Community | Mount Sinai Today

Push-Up Challenge for Prostate Health

Oct 9, 2017 | Community, Featured

Dennis S. Charney, MD, center, flanked by the female and male winners, Mena Singh and Paul L. Shay, MD, and surrounded by the top team, the Finance Department.

Goals were set, and exceeded, by the Mount Sinai community at the Third Annual Push-Up for Prostate Cancer Challenge. The event on Wednesday, September 6, in the Guggenheim Pavilion, drew attention to men’s health and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, also offering cancer screenings and risk consultations.

Marley Akonnor, Year One Coordinator, Department of Medical Education, at the Push-Up Challenge with Jamie Barnett, a trainer from New York Sports Clubs.

“Every year about 26,000 men die of prostate cancer in the United States,” said Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, the Kyung Hyun Kim, MD Chair in Urology, Mount Sinai Health System, who led the event. To raise awareness of that number, he asked the crowd to do at least 26 pushups—at the event or any other venue—and post a video or photo on social media. He also challenged the 195 staffers in the competition to collectively do 5,000 push-ups—as a “gift” to 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. Dr. Charney won the contest in its first year, but did not compete last year because he was recovering from a grave injury.

“A year ago, I couldn’t do one push-up. I was just getting out of the ICU,” Dr. Charney said. “I could not have made the recovery that I did without the support of the Mount Sinai students, the Mount Sinai faculty and staff, literally everybody who works here.”

Dr. Charney did 86 push-ups at this year’s event, and the competitors delivered their gift and more—performing 10,284. The first-place team trophy went to employees in the Department of Finance at The Mount Sinai Hospital, who did 860 push-ups. Paul L. Shay, MD, PGY-3 in Plastic Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, came in first among men with 168 push-ups. Mena Singh, a Senior Accountant in Finance, was first among women, with 99 push-ups.

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Building the Talent Pipeline in Health Care Administration

Oct 9, 2017 | Community

Jessie Fields, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (third from left), and Theresa Mack, MD, MPH, Medical Director at a Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice in Harlem (fourth from left), with Office for Diversity and Inclusion summer interns and staff.

This summer, several Mount Sinai Health System departments—through the Office for Diversity and Inclusion’s (ODI) talent pipeline program—hosted and supported 34 interns who aspire to careers in health care administration. High school, college, and graduate students gained exposure in areas including medicine; patient experience; real estate services; information technology (IT); and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health. The Institute for Diversity in Health Management and the America Needs You Fellowship Program joined longstanding partner organizations All Stars Project, Inc.; Greater New York Hospital Association; and Prep for Prep in identifying students of underrepresented backgrounds in health care for these hands-on opportunities. “This year marked the second year of our IT Talent Pipeline Program for high school juniors and the launch of a new, structured experience for all our interns,” says Shana Dacon, Assistant Director, ODI. “Our programs continue to expand, and interns came from a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences, including Jim Arbalaez, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who interned in Mount Sinai West’s Environmental Health & Safety Department.” In addition to their assignments, interns toured the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and a Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice clinic, and a Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice clinic, and attended panels featuring Mount Sinai Health System leaders. Says Adetokunbo Oseni, a Master’s degree candidate at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia, of his experience: “I’m inspired to be a lifelong learner. I’ve learned it is OK not to know everything—as long as you are comfortable asking questions and are willing to learn.”

Mount Sinai Celebrates Fifth Year as Medical Services Provider at US Open

Sep 28, 2017 | Community

From left: Melissa Leber, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; with James N. Gladstone, MD; and Alexis Chiang Colvin, MD.

Physicians and staff from the Mount Sinai Health System’s departments of Orthopaedics, Radiology, Rehabilitiation Medicine, and Dermatology were on hand to help the United States Tennis Association (USTA) kick off the 2017 US Open at a two-day event at the South Street Seaport in August. Amid the live entertainment, culinary tastings, and appearances by professional tennis players at the special US Open Experience, Mount Sinai’s physicians and staff shared information about the Health System’s clinical services and handed out branded towels, tennis balls, individual hand sanitizers, and water bottles.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Mount Sinai Health System has served as the official medical services provider to the USTA. As in prior years, physicians from Mount Sinai’s departments of Orthopaedics and Radiology provided onsite medical care to tennis players during the US Open. In addition, Mount Sinai’s Alexis Chiang Colvin, MD, Associate Professor, Sports Medicine, Chief Medical Officer,USTA; and James N. Gladstone, MD, Co-Director of Sports Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System, serve year-round as medical advisors to the US Fed Cup Team and US Davis Cup Team, respectively.

Members of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine joined Chair Joseph Herrera, DO, fourth from left, in kicking off the US Open at the South Street Seaport. From left: Ana Pena, Program Director; Aditya Raghunandan, MD, PGY3; Jonathan Ramin, MD, PGY2; Andrew Delgado, MS, Research Coordinator; and Gerardo Miranda-Comas, MD, Director, Sports Medicine Fellowship program.

