Featured | Mount Sinai Today

This Master of Public Health Student Is on a Mission to Prevent Diabetes and Obesity Through Nutrition Education

Sep 2, 2026 | Featured, School

“Mount Sinai has given me opportunities to grow professionally, serve people throughout New York City, and develop the skills I need to continue working toward my long-term goal of preventing diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases,” says Ayannah Riley, MPH.

Ayannah Riley, MPH, earned her Master of Public Health degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 2026, with a concentration in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. With a background in nutrition, exercise science, fitness, and community health, Ms. Riley is passionate about using public health education and research to prevent chronic diseases and improve health outcomes in underserved communities.

Ms. Riley was inspired to study public health because she has lost family members to chronic diseases and related health complications, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and conditions related to obesity.

These experiences showed her how chronic diseases can lead to life-changing and sometimes life-ending outcomes for individuals and their families. She wants to make meaningful contributions to the lives of those in her family and in underserved communities. Ms. Riley believes that nutrition, physical activity, wellness education, and access to preventive resources can play an important role in reducing the risk of chronic disease. Her vision is to see people live healthy, fulfilling lives without disruptions caused by preventable chronic diseases and their related complications.

“Being in the Department of Public Health has taught me so much about research, community health, and disease prevention,” she says. “I have learned how to use data to understand health challenges and how to translate research into practical programs and resources that can support communities. Mount Sinai has given me opportunities to grow professionally, serve people throughout New York City, and develop the skills I need to continue working toward my long-term goal of preventing diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases.”

Ms. Riley first became familiar with the Icahn School of Medicine while working as a nutrition and physical education instructor with FAN4Kids in Upper Manhattan. At the time, she was creating a morning wellness curriculum that taught children how to promote health among their peers and within their communities through projects such as exploring school lunch choices and developing a wellness newspaper.

One evening after leaving work, she needed a quiet place that stayed open late to continue developing her lesson plans and came across the Levy Library. Curious about how she could gain access, Ms. Riley began researching the Icahn School of Medicine and discovered its Master of Public Health program.

As she learned more about the Master of Public Health program, Ms. Riley became interested in how the program combined research, disease prevention, health education, and community health. She recognized that earning an MPH could help her build upon her background in nutrition and exercise science while developing the skills needed to address chronic disease at the community and population levels. Inspired by the program’s potential, she applied and began the next stage of her public health journey at Mount Sinai.

During her time in the program, Ms. Riley found several of her courses to be useful in preparing her for a career in public health. Classes such as Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Research Methods, and Global Health contributed to her academic and professional growth. Epidemiology introduced Ms. Riley to a new area of study and quickly became a strong interest. Learning how to examine patterns of disease and identify factors that influence health reinforced that she had made the right choice to study public health.

Her interest led her to take additional courses, including Nutritional Epidemiology, which allowed her to connect her background in nutrition with population health research. Ms. Riley also enjoyed Research Methods because it strengthened her ability to ask meaningful research questions, analyze data, interpret findings, and develop new insights. She later applied these concepts, along with her data-analysis skills, across several research and independent study projects.

Mentorship also played an important role during Ms. Riley’s time as a student. Geoffrey “Cappy” Collins, MD, Assistant Professor, Population Health Science and Policy, and Graduate Education, served as her capstone project advisor and helped her strengthen her research, develop her capstone, and prepare her poster for Public Health Research Day in May 2026. His guidance and support contributed greatly to her growth as a public health professional.

Ms. Riley also received support and encouragement from Maya Korin, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine, and Public Health. Dr. Korin provided helpful feedback on her poster and later supported her independent study focused on caregiver nutrition education and childhood undernutrition in Uganda.

All MPH students at the Icahn School of Medicine engage in practical skill-building opportunities throughout their coursework. They further develop these skills through an Applied Practice Experience and a Culminating Experience, which may be a master’s thesis, manuscript, or capstone project.

Ms. Riley completed her Applied Practice Experience with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Healthy Eating Unit. During this experience, she supported community-based nutrition and health-promotion initiatives and saw how nutrition education could help individuals and families feel more confident in making healthy choices. Her experience also helped shape her interest in developing resources that community organizations can use when formal nutrition education programs and funding are limited.

Ms. Riley’s capstone project was titled “Development of a Culturally Tailored Nutrition Education Manual to Support Community-Based Organizations Following SNAP-Ed Elimination in New York City.”

