Featured | Mount Sinai Today

Seven Tips to Protect Your Family During Flu Season

Updated on Nov 6, 2026 | Featured, Pediatrics, Your Health

Each year during flu season, keeping your children healthy is top of mind. Between school, activities, and time spent indoors, it helps to know how to prevent the spread of flu, recognize symptoms, and care for your child if they get sick.

Flu is more than a bad cold. It can cause serious illness, especially in children under five year old and those with certain underlying health conditions. However, a few simple steps can help protect your family and prepare you for the season ahead.

Jennifer Duchon, MD, MPH, DrPH, Hospital Epidemiologist and Director of Antimicrobial Stewardship at Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, shares seven tips to help your family stay healthy and know when to call your pediatrician.

“Start with a few simple steps, build healthy habits together, and keep your pediatrician in the loop,” says Dr. Duchon, who’s also Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “A little preparation can go a long way toward helping your family feel ready for flu season.

Make flu vaccination a priority

Annual flu vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect your family. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone six months and older, unless there is a medical reason not to receive it. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ 2026–2027 policy statement reinforces this longstanding recommendation: every eligible child should receive a flu vaccine each year, and any age-appropriate flu vaccine may be used. Children younger than nine years receiving the flu vaccine for the first time may need two doses to ensure adequate protection.

Schedule your child’s vaccine as soon as possible. Flu season started early this year. Protection takes about two weeks to develop, and some younger children may need two doses, depending on their vaccination history. Vaccination may not prevent every infection, but it can reduce the risk of severe illness and complications.

Jennifer Duchon, MD, MPH, DrPH

Make handwashing a habit

From classroom desks to playground equipment, children encounter germs throughout the day. Good hygiene helps limit their spread.

A child should wash their hands many times during the day with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating and after using the bathroom. Regular handwashing is one of the most powerful ways to prevent the spread of illness and infection.

Remind them to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their elbow and avoid touching their face with unwashed hands.

Make handwashing fun. Sing a favorite song or let younger children choose a colorful towel. Small routines can help healthy habits stick.

Know when to stay home

Flu symptoms can include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and unusual tiredness. Some children may also have vomiting or diarrhea.

If your child is sick or doesn’t seem “themself,” keep them home and follow your school or daycare’s illness policy. In general, children can return to normal activities when their symptoms are improving overall and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. This reflects current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) respiratory virus guidance.

Make a backup childcare plan before flu season begins. Having a little flexibility can make unexpected sick days less stressful.

Build healthy daily routines

Nutritious food, enough sleep, hydration, and regular physical activity support your child’s overall health, even though they can’t guarantee flu prevention.

Offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and protein-rich foods. Encourage water breaks, age-appropriate sleep, and plenty of opportunities to play and move.

Keep water bottles handy, stock healthy snacks, and create a calming bedtime routine. Small, consistent habits go a long way.

Prepare for sick days

A few essentials at home can make caring for a sick child easier. Keep a digital thermometer, tissues, soap, oral rehydration solution when appropriate, and your pediatrician’s contact information close by.

If your child gets sick, encourage rest, offer frequent fluids, and watch their breathing, alertness, temperature, and urination.

Never give aspirin to children or teenagers with suspected flu because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Ask your child’s health care professional which medications are appropriate and what doses to use.

Put your sick-day supplies together before you need them. You’ll be glad to have everything within reach when your child isn’t feeling well.

Know when to call your pediatrician

Contact your pediatrician promptly if your child develops flu symptoms and is younger than five, has a chronic condition such as asthma, or seems to be getting worse. Prescription antiviral medications can help, especially when started early, often within 48 hours of symptoms beginning.

Seek emergency medical care if your child has:

Difficulty breathing, very fast breathing, or bluish lips or face
Signs of severe dehydration
Confusion, difficulty waking, or seizures
Severe muscle pain that prevents walking

A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher in a baby younger than 12 weeks requires immediate medical evaluation. Also seek medical attention if a fever or cough improves and then returns or worsens.

Trust your instincts. If your child seems seriously unwell, don’t wait to get help.

Protect vulnerable family members

The CDC recommends that babies younger than six months are too young for flu vaccination and are especially vulnerable to complications. Older adults and people with certain chronic conditions may also be at higher risk.

