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“New Heights” of Achievement Marked at Convocation

Oct 22, 2018 | Community, Featured, Research

Dennis S. Charney, MD, delivered the State of the School Address.

A sense of accomplishment pervaded the 2018 Convocation Ceremony, which honored 13 renowned faculty members and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The event, held on Thursday, October 4, marked the beginning of the academic year and featured the annual State of the School Address by Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System.

“We are reaching new heights,” Dr. Charney said as he welcomed the honorees, their families and friends, faculty, staff , and Mount Sinai benefactors who filled Goldwurm Auditorium. “We have never had more endowed chairs than we are awarding tonight, which I think speaks for the health of our medical school and our Health System.” The honorees received named professorships in fields including computational biology, genetics and genomic sciences, personalized medicine, palliative care, geriatrics, therapeutics discovery, ophthalmology, and neuroscience.

Among its many accomplishments, Dr. Charney said, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai received $348.5 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding in fiscal year 2018—a 9.4 percent increase over the prior year—ranking the school No. 12 in the nation. “We also rank No. 4 in research dollars per investigator, which means our individual faculty are among the best in the country,” Dr. Charney said, citing figures from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The School of Medicine has the largest Graduate Medical Education program in the nation, with more than 2,500 residents and fellows. Its master’s and PhD programs are growing in size and quality, and Mount Sinai is launching a biomedical data science program, “which is consistent with our overall commitment to be one of the best places in the country, if not the world, in genomic and data science,” Dr. Charney said. The matriculating class of medical students has a median grade point average of 3.84 (out of 4.0), and the Flex Med admissions program helped make it a well-rounded group. “We are always looking to recruit students who represent the spectrum of talents in America,” he said, “whether they major in humanities or hard science or have experience in the military.”

Among other high points:

Mount Sinai Innovation Partners, which translates research findings into health care products and services, generated 211 patents, 144 inventions, and 53 new licenses and options for the use of research. In addition, the new i3 Asset Accelerator funded four start-up projects based on Mount Sinai research, with seven proposals now under review.

The Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice—the largest in the nation—had 7.8 percent higher revenues compared with 2017, and the number of calls to its Access Center rose to 3.48 million in 2018 from 2.67 million in 2017.

Mount Sinai, for the second consecutive year, was ranked No. 1 by DiversityInc magazine among hospitals and health care systems in the nation for excellence in diversity management and best practices. In addition, the Patricia S. Levinson Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs marked its 20th anniversary.

The Office of Well-Being and Resilience, led by Jonathan A. Ripp, MD, MPH, Senior Associate Dean, was created to support the well-being of students, staff, and faculty.

Mount Sinai launched an online series of articles in partnership with Scientific American Custom Media that marks the 50th anniversary of the Icahn School of Medicine and takes a sweeping look at research and innovation fueling the next generation of treatments.

Looking ahead, Dr. Charney said, “Our guiding principles are to take advantage of the size and excellence of our Health System, to have unrivaled excellence in our medical and graduate education, and to anticipate new areas of research. We developed a strategic plan in 2017, and we are now implementing that plan in 2018.” The latest initiatives include renovation at 3 East 101st Street that will create a 45,000-square-foot facility for data science and technology. In a comprehensive capital campaign, the Mount Sinai Health System is seeking to raise $1.5 billion or more to fund projects, including a Life Science Center at 102nd Street and Madison Avenue.

Among its research priorities, the School of Medicine is advancing immunology by exploring therapies that target cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and brain disorders. It also is making a major investment in precision medicine. “This is a big initiative of the NIH,” Dr. Charney said, “and Mount Sinai will lead the way” with the advantages of a large and diverse patient population and expertise in genomics, big data, supercomputing, and bioinformatics.

Marta Filizola, PhD, left, the Sharon and Frederick Klingenstein/ Nathan Kase, MD Professor, and Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, with Terry A. Krulwich, PhD, a pioneering predecessor in both roles.