For the project, she developed a practical manual with nutrition education lessons, culturally responsive resources, facilitator guidance, and tools that community-based organizations can use to assess and address the needs of the communities they serve. The manual covers topics such as food-label literacy, balanced meals, food safety, and navigating supermarkets and community food resources.

Ms. Riley hopes to further develop and pilot the manual with community organizations, schools, churches, and other programs serving families with limited access to nutrition education. She hopes to use the resource to help organizations continue providing practical and accessible nutrition education, even when funding and formal programs are limited.

Ms. Riley plans to measure the success of the pilot through pre- and post-program surveys that assess changes in participants’ nutrition knowledge, confidence in making healthy choices, and awareness of available community food resources. She also hopes to collect feedback from participants and facilitators to determine which parts of the manual are most useful and what should be improved before expanding the program to additional communities.

Ms. Riley’s Global Health independent study was a separate project. She was originally scheduled to travel to Uganda through the Global Health Summer Program, but the in-person experience was canceled because of an Ebola outbreak. She completed the work remotely by using data bases to analyze three years of malnutrition data from the Soft Power Health Community Clinic in Jinja, Uganda. She examined the data across years and quarters to better understand trends, patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and other factors related to malnutrition.

Her vision for the future is for people to be able to avoid preventable chronic diseases while having greater food security, confidence in making informed food choices, and continued access to reliable nutrition and wellness information.

In recognition of her commitment to serving communities and advancing public health, she received the 2026 Master’s Commencement Award for Community Service and Engagement in Public Health.

Ms. Riley plans to continue building a career in chronic-disease prevention, research, nutrition education, and community health. Ultimately, she hopes to develop and lead programs that help underserved communities reduce their risk of diabetes, obesity, and related chronic diseases while gaining the knowledge and resources needed to live healthier lives.

Learn more about the Master of Public Health program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Who Is at Risk of Postpartum Psychosis—and Is It Treatable?

Sep 1, 2026 | Featured, Psychiatry, Your Health

A photo of a new mother holding her baby.

Having a baby can turn your world upside down.

Many new mothers experience a feeling of sadness that may last for a few weeks and go away on its own. And about one in eight women reported signs of a more significant postpartum depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

A much smaller group of women, about one in a thousand, have a far more severe concern called postpartum psychosis. For years, there has been little awareness of postpartum psychosis. Lately, the condition has been in the news. When caught early, postpartum psychosis can be treated successfully.

In this Q&A, Veerle Bergink, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist and Director of Mount Sinai’s Women’s Mental Health Center, explains some of the key symptoms of postpartum psychosis, its likely causes, and some possible treatments.

Veerle Bergink, MD, PhD

“The most important thing to know is that postpartum psychosis is very treatable,” Dr. Bergink says. “If you detect and treat it, the woman will be fine. In our study, 98 percent of women got better, sometimes within days or weeks.” Under her leadership, Mount Sinai is researching the diagnosis and treatment of postpartum psychosis and has played a major role in attempting to shed light on this often-ignored condition.

How do you diagnose postpartum psychosis?

Postpartum psychosis is a severe mental illness that shows up during the first three months after childbirth. Women with this condition can display mania, psychosis, or depression with psychotic features. They may have these symptoms:

Mania: When someone has a manic episode, thoughts race through their heads. They may behave in ways that are excessive. Sometimes people buy a lot, or they have grand plans. Their moods can be really over the top. They’re not happy, they’re over the moon. Or they are very irritable, they’re very, very annoyed by everyone and everything.

Psychosis: This is when someone loses touch with reality. They may hear things that no one else does or see things that are not there. They might have weird ideas or become extremely paranoid or have delusions of grandiosity, religion or guilt.

Depression with psychotic features: This is when someone’s mood is really low, and at the same time, they have lost touch with reality. For example, they don’t think that their child is crying a lot today but that they are the devil. They don’t think they’re responsible for a minor disagreement but that all wars are their fault.

These symptoms can vary, too. A woman might have mania, then dive quickly into a depression. She might have mania and depression at the same time. Or she might have symptoms one day, seem normal the next day, then display symptoms again later.

How does this look to family and friends?

Basically, you have a sense that something is off. You might think, “I know my sister, daughter, wife, and this is not her.”

How serious is postpartum psychosis?

Postpartum psychosis is very serious. If left untreated, there is a high risk of suicide. The infanticide risk is very low, but if it happens it gets understandably a lot of media attention. Fortunately, it is highly treatable.