Help protect loved ones by encouraging eligible family members and caregivers to get vaccinated, staying home when sick, improving indoor ventilation when possible, such as opening windows, and practicing good hygiene. When someone is ill, limit close contact with vulnerable family members when practical.

Learn more about Pediatrics at Mount Sinai

A Commitment to Scientific Rigor, Integrity, Collaboration, and Discovery: Graduate Students Start Their PhD Training at Mount Sinai

Updated on Oct 30, 2026 | Featured, School

Amy Divaraniya, PhD, keynote speaker at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences 2026 Lab Coat Ceremony, the celebratory start of academic research and training for PhD and MD-PhD students, had a story of personal and professional resilience to share about how Mount Sinai shaped her own career trajectory.

When she entered the PhD in Biomedical Sciences program in 2014, she told the audience, she had already completed a master’s degree in bioinformatics and was working full-time at a major pharmaceutical company.

“I loved what I was doing, but I learned pretty quickly that in science, credentials can matter,” she said. “I started seeing a ceiling above me that had very little to do with what I was capable of doing and a lot to do with the degree I didn’t have. So I decided to come back to school.”

Amy Divaraniya, PhD

It was also a time that coincided with her desire to start a family. “I did what a lot of women do, I bought the [fertility] tools that were available to me,” she said. However, she quickly realized they were frustratingly unreliable.

“I was getting a PhD in Biomedical Sciences. I knew how to analyze incredibly complex biological datasets, and yet, when it came to my own body, I felt completely powerless,” she said. “But somewhere in that experience, the scientist in me started taking over. Why couldn’t I see the actual hormonal changes happening in my body?”

She envisioned a start-up that would help women track and predict ovulation with scientific precision. Two Graduate School faculty mentors encouraged and guided her. “There was an entire team here genuinely invested in my success,” she said.

“I didn’t realize it at the time, but that was essentially my first pitch for Oova, Inc.,” the company she would found as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2017—the same year she completed her PhD—that has helped transform at-home hormonal health technology.

“I had never wanted to be an entrepreneur,” she said. “I had never dreamed about being a CEO. I had never taken a business class. What I did know how to do was being a scientist. And, that turned out to be a pretty good place to start.”

The Graduate School offers PhD degrees in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, Clinical Research, Health Sciences Engineering, and through its MD-PhD program. The Lab Coat ceremony took place on September 10 in Goldwurm Auditorium.

Celebrating students after the Lab Coat Ceremony

The incoming students join Mount Sinai at a time of great achievement for the institution. For federal fiscal year 2026, the School of Medicine is No. 9 in National Institutes of Health grant funding in the United States among medical schools and No. 1 in New York State, offering exceptional opportunities for students to participate in research efforts across the Mount Sinai Health System.

Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, greeted the students and guests. “The lab coats our students receive today are more than a symbol of their chosen profession,” she said. “They represent a commitment to scientific rigor and integrity, to collaboration and discovery, and to the responsibilities that come with pursuing research aimed at advancing knowledge and improving human health.”

Marta Filizola, PhD

Dr. Filizola added: “This year is particularly special because, for the first time, we welcome students from our newest doctoral program, Health Sciences Engineering. Developed in partnership with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the program brings together complementary strengths in engineering, biomedical science, and medicine.” Dr. Filizola is also Chair of the Department of Graduate Education and the Sharon & Frederick A. Klingenstein/Nathan G. Kase, MD Professor of Pharmacological Sciences.

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, encouraged the students to reach new scientific heights. “This course of study is not simply ‘more school.’ It’s training to become someone capable of independently creating new knowledge,” he said. “It involves years of research, failed experiments, harsh criticism, many revisions, and ultimately defending your work before experts.” Dr. Nestler is also Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer for the Mount Sinai Health System.

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD

He added: “Yes, you will need thick skin to make it as a scientist. Do not take criticism of your work personally. When your research is criticized—and it will be—carefully consider the feedback and use it to improve your work. But always maintain the inner confidence to stay on track.”

Click below for a slideshow of Lab Coat Ceremony photos.

What Patients Are Really Looking for When They Turn to AI

Updated on Oct 29, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence, Events, Featured, Insights

More patients are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) tools to answer health questions. They use ChatGPT and other chatbots to research symptoms, understand test results, explore treatment options, and seek information outside the doctor’s office. These tools are shaping how patients think about illness and prepare for appointments.