Dr. Charney took a moment to recognize a “legendary leader,” Terry A. Krulwich, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Pharmacological Sciences, and Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences from 1981 to 2002—one of the first women in the nation to fill this role. Dr. Krulwich, who recently retired, was a mentor and role model, and a groundbreaking bacteriologist who was continuously funded by the NIH for 40 years. Dr. Charney thanked her for decades of service to Mount Sinai, and she was acknowledged with lasting applause.

“I think we can be very proud of what the School of Medicine has become in just 50 years,” said Peter W. May, Chairman, Boards of Trustees, Mount Sinai Health System. “It is one of the nation’s top medical schools, in which we are training bright, creative, and innovative doctors. But we are also engaged in great medical research that generates new insights, diagnostics, and treatments.”

Kenneth L. Davis, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, noted these achievements and also urged the honorees to keep in sight the school’s core values, such as putting patients first, serving everyone who needs care regardless of their ability to pay, collaborating in the lab, and making discoveries that improve the lives of patients. “Fifty years ago, when I came to Mount Sinai as a medical student, I came to be a physician-scientist,” Dr. Davis said. “But the longer I have been here, the more I realized that my job was not just writing papers. It was not just getting millions of dollars in grants. It was about what would be left behind, what was lasting. My job was to be a steward of this institution—of its legacy and its heritage. That was my responsibility, and now it is yours.”

The Convocation Honorees

Front row, from left: Amy S. Kelley, MD, MSHS; Jian Jin, PhD; Ethylin Wang Jabs, MD; Marta Filizola, PhD; Kenneth S. Boockvar, MD, MS; Schahram Akbarian, MD, PhD; and Dennis S. Charney, MD. Back row, from left: Paul A. Slesinger, PhD; Eric Schadt, PhD; Rachel Saunders-Pullman, MD, MPH, MS; Richard B. Rosen, MD; Adam A. Margolin, PhD; Ruth Loos, PhD; Andrew B. Leibowitz, MD; and Peter W. May.

Schahram Akbarian, MD, PhD, Mount Sinai Professor in Psychiatric Epigenomics

Kenneth S. Boockvar, MD, MS, Anna A. Greenwall Professor of Geriatrics and Adult Development

Marta Filizola, PhD, Sharon and Frederick Klingenstein/Nathan Kase, MD Professorship

Ethylin Wang Jabs, MD, Mount Sinai Professor in Developmental Genetics

Jian Jin, PhD, Mount Sinai Professor in Therapeutics Discovery

Amy S. Kelley, MD, MSHS, Hermann Merkin Professor in Palliative Care

Andrew B. Leibowitz, MD, Mount Sinai Professor in Perioperative Care

Ruth Loos, PhD, Charles Bronfman Professor in Personalized Medicine

Adam A. Margolin, PhD, Jean C. and James W. Crystal Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences

Richard B. Rosen, MD, Belinda Bingham Pierce and Gerald G. Pierce, MD Distinguished Chair of Ophthalmology

Rachel Saunders-Pullman, MD, MPH, MS, Bachmann-Strauss Professor

Eric Schadt, PhD, Mount Sinai Professor in Predictive Health and Computational Biology

Paul A. Slesinger, PhD, Lillian and Henry M. Stratton Professor of Neuroscience

Advancing Research for Alzheimer’s Disease

Oct 22, 2018 | Community, Research

Ana C. Pereira, MD, with Christopher Smith, Executive Director, Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter, left, and Keith Fargo, PhD, Director of Scientific Programs and Outreach, Alzheimer’s Association.

Two physician-scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have each received a 2019 Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant of approximately $150,000 over the next three years for their respective research projects.

Ana C. Pereira, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, and Neuroscience, is studying the molecular profiling of glutamate and tau-mediated toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease. Andrew Varga, MD, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine). He is investigating the effect of chronic sleep disruption on brain tau phosphorylation spread.

The Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant program, which funds early-career researchers who have received their doctoral degrees or completed their residency within the past 10 years, aims to nurture a robust pipeline of fresh ideas while laying the groundwork for future grant applications.

A Birthday Party for Amos and Professor Bunsen Honeydew

Oct 8, 2018 | Community

Two beloved members of Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital—sweet-natured golden doodles Amos and Professor Bunsen Honeydew—were treated to a Hawaiian-themed birthday party in August.

Patients, families, and staff gathered at the hospital to show their love and support for the dogs, while enjoying crafts activities, eating cupcakes, and signing a celebratory banner in honor of Amos’ and Professor’s third birthdays. The dogs are related, but were not part of the same litter. The excitement of the party appeared to tire out the four-legged guests of honor—they both fell asleep one hour into the festivities, with Hawaiian music playing in the background.

Under the direction of skilled clinical handlers in the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy Department, Professor works with patients in the Blau Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disease and the Alice Gottesman Bayer Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Amos comforts pediatric inpatients and is a popular attendee at Kravis’ coffee hour, a weekly offering for the parents and families of patients.

The dogs are full-time employees of Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital through the Paws & Play facility dog program. The program—supported by PetSmart Charities® and the Mount Sinai Auxiliary Board—is the first of its kind in New York State.

Pediatrician Honored as a “Literacy Champion”

Oct 8, 2018 | Community

Leora Mogilner, MD, left, with Chelsea Clinton at the Reach Out and Read of Greater New York benefit gala in Central Park.

Leora Mogilner, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, recently received a Literacy Champion award from Reach Out and Read of Greater New York, part of a national nonprofit group that gives young children a foundation for success by incorporating literacy into pediatric care. Dr. Mogilner is medical director of the regional chapter and was instrumental in its founding 20 years ago. She accepted the award at a benefit gala from Chelsea Clinton, who was representing the Clinton Global Initiative, which supports early literacy.

“The idea is that you teach parents about the importance of reading to children from the time they are babies,” Dr. Mogilner says. “In my practice at Mount Sinai Pediatric Associates, we give out brand new books, and we also have volunteers in the waiting room who read to kids and model reading aloud for parents.” Her dream for the future: “I would love to see this at every clinic and every practice in New York City.”

Watercolor Workshop Promotes Calm and Creativity

Sep 26, 2018 | Community

Sabrina Gomez, a Mount Sinai Calm intern, volunteered as a model.

While many were rushing away from work on two recent afternoons, about two dozen Mount Sinai staff members took a peaceful detour—to after-work watercolor workshops at the Icahn Medical Institute.

The classes were sponsored by Mount Sinai Calm, 1199-SEIU, and Chashama, a nonprofit group that provides work space to artists and offers community-centered arts programs. Participants were given painting tips by Charles Esperanza, an author and illustrator with Chashama.

“Make a rough sketch first to make sure your figure will fit on the paper,” Mr. Esperanza said. “As you paint, look at the model more than at your paper.”

And finally, there was advice that could be applied to many endeavors: “Don’t expect perfection, just jump in and have fun.”

Mount Sinai Calm offers free self-care and stress-reduction programs. For a class schedule and to learn about future workshops, visit www.mountsinai.org/about/ms-fit/self-care or email 4calm@mountsinai.org.

Some of the participants’ paintings.

Restoring Stained Glass at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s

Sep 25, 2018 | Community

The historic stained-glass windows of Muhlenberg Chapel at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s are being restored, thanks to a fund-raising effort led by Norma M.T. Braun, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The chapel is named a er the founder of St. Luke’s, Episcopal clergyman William Augustus Muhlenberg. Its windows, designed by the architect Henry Holiday in 1896, were recently selected as a point of interest in the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s annual Sacred Sites Open House. Restoration is to be completed later this year. Meanwhile, the chapel will continue multidenominational services, remaining “a beautiful and serene retreat for prayer and contemplation,” says the Rev. Meredith D.K. Lisagor, MDiv, BCC, Director of Spiritual Care and Education at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s and Mount Sinai West.

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