What are treatments for postpartum psychosis?

To treat postpartum psychosis, we start women with antipsychotic medication and lithium. Antipsychotics can be tapered after the acute phase (usually a few weeks) and women are advised to take lithium for one year and then taper. Electroconvulsive therapy works as good as lithium. If a woman who had postpartum psychosis gets pregnant again, we advise to restart treatment the same day after they give birth to prevent another episode. There is no risk of postpartum psychosis during pregnancy, just after delivery. Women with bipolar disorder are at high risk for postpartum psychosis as well. They can prevent it by taking medication immediately after delivery.

It is also vital to make sure women with postpartum psychosis get enough sleep. They need a partner who can provide all the infant care overnight so the woman can sleep. This is especially key during the first few days and weeks after the birth.

What causes postpartum psychosis?

We are not sure exactly what causes postpartum psychosis, but we do have several ideas. After women give birth, they experience a sudden, sharp decrease in estrogen and progesterone called a “hormone free fall.” We think this is one of the triggers. But when researchers tried to prevent this freefall with hormone replacement therapy, it didn’t protect women from experiencing postpartum psychosis. So, while hormone free fall probably contributes to postpartum psychosis, it isn’t the sole cause.

What else might be involved?

We think the immune system is also part of the problem. While a woman is pregnant, her immune system adapts to avoid rejecting the fetus the way it might reject a donated liver or kidney. But after she gives birth, the immune system goes back to the way it had been. Most autoimmune diseases have a flare-up after delivery. We know, for instance, that women with rheumatoid arthritis usually feel better during pregnancy. But after they give birth, the rheumatoid arthritis symptoms come back. Given that all disorders with postpartum onset in general medicine are immune related, we think that immune dysfunction plays a major role in postpartum psychosis as well. We have done small studies and urgently need funding for larger studies.

Who is most likely to develop postpartum psychosis?

It is just bad luck. Postpartum psychosis happens in women of all backgrounds and educational levels all over the world. But there are two groups of women who have a very high risk of postpartum psychosis:

Women who have bipolar disorder: Their risk goes from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 6 for postpartum psychosis and 1 in 6 for postpartum depression. So that means women with bipolar disorder have a 1 in 3 risk for becoming mentally ill after childbirth.
Women who have already had postpartum psychosis: Their risk also rises from 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 3 to get seriously ill after delivery (both postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis)

How do I reduce my risk of postpartum psychosis?

If you are at high risk of postpartum psychosis, you should begin treatment right after you give birth to prevent it.

What does scientific research say about postpartum psychosis?

Recent studies have underlined the link between the condition and bipolar disorder. Researchers are working hard to spread the word about postpartum psychosis and have it recognized as an official diagnosis.

Learn more about Mount Sinai's Women’s Mental Health Center

GLP-1 Medications Explained: What You Should Know

Updated on Sep 1, 2026 | Diabetes, Endocrinology, Featured, Heart Health, Popular, Vascular Health, Your Health

GLP-1 medications are now a major topic in health care and the news. These drugs can help people manage type 2 diabetes and lose weight. Researchers are also studying how they may help with other health problems.

What are GLP-1 medications? How do they work? What should you know about their benefits, side effects, and risks?

Reshmi Srinath, MD, Director of the Mount Sinai Weight and Metabolism Management Program, explains the basics of GLP-1 medications.

What are GLP-1 medications?

GLP-1 medications act like a natural hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1, or GLP-1.

The small intestine releases GLP-1. This hormone helps control blood sugar. It also helps people feel full after eating.

Researchers began studying gut hormones many years ago. They found that natural GLP-1 breaks down fast in the body. They later made forms that last longer and can be used as drugs.

Most GLP-1 drugs are peptides. Peptides are made from the same building blocks as proteins. Some newer drugs are not peptides. They can still target the same GLP-1 receptor in the body.

Reshmi Srinath, MD, Director of the Mount Sinai Weight and Metabolism Management Program

How do GLP-1 medications work?

GLP-1 medications affect several parts of the body. They can help:

Manage blood sugar: GLP-1 affects the pancreas and liver. Both help control blood sugar.
Help you feel full: The drugs can help people feel full after eating.
Slow digestion: The drugs slow the speed at which food moves through the digestive system.
Support weight loss: Feeling full longer can help people eat less and lose weight.