The trend raises broader questions about the future of health care. If patients can access information instantly, what role should physicians play? And as AI becomes part of more health-related decisions, how might it affect the relationship between patients and their doctors?

“Just because you have access to information doesn’t mean you have access to care,” said Ashwin Ramaswamy, MD, MPP, Assistant Professor of Urology, and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, during an October 2026 panel discussion at the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) Fall Summit in Los Angeles.

The panel, titled “Hello, doc; meet my chatbot,” explored how patients use AI to seek health information. In a conversation afterward, Dr. Ramaswamy suggested that the technology itself may be only part of the story.

Ashwin Ramaswamy, MD, MPP, Assistant Professor of Urology, and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, at the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) Fall Summit in Los Angeles, October 8, 2026. (Image credit: Erica Tricarico | AHCJ)

Why are patients turning to AI for medical advice?

“I see uncertainty and patients trying to exercise their own autonomy through AI,” said Dr. Ramaswamy during the AHCJ panel.

In practice, he said after the panel, many are searching for something far more basic. “It is relief,” he said. “Relief from the burden of uncertainty.”

Symptoms, unexpected test results, and new diagnoses can prompt questions that are difficult to address in a brief office visit. However, AI offers explanations and information at any hour.

“It is relief. Relief from the burden of uncertainty.”

—Ashwin Ramaswamy, MD, MPP, on why patients are asking AI chatbots questions about their health.

Uncertainty has always been part of medicine. What has changed, Dr. Ramaswamy said, is that patients now have what he calls “access to an answer.” They can ask a chatbot questions that once waited until the next appointment. But more information does not always bring reassurance—in some cases, it can heighten anxiety.

“I had a patient who I saw had a bladder mass that I thought looked concerning for cancer. I did a biopsy of that,” Dr. Ramaswamy recounted. “Before the pathology results were available, if the patient consulted AI about his mass, what’s AI going to say?”

A chatbot could generate a long list of possibilities, including bladder cancer, irritation, or inflammation. “That process is going to be a three-day anxiety fest for that patient,” he said.

Until the biopsy results return, the most important question remains unanswered. Patients may continue searching, but information alone cannot always provide reassurance.

“The best thing for the patient is to tell them, don’t think about it,” he said. “And AI doesn’t do that.”

For Dr. Ramaswamy, this is the difference between information and care. AI can offer answers, but physicians help patients decide what information matters, what can safely wait, and which questions need attention.

What happens when AI enters the doctor’s office?

Patients increasingly arrive at appointments with information from ChatGPT and other AI tools, as well as questions and possible treatment options. Dr. Ramaswamy and other panelists described a shift in the doctor-patient dynamic: A conversation once held between two people may now include a third voice, AI.

For physicians, the task is not always to correct AI. It is often to respond to information that has already shaped a patient’s understanding of their condition.

Dr. Ramaswamy has seen that dynamic first-hand. He recalled a patient with large bladder stones who was scheduled for surgery to remove them and relieve a severely obstructed prostate. After an unexpected trip to the Emergency Department, the patient began researching his condition with AI.

At the panel “Hello, doc; meet my chatbot,” moderated by Rebecca Ruiz, senior reporter, Mashable (left), Dr. Ramaswamy (right) and Omer Liran, MD, co-Director, Cedars-Sinai Center for Virtual Medicine and Health System Transformation (center), talked about how they’re increasingly seeing patients come into the clinic already with opinions about their treatment informed by AI. (Image credit: Erica Tricarico | AHCJ)

“He was researching another procedure called prostate artery embolization that I would never have recommended to him,” Dr. Ramaswamy said.

The procedure was not part of the treatment plan and would not have addressed some of the patient’s underlying problems. Yet the patient wanted to discuss it.

The problem was not that the patient asked questions. Many questions prompted by AI are reasonable, Dr. Ramaswamy said. But the chatbot had already influenced how the patient understood his options, whether or not the information applied to his care.

Physicians may need to discuss treatments they would not otherwise raise or help patients assess conflicting information. As Dr. Ramaswamy explained during the panel, AI is shaping how patients interpret health concerns before they enter the exam room.

“I’m having to also anticipate their use of AI,” he said. That may mean proactively discussing procedures, alternatives, risks, or questions that might not have entered the conversation in the past.

