local Organizations

The Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences hosted its first-ever Community Table event to celebrate the impactful partnerships formed between its first-year medical students and community-based organizations making a difference in Buffalo and Western New York. Learn more.

Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University: Stony Brook University Hospital Earns Level One Geriatric ED Accreditation from ACEP

Stony Brook University Hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) has received Level 1 Accreditation for Geriatric Emergency Care by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), one of only two hospitals in Suffolk County to achieve this status. “Adults aged 65 and older represent one of the largest populations seeking emergency care here on Long Island,” says William A. Wertheim, MD, MBA, Executive Vice President, Stony Brook Medicine. “We are proud of our team’s persistent efforts to provide high-quality geriatric care and promote healthy aging throughout the community. Learn more.

NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine: NYU Langone Hospital—Suffolk Officially Joins the Top-Ranked Health System for Quality and Safety

Beginning a new chapter in its service to Suffolk County, Long Island Community Hospital is now NYU Langone Hospital—Suffolk, becoming the top-ranked health system’s seventh inpatient facility and offering a broad range of new services with an unprecedented level of quality. Since its affiliation with NYU Langone Health began in March 2022, the hospital has undergone a remarkable transformation. It has added robotic surgery and gynecologic oncology; enhanced vascular, surgical, gastroenterological, and orthopedic services; and improved key outcomes such as length of stay and infection rates. Learn more.