The first GLP-1 drugs were mainly used for type 2 diabetes. Doctors then noticed that with improvement in diabetes that many patients also lost weight.

Researchers are now studying other ways these drugs may help with other chronic health conditions, says Dr. Srinath.

What are the approved uses of GLP-1 medications?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved GLP-1 medications for these uses:

Type 2 diabetes
Obesity and weight management
Obstructive sleep apnea
Heart disease
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a form of liver disease
Reducing certain heart and kidney risks in people with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease

Some GLP-1 drugs are shots, and some are pills. Not every drug is approved for every use. The table below lists approved drugs, key brand names, and uses*.

Active ingredient	Key brand names	FDA-approved uses
Semaglutide	Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus	Type 2 diabetes; weight management; heart and kidney risk reduction; MASH
Tirzepatide	Mounjaro, Zepbound	Type 2 diabetes; weight management; obstructive sleep apnea; heart risk reduction
Liraglutide	Victoza, Saxenda	Type 2 diabetes; weight management; heart risk reduction
Dulaglutide	Trulicity	Type 2 diabetes; heart risk reduction
Orforglipron	Foundayo	Weight management

*Information accurate as of September 1, 2026.

What other uses are being studied?

Scientists are studying whether GLP-1 drugs may help with other health problems. Research includes:

Osteoarthritis
Autoimmune diseases, including some skin conditions
Cancer
Brain conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia

Why might one type of drug affect so many parts of the body? “There may not be one simple answer,” says Dr. Srinath.

Weight loss can improve some long-term health problems. Researchers are also studying how GLP-1 drugs may affect inflammation. Inflammation plays a role in many long-term diseases.

Scientists may find more ways these drugs can help. But more research is needed. We do not yet know if they are safe and effective for these other uses.

What are the most common GLP-1 side effects?

The most common side effects affect the digestive system. They include:

Nausea
Acid reflux
Constipation

Side effects may start soon after treatment begins. They often get better as the body gets used to the drug.

Side effects may come back when the dose goes up, says Dr. Srinath. Talk to your health care provider if they do not go away or worry you.

Are GLP-1 medications safe long term?

“GLP-1 medications are not brand-new drugs,” says Dr. Srinath.

These drugs have been used for diabetes for many years. Thousands of patients have also taken part in studies. Doctors have a large amount of information about their safety and side effects.

Still, newer GLP-1 drugs do not have decades of safety data. Researchers continue to study their long-term effects as more people use them.

Dr. Srinath says more long-term safety data is still needed. For now, she says the evidence is reassuring and the benefits outweigh any risks.

What are common concerns about GLP-1 medications?

As these drugs have become more popular, people have asked more questions about their effects. Here is what we know about some common concerns.

Are GLP-1 medications a “magic” weight-loss drug?

No. GLP-1 drugs can be strong tools, but a healthy lifestyle is also important, says Dr. Srinath.

Healthy eating and exercise still matter. Dr. Srinath recommends enough protein, fiber, and water each day. Limiting highly processed foods, sugary drinks, and alcohol can also help.

The drugs also do not work the same for everyone. Some people in clinical trials did not get the same results as others. GLP-1 drugs are not a guaranteed solution, says Dr. Srinath.

Do GLP-1 medications cause muscle loss?

Muscle loss is a common concern, especially when these drugs are used for weight loss.

“The bottom line is this: You are going to lose muscle no matter how you lose weight,” says Dr. Srinath.

About one-quarter of the weight a person loses may be muscle, while most of the rest is fat, says Dr. Srinath. She notes that muscle loss can happen with any type of weight loss, not just with GLP-1 medications.

Researchers are still studying what this muscle loss may mean. They do not yet know if it affects strength or how well a person can move.

For now, Dr. Srinath recommends staying active. She also recommends exercises that build and keep muscle. Getting enough protein is important too.

Can GLP-1 medications damage the heart?

Current data does not show that GLP-1 drugs damage heart muscle. In fact, some GLP-1 drugs have shown benefits for the heart, says Dr. Srinath.

Research is still underway. But current evidence does not suggest that muscle loss from these drugs weakens the heart.

Can GLP-1 medications affect your eyes?

Some studies have found a possible link to a rare eye problem. This problem affects blood flow to the optic nerve.

“That is an area of ongoing research, and while it is such a low risk, it is something I do tell patients about,” says Dr. Srinath. “I do think the benefits here outweigh any eye risks, though.”