Dr. Ramaswamy does not see this as a contest between physicians and chatbots. The challenge is finding ways for patients, physicians, and AI to work together while maintaining trust.

Can AI strengthen the doctor-patient relationship?

“There’s no connection between the doctor, the AI, and the patient. They’re not working in concert with each other, and they very much could,” said Dr. Ramaswamy during the AHCJ panel.

Discussions about AI often focus on risks and misinformation. Dr. Ramaswamy also sees an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between patients and physicians.

He sees that potential in his practice. Dr. Ramaswamy recently developed an AI-assisted process to help patients prepare for surgery. Patients taking multiple medications need detailed instructions about which to stop, which to continue, and when. Staff previously spent hours each week reviewing and communicating those instructions.

Using rules-based automation and AI, the time needed for the process fell from about 10 hours a week to approximately 30 minutes, he said. And the benefit extends beyond efficiency. “It makes it safer,” he said. Patients receive clearer medication instructions, while clinicians gain time for other aspects of care.

For Dr. Ramaswamy, the value is not just the time AI saves, but how clinicians can use it. Physicians do more than supply information: They interpret it, help patients navigate uncertainty, and apply medical judgment to each person’s circumstances.

For example, surgical patients often ask when they can return to playing golf. A chatbot might accurately explain that they should wait several weeks and provide a detailed rationale. His mentors often give a different answer: “You can play putt-putt for the next month. Work on your short game.”

The distinction may seem small, but both answers serve different purposes. One gives medical information; the other makes the guidance feel relevant to a patient’s life.

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AI may strengthen the doctor-patient relationship by giving physicians more time for the human elements of care.

“Sometimes what a doctor is there to do is not to provide an answer,” Dr. Ramaswamy said. Physicians offer context, judgment, and reassurance. “They can help patients recognize when more information may not be useful,” he said.

He’s Helping Raise Awareness of Prostate Cancer: A Long-Haul Driver Is Back on the Road After Treatment

Updated on Oct 29, 2026 | Community, Featured, Your Health

A photo of Frank Steed and Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, FRCS (Hon.), DSc (Hon.), Chair of the Milton and Carroll Petrie Department of Urology.

“If delivering this mobile unit helps more people get screened and find their cancer early, that’s a good thing,” says Frank Steed, who stands with Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, FRCS (Hon.), DSc (Hon.), Chair of the Milton and Carroll Petrie Department of Urology, beside Mount Sinai’s newest Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit.

Frank Steed, a 69-year-old truck driver from Arizona, recently delivered a state-of-the-art mobile prostate screening unit to Mount Sinai Health System. For him, it was more than just another job, it was personal.

Each week, he crisscrosses the country making deliveries. But this run was special for Mr. Steed because he, too, has been affected by prostate cancer.

Mr. Steed was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022. He had been scheduled to deliver Mount Sinai’s first Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit. But he was unable to complete the run because he was still recovering from his cancer treatment.

Back then, he experienced some discomfort and loss of sensation. He spoke with his doctor and took a PSA test. He was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer. He received radiation therapy treatment from his health care team in Arizona.

He was not a patient of Mount Sinai. But he became part of the Department of Urology’s expanding initiative to raise awareness of prostate cancer and expand testing and care of high-risk men in the community when he delivered the second New York-based mobile unit to Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, FRCS (Hon.), DSc (Hon.), Chair of the Milton and Carroll Petrie Department of Urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

“We are so grateful to Frank for driving and delivering this unit across the country and for Thomas Milana and the Milana Family Foundation for providing a portion of the funding for this new mobile prostate cancer screening unit,” says Dr. Tewari, who launched the initiative in 2022. “Together, we will screen and educate thousands more men and their families annually, and that’s the most effective way to beat prostate cancer: early detection.”

Mr. Steed says he’s just thankful to be here.

“If delivering this mobile unit helps more people get screened and find their cancer early, that’s a good thing,” he says.

He is back on the road, and he still monitors his PSA levels. When he delivered the new unit in October, he also took a few minutes to sit down for a free PSA screening (blood test) in the first unit, which was parked near The Mount Sinai Hospital.

“I got my results back and my PSA numbers are really good.”

Prostate Cancer by the Numbers

About one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates about 333,830 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States in 2026.

“Our vision has always been to bring screening into the community and meet people where they are rather than expecting every patient to come to us. — Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, FRCS (Hon.), DSc (Hon.)

Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among men in the United States after skin cancer. Black men face a significantly higher risk of developing and dying from the disease than men of other racial and ethnic groups.

Early detection can improve treatment options and outcomes, making access to screening an important component of prostate cancer care.

“When prostate cancer is found early, we have the greatest opportunity to successfully treat it while preserving quality of life,” says Dr. Tewari.

Since its launch in 2022, Mount Sinai’s mobile prostate cancer screening program has screened more than 15,000 men in the New York City area (and an additional 3,000 in collaboration with the Atlanta-based unit at Emory University), with approximately one in five men requiring follow-up evaluation.

The newest Mount Sinai Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit is made possible through the support of The Milana Family Foundation’s Man Cave Health and will bring community-based prostate cancer screening, education, and follow-up care to men across Long Island. Both units will continue to serve the wider New York City area.

“Our vision has always been to bring screening into the community and meet people where they are rather than expecting every patient to come to us. Expanding this program to Long Island is an important next step in making prostate cancer screening more accessible, particularly for areas where barriers to care persist,” Dr. Tewari says.

The expansion to Long Island reflects Mount Sinai’s continued commitment to bringing preventive care beyond traditional clinical settings and into the communities it serves.

Through partnerships with local organizations and health care providers, the mobile screening program aims to increase awareness of prostate health, encourage informed screening decisions, and improve access to timely specialty care. Dr. Tewari wants to reach and screen 1 million men for prostate cancer.

Learn more about Mount Sinai's Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening Unit

What Vaccines Do You Need This Fall? An Infectious Disease Expert Answers Your Questions About COVID-19, Flu, and RSV

Oct 27, 2026 | Featured, Your Health

Photo of bandage being placed on arm after vaccination.

Respiratory viruses such as influenza (flu), COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can lead to serious illness, especially in older adults, young children, and people with chronic medical conditions.

In this Q&A, Rebecca Choudhury, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discusses the latest guidance on who should get COVID-19, influenza, and RSV vaccines and other steps you should take to reduce the risks of infection this season.

Who should get the updated COVID-19 vaccine?

Vaccination is most strongly recommended for adults age 65 and older, young children between six months and two years old, and people who are at risk of developing a severe disease. Those at risk include people with chronic medical conditions, such as lung disease, asthma, and diabetes, and those with weakened immune systems, which includes people being treated for cancer.

Rebecca Choudhury, MD

COVID-19 no longer feels like the threat it was during the pandemic. Why is vaccination still important?

We’ve seen a decline in the severity of COVID-19 over the past several years, Dr. Choudhury says. One reason is that vaccines have been widely available, which has helped reduce the risk of spreading disease. We also know that today’s circulating variants generally cause less severe illness than earlier strains. But COVID-19 can still cause serious complications for older adults, very young children, and others at higher risk. Vaccination is still recommended.

What should people do if they’re unsure whether a COVID-19 vaccine is right for them?

If you’re uncertain, talk with your primary care physician, Dr. Choudhury says. There is a lot of information available, and some of it can be a bit confusing about who should get vaccinated. Your primary care physician can help you determine whether vaccination is right for you. Local health departments can also be a good source of information.

This year there has been a lot of discussion about vaccine recommendations. How should patients evaluate the guidance they’re hearing?

There is plenty of data and recommendations from medical organizations to get vaccinated that can help you decide what is right for you. We now have several years of data about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. We know very well what the benefits are and what the possible side effects are. Professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Practitioners, along with state and local health departments, including those in New York City and New York State, have drawn on that extensive evidence to develop the recommendations they are now making to get vaccinated.

What steps can people take to reduce their risk of getting COVID-19 or other respiratory viruses?

All the things you remember from the height of the pandemic are still true. Good hand hygiene remains one of the most important tools. Wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitizer, particularly after being in public places. Masking can also be helpful in crowded settings, especially when virus activity is elevated or if you’re at higher risk for complications. And if you’re feeling sick, stay home if possible and avoid exposing others. Wearing a mask when you have symptoms can help reduce the spread of infection.

Who should get a flu shot this season?

The flu vaccine is recommended for nearly everyone six months of age and older. While older adults and people with chronic medical conditions are at highest risk for severe flu complications, healthy children and younger adults can also become seriously ill. Vaccination also helps protect vulnerable people around you who may be at greater risk for severe disease.