Comprehensive Orthopedic Center Opens at Mount Sinai West

Sep 28, 2017 | Community

At the ribbon-cutting, from left: Claudia DiLeonardo, Practice Manager; Michael J. Bronson, MD, Chair, Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s; Leesa M. Galatz, MD, Chair, Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Health System; Evan L. Flatow, MD; and Shivana Patel, Administrator.

The Mount Sinai Health System recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its 11,000-square-foot Orthopedic Center at Mount Sinai West, a completely renovated, modern space featuring a comfortable reception and waiting area, 15 spacious exam rooms, two X-ray rooms, a cast room, and offices for orthopedic staff . The facility offers comprehensive orthopedic care, as well as rheumatology services, and encompasses the entire fifth floor of the faculty practice building adjacent to the hospital at 425 West 59th Street.

In other news, three Mount Sinai Health System orthopedists and members of the Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice—Evan L. Flatow, MD; Steven F. Harwin, MD; and Andrew C. Hecht, MD—were recently listed in Becker’s Orthopedic Review of 65 orthopedic surgeons nationwide recommended by orthopedic surgeons.

Dr. Flatow is President of Mount Sinai West and Professor of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Dr. Harwin is Associate Professor of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; and Dr. Hecht is Chief of Spine Surgery, Mount Sinai Health System, and Associate Professor, Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

First Person: Running the NYC Marathon for the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center

Sep 22, 2017 | Community

First Person: Amanda Anderson is Assistant Director of Quality, Patient Care Services at Mount Sinai Beth Israel

I was very lucky growing up. I never had to worry about the cost of health care. My parents were always insured, and my need to see a doctor was never limited by their ability to pay. I grew and remained healthy, regularly visiting my doctor and dentist for well visits and when my health required throughout my preteen, high school, and college years.

I knew that not everyone is so lucky. But it really hit home when I first learned about the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center.

Each year, the Health Center provides some 10,000 adolescents or young adults in need with comprehensive health care. It’s a world leader in adolescent health, with a renowned medical fellowship and award-winning staff. But it needs our help.

I’m hoping to do my part by running what would be my first marathon Nov. 5 at the TCS New York City Marathon. I will be part of a team raising funds for the Center. Every $1,000 our team members raise will support a full year of comprehensive health services for an adolescent or young adult. Everything is covered, including preventative primary care medicine, dental care, mental health care, and sexual and reproductive health care.

It was one of my physicians who first got me into running as a young twenty-something woman. I met him during a time in my life when I really needed his care. Looking back, I don’t know how I would have fared without his treatment. But I am certain that my health and recovery directly benefited from my absence of concern about how his bill would be paid.

With mental health and chronic illness starting earlier and earlier in adolescence, and with the increasing lack of security in our health care system, it’s imperative that all young people have access to full, comprehensive, high-quality care.

That’s why I’m so proud to be running on behalf of the Adolescent Health Center, because it meets and exceeds this triple aim. And in doing so, Mount Sinai improves thousands of young lives.

You can learn more about the Mount Sinai team, or you can make a contribution to help me reach my goal by visiting my Crowdrise page. You can also keep track of my training via my blog, www.amandajanderson.com, or on Twitter, @ajandersonrn.

Pioneer in Therapies for Rare Diseases is Honored

Sep 11, 2017 | Community

Dr. Desnick accepting the Rare Impact Award at the National Organization of Rare Disorders, Rare Impact Awards gala in Washington D.C. Thursday, May 18, 2017.

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), a nonprofit organization that supports 30 million Americans with rare diseases, recently awarded a 2017 Rare Impact Award to Robert Desnick, MD, PhD, Dean for Genetics and Genomic Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

NORD cited Dr. Desnick’s longstanding dedication to developing life-changing treatments for people with lysosomal storage diseases and porphyrias. (Lysosomal storage diseases are characterized by an abnormal buildup of toxic materials in the body’s cells, whereas porphyrias are a group of disorders caused by deficiencies of enzymes involved in the production of heme—a key component of important proteins in the body.)

In nominating Dr. Desnick, NORD stated that he “is among the few physician-scientists whose outstanding and innovative basic, translational, and clinical research accomplishments have led to effective treatments and prevention of rare genetic diseases.” Over the course of his more than 40-year career, Dr. Desnick—who is also Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Icahn School of Medicine’s Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences—has developed therapies for Fabry disease and Niemann–Pick disease, and co-founded the biotech company Amicus Therapeutics, Inc.

His work in genetics has also led to the development of routine screening tests for more than 280 panethnic pediatric diseases. An elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a Member of the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Dr. Desnick has published more than 500 peer-reviewed articles and 235 chapters and reviews. In accepting his award at NORD’s Rare Impact Awards event in Washington, D.C., in May, Dr. Desnick expressed his support for patient advocacy and the need for government-sponsored research funding. “Most of all,” he said, “we need to encourage young researchers to ride the wave of innovation.”