Talk to your health care provider if you notice changes in your vision. You may also need to see an eye doctor.

Do not ignore new vision problems. Do not stop a prescribed drug before you talk to your health care provider.

What are compounded GLP-1 medications?

Some people use compounded GLP-1 drugs. These drugs may cost less and may be easier to get. They are often sold through compounding pharmacies and online health services.

Compounding pharmacies make drugs for individual patients. They do not supply the finished drug made by the original drug maker.

Compounded GLP-1 drugs are not the same as FDA-approved brand-name drugs, says Dr. Srinath. They do not go through the same FDA review for safety, quality, and how well they work.

Concerns about compounded GLP-1 drugs include:

The amount of active drug in a dose
The strength of the drug
Added ingredients, such as preservatives, vitamins, or supplements
Differences in quality between pharmacies

Dr. Srinath says some patients have received doses that were too strong or not strong enough. She says it can be hard to know how safe or effective a specific compounded drug may be.

Dr. Srinath recommends FDA-approved brand-name drugs when possible.

Cost and insurance coverage can make these drugs hard to get. This can lead some people to seek compounded drugs instead.

If you use a compounded GLP-1 drug, Dr. Srinath recommends care from a health care provider. This may be an endocrinologist, a weight management specialist, or a primary care provider.

Questions about GLP-1 medication? Schedule an appointment with a doctor

Can GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Help Preserve Brain Volume?

Updated on Sep 4, 2026 | Featured, Research

“We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of this exciting research and look forward to working with all of our participant volunteers,” says Ilana Katz Sand, MD

For those living with multiple sclerosis (MS), GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) might represent a new mechanism for combating disease progression. Though initially developed for diabetes treatment, GLP-1 agents have become famous for inducing weight loss. However, the investigators behind the TAG-MS clinical trial, now recruiting patients at The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis, are hopeful that GLP-1 RAs will demonstrate therapeutic benefits beyond their metabolic impact.

The study drug, NLY01, is a modified version of an existing GLP1-RA that has already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The modified drug exhibits a key difference: NLY01 maintains a significantly higher sustained concentration in the body and has other characteristics that enable it to more readily cross the blood-brain barrier. Given the widespread presence of GLP-1 receptors in the brain, this property led investigators to hypothesize that NLY01 may be able to directly target the central nervous system inflammation implicated in neurodegeneration.

This theory has a solid scientific foundation: In a mouse model of brain inflammation commonly used to study MS, investigators found that NLY01 administration had anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. They proposed that by reducing peripheral and central inflammation, the neurodegeneration that is a hallmark of progressive MS can be slowed.

Researchers have also expanded beyond mouse models. In a previous study of patients with Parkinson’s disease, the study drug showed improved clinical outcomes compared to a placebo control. Additionally, in a recent trial in Alzheimer’s disease, a GLP-1 agent resulted in a slower reduction in brain volume.

At first glance, research in Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease may seem far removed from MS. However, Ilana Katz Sand, MD, Associate Director of the MS Center and Associate Professor of Neurology, emphasizes that while Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are distinct diseases from MS, they do share common pathways with regard to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. “Recent research in these conditions strengthens our rationale for studying them in MS,” she says.

Building on this scientific rationale, Ellen Mowry, MD, of Johns Hopkins University designed a new phase 2 study, funded by the International Progressive MS Alliance, to investigate these mechanisms. At Mount Sinai, Dr. Katz Sand is the principal investigator behind the study.

The overall aim of the TAG-MS study is to investigate whether NLY01 can protect against neurodegeneration in people living with MS. The study is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Approximately 40 participants enrolled at Mount Sinai will self-administer weekly injections of either the study drug or a placebo over the course of two years.

“In a randomized controlled trial, a computer program assigns whether each participant receives the active drug or the placebo,” says Dr. Katz Sand. “The study team cannot choose the treatment assignment, and no one involved with the study will even know the assignment until the study concludes… to avoid introducing bias into the results. However, regardless of whether participants receive the study drug or the placebo, all participants will remain on their current MS disease-modifying therapy and also receive lifestyle behavioral therapy by trained nurses, as well as a free Fitbit.”

The primary goal of the study is to measure how much brain volume is retained over time. A “decrease in brain volume is part of normal aging, but we know that people who live with MS can have a slightly greater rate of decrease than those who don’t,” says Dr. Katz Sand. “This is somewhat correlated with worsening of MS-related disability over time. Disease-modifying therapies can help partially protect the brain, and we hope to find that NLY01 provides additional protection from brain volume loss.”