When is the best time to get a flu shot?

October is generally considered the official start of the flu season. Fall is an ideal time to get vaccinated, before cases begin rising significantly. Cases usually start to peak around December. It takes about two weeks for your immune system to develop full protection after vaccination, so it’s best not to wait until flu activity peaks, according to Dr. Choudhury. Based on the strains of influenza we are seeing, and the flu activity this winter in the southern hemisphere, we anticipate this may be a severe flu season here in the United States, she says.

Is it safe to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time?

Getting both vaccines during the same visit is safe. There is no evidence that getting them together increases the risk of serious side effects. However, people who get both vaccines at the same time may be somewhat more likely to experience temporary flu-like side effects such as fever, fatigue, chills, or body aches when the vaccines are given together, Dr. Choudhury says. These symptoms usually go away within a couple of days.

Why do some people feel sick after getting vaccinated?

It feels like you’re getting sick after you get vaccinated because the vaccine is revving up your immune system, in the same way as if you were exposed to the illness. But you don’t actually get sick. You just get that brief immune response.

What is RSV?

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) commonly causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most people, but can cause very severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing, in very young infants and older adults. The RSV “season” typically starts in October in the Northeast, and cases tend to reach a peak in December. Babies and young children are more at risk to develop severe RSV.

Who should get the RSV vaccine?

The group of people who should get the RSV vaccine is more limited than for the flu, according to Dr. Choudhury. RSV vaccination is recommended for adults age 75 and older. It is also recommended for many adults ages 50 to 74 who have chronic health conditions that increase their risk of severe RSV illness. Another important group is pregnant women between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. It’s not so much to protect the mother. Rather, it’s to protect very young infants who are at the highest risk of getting RSV and can become very sick.

How can you tell the difference between a cold, the flu, COVID-19, and RSV?

It can be difficult to tell the differences because the symptoms often overlap, but there are several distinctive symptoms for each, Dr. Choudhury says. Testing is the only way to know for certain which virus is causing an illness. Here are some key points:

In general, the common cold tends to cause a mild upper respiratory illness, which produces nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat with a mild cough.
Fever, severe fatigue, and body aches point to influenza or COVID-19.
RSV is known for causing more significant respiratory symptoms, including severe bronchitis, which is an inflammation of the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs, particularly in infants and older adults. Warning signs can include shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness, which we typically don’t see with a common cold.

Department of Emergency Medicine Hosts Annual Emergency Nurses Week Celebration

Updated on Oct 22, 2026 | Featured, Nursing

Attendees of the fifth annual Emergency Nurses Week Celebration

The Mount Sinai Department of Emergency Medicine recently hosted the fifth annual Emergency Nurses Week Celebration. The ceremony recognized awardees across six categories and graduates of the ED RN Fellowship from all Mount Sinai Health System emergency departments. Awardees, graduates, and their families gathered to celebrate.

At Mount Sinai, there are more than 700 emergency department nursing team members who deliver compassionate care to patients across the New York City region. Mount Sinai Emergency Nursing shows excellence through education, research, community engagement, clinical operations, and regional and national advocacy. Notably, in 2025, Mount Sinai reached a remarkable milestone when every emergency department across the Health System held an Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award simultaneously. The ENA Lantern Awards recognize the dedication, skill, and compassion of our emergency nurses. Learn more about Lantern Awards.

Emergency Nursing Ally of Distinction Award: This inaugural award recognized the leadership of Benjamin Abella, MD, MPhil, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai Health System, and Mount Sinai Professor in Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, for his commitment to supporting emergency nursing. From left: Dr. Abella, Jonathan Nover, MBA, RN, and Christopher Nagata, MBA, MPH.

From left: Benjamin Abella, Jonathan Nover, Christopher Nagata.

Emergency Nursing New Team Member of the Year: The recipients for this category have 24 months or less experience working in the Emergency Department and consistently display confidence and initiative in clinical care and contribute to the team’s success. From left are awardees Frank Naudus, Shirley Vitiello, Abigayle Stephenson, Rossi Arroyo, and presenter Louis Calderon. Not pictured are awardees Christopher Yu and Abner Diaz.