In addition to monitoring brain volume with three MRIs over the two-year study period, additional data will be collected through OCT scans, blood samples, clinical assessments and questionnaires, and Fitbit devices. While the primary goal of TAG-MS is to evaluate whether NLY01 can slow brain volume loss, these additional health measures may provide valuable insight into how the treatment affects disease progression more broadly.

With enrollment now underway at Mount Sinai, Dr. Katz Sand is enthusiastic about beginning this new study.

“Interventions that protect against neurodegeneration are critically needed to delay, prevent, and slow progression in MS,” she says. “TAG-MS approaches this important issue from a totally new angle. We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of this exciting research and look forward to working with all of our participant volunteers.”

If you’re wondering if you’re eligible, take a look at the table below to determine if you fit the study criteria. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to coordinators Diya Pandey (diya.pandey@mssm.edu) and Chelsea Seidel (chelsea.seidel@mssm.edu) if you have any questions.

By Chelsea Seidel and Diya Pandey, research coordinators at The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson MS Center

This Research Scientist Has Lived With MS for 20 Years. Here’s How He Has Remained Hopeful and Productive

Updated on Aug 28, 2026 | Featured, Patient Stories

Scott Mellis, MD, PhD, has lived with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) for more than 20 years under the care of doctors at The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mount Sinai. It has not always been easy.

He has one message for anyone diagnosed with the chronic condition: “Be hopeful, recognize that you can have a good and productive life despite the MS.”

For him, that has meant a successful career as a medical researcher and, more recently, an active life in retirement dedicated to his lifelong passion for birdwatching and stargazing and committed to expanding opportunities for others like him living with MS or other disabilities. This includes a project to make it easier for others to obtain special equipment so they can continue to enjoy hobbies such as observing nature and the stars.

For much of his adult life, Dr. Mellis, had no serious health concerns. But he experienced a dramatic change after he slipped and fell during the winter of 2005, and a few months later his left-hand fingers “felt like they were moving through molasses” while playing the guitar. A friend suggested he see a neurologist, and after an MRI, he was told he has MS.

“I was 51 years old when the diagnosis was made. A bit of a shock,” he recalls.

Soon after, he attended a Keystone Symposia on MS, a scientific conference that brings together researchers and clinicians to share advances in research and treatment. As a trained rheumatologist and immunologist whose medical career focused on treatments that could be helpful to people, he found the conference beneficial for understanding MS. Health care professionals he met there strongly recommended The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis. Aaron Miller, MD, the Center’s Medical Director, has been “my neurologist and counselor for 20 years,” he says.

“The sheer beauty of nature and birds, the awesomeness of celestial objects, provides a lot of comfort. People with MS have a lot of challenges, and a few moments of awe and wonder can really bring a lot of joy to one’s life.” — Scott Mellis, MD, PhD

How and when to disclose your MS to others is one of the first decisions people newly diagnosed have to encounter. Dr. Mellis kept his condition private for about a year. “I was fortunate to have a wonderfully supportive wife and family, and eventually I told my kids,” he says.

At Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in Tarrytown, New York, where Mellis headed the Department of Translational Medicine, he initially did not disclose his condition. But within a year “I became the guy riding around the office in the mobility scooter,” he recalls.

Colleagues were very supportive, and he was able to continue his leadership position researching and developing new drugs. Determined to not allow his progressive MS to hinder his career, he continued to work at Regeneron for another 15 years after his diagnosis.

Since retiring in early 2026, Dr. Mellis has pursued a mix of medically related work and his lifelong passions for birdwatching and stargazing. He was selected earlier this year to serve on the engagement coordination team of the International Progressive MS Alliance, a consortium of organizations from countries around the world that support MS research. In June, he traveled to Milan, Italy, for his first in-person meeting with the team, comprised of individuals who can share perspectives on living with MS and help advise the Alliance on deciding research priorities.

With his secondary progressive MS, he had to give up his favorite pastimes of cycling and playing tennis and squash.

“Once I developed MS, my new action sport became filling the bird feeder,” he says. “I liked to watch the birds at the feeder and started setting up binoculars to get a close-up view and try to take photographs of birds at the feeders.”

But he noticed that as his MS progressed, it became increasingly difficult to hold a pair of binoculars, or carry a tripod with a spotting scope that birders use, or set up a telescope to look at the stars.

Motivated to pursue his birdwatching and stargazing passions, he began to tinker at home with a parallelogram mount, an apparatus that uses a swing arm to position binoculars or a small telescope in front of your eyes and hold them there hands-free. “You can sit comfortably and enjoy a beautiful view of nature or the night sky,” he says.

Friends at the Audubon Society and the Westchester Amateur Astronomers club, two organizations he has long been active in were quick to help. For participants in the National MS Society’s Westchester Walk last May, the team set up six optic stations, a combination of binoculars and spotting scopes on parallelogram mounts as well as larger telescopes. “For people living with disability to be able to use these tools is really transformative” he says.

To share his knowledge and experience adapting equipment to appreciate nature, Dr. Mellis created an initiative called the Boundless Skies Alliance, and he is developing a website for people with MS or other disabilities to learn more about how to obtain and use readily available equipment to make these hobbies accessible. (Those seeking more information can contact him at sjmellis@gmail.com.)

“The sheer beauty of nature and birds, the awesomeness of celestial objects, provides a lot of comfort,” he says. “People with MS have a lot of challenges and a few moments of awe and wonder can really bring a lot of joy to one’s life.”

By Kenneth Bandler, a multiple sclerosis patient, advocate, and member of The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis Advisory Board.

What Are Peptide Supplements, and Are They Safe?

Updated on Aug 27, 2026 | Featured, Your Health

A photo of a woman a the pharmacy counter.

You may be hearing a lot about peptides—supplements that can help with muscle repair and boost your immune system. But many man-made (synthetic) peptides haven’t been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and there are questions about whether they are safe.

In this Q&A, endocrinologist Reshmi Srinath, MD, Director of the Mount Sinai Weight and Metabolism Management Program, explains what peptide supplements do and whether they are safe and effective.

What are peptides?

Peptides are natural substances that your body makes. They are chains of amino acids, which are molecules that combine to form proteins. Proteins help your body grow, repair itself, and stay healthy.

What are the most common types of peptides that doctors prescribe?

The three peptides that doctors safely prescribe are insulin, oxytocin, and GLP-1s.

Insulin helps your body turn food into energy. It also keeps your blood sugar at a healthy level. People with diabetes may need insulin if their bodies don’t make enough insulin or can’t use it correctly.
Oxytocin helps during labor and breastfeeding. It also helps us feel calm, trusting, and emotionally stable. Doctors may use oxytocin when women are giving birth to help start or strengthen labor contractions.
GLP–1s regulate blood sugar and tell your brain when you’ve had enough to eat. Doctors might prescribe a GLP-1 (such as Wegovy® or Zepbound®) to suppress your appetite, slow digestion, and help you lose weight.

Your body makes all of these peptides naturally. Peptides prescribed by doctors are made in scientific laboratories under careful supervision.

Reshmi Srinath, MD

Why are people talking about peptides on social media?

Thanks to social media “wellness” influencers, who often are not medical professionals, there is growing interest in synthetic peptides. These influencers often talk about how synthetic peptides can affect healthy aging, healing, muscle repair, and our immune system.

The peptides they recommend often come in the form of pills or shots. They are usually made in compounding pharmacies, which are not as well-regulated as scientific labs. Given the unknowns, you should speak with your doctor to understand any potential risks.

Are synthetic peptides safe and effective?

We don’t know. These peptides are not FDA approved. Not enough studies have been done to know if synthetic peptides are safe. And most of the studies that have been done are on animals, not humans. In addition, scientists have not studied what doses are appropriate and whether these peptides are safe in the long term.

Another concern is that most synthetic peptides are made in compounding pharmacies. These facilities don’t have the same level of FDA monitoring and oversight as scientific labs. This may increase the risk of contamination.

It is also important to know who is prescribing these peptides and whether they are licensed.

Why are peptides so popular?

People are always interested in how to improve their health, live longer, and help our bodies heal. The recent success of GLP-1 medications for weight management has also fueled interest in peptides, but the safety of GLP-1s is backed by significant research.

When it comes to peptide supplements, there is still not much that is understood. I do not support use of synthetic peptides that have not been FDA approved. I recommend caution—you are using them at your own risk. We hope these peptides will be studied more vigorously under FDA guidance.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you have questions about peptides or other supplements

« Older Entries