From left are awardees Frank Naudus; Shirley Vitiello; Abigayle Stephenson; Rossi Arroyo; and presenter Louis Calderon

ED RN Fellowship Cohort 11 Graduates: From left are graduates Nayely Rodriguez, Christopher Zavatzky, and presenter Ledjan Halollari. Not pictured are graduates Miranda Oestreich and Sofiya Reznikova.

From left are graduates Nayely Rodriguez; Christopher Zavatzky; and presenter Ledjan Halollari

Emergency Nursing Mentor of the Year: The recipient for this category serves as a resource and mentor for Emergency Department team members and new hires by sharing knowledge and skills. From left are awardees Sarin Grey, Jon-Paul Dimarco, Peter Lo, and presenter Daya Manmadhan. Not pictured are awardees Mala Ameerullah, Corine Lamy, and Alexa Diaz.

From left are awardees Sarin Grey; Jon-Paul Dimarco; Peter Lo; and presenter Daya Manmadhan

ED RN Fellowship Cohort 12 Graduates: From left are presenter Timothy Ivers, graduates Elizabeth Keeler, Alexandra Chetram, Isabella Edgarian, and presenter Leeann Miguel. Not pictured are graduates Azatoui Saakian, Nicole Chen, Lilian Guzman, and Emerson Kouri.

From left are presenter Timothy Ivers; graduates Elizabeth Keeler; Alexandra Chetram; Isabella Edgarian; and presenter Leeann Miguel.

Emergency Nursing Patient Experience Award: The recipient for this category demonstrates excellence in patient experience through teamwork and compassion. From left are presenter Colleen Clifford, awardees Christopher Zavatzky, Charlene Napolean-Gaspard, Emma Sonta, Jayme Schrank, Anna Giuliano, and presenter Victoria Rodriguez. Not pictured is awardee Jessica Renvil Posada.

From left are presenter Colleen Clifford; awardees Christopher Zavatzky; Charlene Napolean-Gaspard; Emma Sonta; Jayme Schrank; Anna Giuliano; and presenter Victoria Rodriguez

Emergency Nursing Innovation Award: An individual or team who has led and advocated for innovative technology initiatives in the Emergency Department leveraging continuous improvement and creative solutions. From left are awardees Yahaira Rivera-Rosario, Matthew Destefano, Lilian Batista, Jarrett Murphy, Philip Mangey, and presenter Kaleena Soorma. Not pictured is awardee Nephala Deabreu, RN.

From left are awardees Yahaira Rivera-Rosario; Matthew Destefano; Lilian Batista; Jarrett Murphy; Philip Mangey; and presenter Kaleena Soorma

ED RN Fellowship Cohort 13 Graduates: From left are graduates Elizabeth Scala, Anthony Pavella, Justin Medina, and presenter Kiteema McDonald. Not pictured is graduate Jacob Lucas.

From left are graduates Elizabeth Scala; Anthony Pavella; Justin Medina; and presenter Kiteema McDonald

Emergency Nursing Clinical Nurse of the Year: The recipient for this category is an emergency nurse who adheres to nursing standards of practice and consistently demonstrates exceptional patient care and professionalism. From left are awardees Yasmina Garcia, Courtney Perico, Catherine Torres, Jose Gotiangco, and presenter Ashley Caceres. Not pictured are awardees Michael Nelson and Yi-Hsiang Hsiao.

From left are awardees Yasmina Garcia; Courtney Perico; Catherine Torres; Jose Gotiangco; and presenter Ashley Caceres

Emergency Nursing Nurse Leader of the Year: The recipient for this category is an emergency nurse leader of any level (Clinical RN, Charge RN, SCN, ANM, NM, Director) who demonstrates excellent leadership skills, adaptability, and fostering teamwork. From left are awardees Kaleena Soorma, Francine Stevens, Louis Calderon, Naomi Pyles, Michal Shamli, Samantha McCandless, and presenter Anthony Duncan.

From left are awardees Kaleena Soorma; Francine Stevens; Louis Calderon; Naomi Pyles; Michal Shamli; Samantha McCandless; and presenter Anthony Duncan.

More Photos From the Fifth Annual Emergency Nurses Week Celebration

Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Chief Nurse Executive, Senior Vice President, Cardiac Services, Mount Sinai Health System, delivers closing remarks at the ceremony.

Reception during the fifth annual Emergency Nurses Week Celebration

The ceremony recognized awardees across six categories and graduates of the ED RN Fellowship from all Mount Sinai Health System emergency departments.

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