Sam Horng, MD, PhD: Expanding the MS Center Purview

Updated on Jul 23, 2026 | Featured, Research

A photo of Sam Horng, MD, PhD

Sam Horng, MD, PhD

Sam Horng, MD, PhD, came to The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis in 2015 on a three-year combined clinical and research fellowship after completing his neurology residency at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His work exemplifies the Center’s expanding expertise and reach beyond the borders of multiple sclerosis into other related autoimmune disorders that similarly affect neurological function and quality of life.

“People with autoimmune diseases tend to have a higher risk of developing another autoimmune syndrome,” says Dr. Horng, whose training in MS management led him to also explore other autoimmune conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord. “With multiple sclerosis we see higher proportions of individuals with other autoimmune conditions. Even our treatments can sometimes induce autoimmune attack on the joints or the gastrointestinal tract.”

He adds, “Autoimmunity generally is not well understood. We still do not fully understand what the precipitating event for many autoimmune diseases is.”

After joining the faculty in 2018, Dr. Horng explored these questions while leading a basic science lab for six years. His laboratory studied how structures of the blood-brain barrier control inflammation.

Expanding the purview of the Center to encompass not only multiple sclerosis but also other autoimmune brain conditions and overlap syndromes with rheumatology has been a rewarding aspect of his work and has enabled the Center’s scope to grow.

Dr. Horng also continues to serve as a co-investigator in clinical trials at the Center, which says has been involved in essentially all clinical trials of newly approved MS medications over the past 15 years.

“The Center is an engine for testing new therapies. It’s a place where people are moving the field forward,” he says.

“We discovered that interactions between resident blood brain barrier cells called astrocytes and immune cells infiltrating the brain could change the pattern of autoimmune disease,” he says.

What mechanisms trigger relapsing MS, and what drives disease progression, are questions that continue to challenge the field.

“Different cell systems are contributing to the immune system to fight infection, but in autoimmune diseases there are various ways in which these defensive cells are not functioning as well as they normally would,” he says.

In multiple sclerosis, certain cells mistakenly cross the blood-brain barrier and launch an inflammatory attack on the central nervous system.

“I explain to patients that it’s like the military. You have different regiments, divisions of the immune system that do varied things to fight off infection,” he says. But instead of an army, navy, and air force, T-cells, B-cells, and macrophages are collaborating to battle the disease.

In recent years, our understanding of how these different cell types contribute to MS has been refined, according to Dr. Horng. For many years MS was thought to be driven by T-cells. Over the last two decades, the focus has shifted to B-cells as a central player because B-cell depletion therapy was discovered to have powerful suppressive benefits against the frequency of MS attacks and the slope of MS progression.

“We don’t really understand why, but one clue is that the Epstein-Barr virus is highly associated with MS, and B-cells are the reservoirs in which Epstein-Barr stays latent in our bodies,” he says. Lupus is another autoimmune disease that has a strong connection with the Epstein-Barr virus.

Other advancements in understanding MS progression include single cell sequencing and genetics screening that have identified a correlation between MS progression and dysfunction of microglia, a specialized immune surveillance cell type in the brain that may also be more broadly implicated in other central nervous system disorders, including neurodegenerative disease.

Another area that interests Dr. Horng is the interplay between rheumatologic diseases, which are systemic autoimmune conditions involving other body organs, and the overlap of these syndromes with those that affect the brain and spinal cord.

“This is the frontier of our field,” he says. “Autoimmune neurologists have a lot to learn from rheumatologists because there are likely to be common mechanisms driving diseases across our specialties.”

In 2024, Dr. Horng shifted his focus from research at the bench to full-time clinical care at the bedside and now sees a wide range of autoimmune brain conditions in addition to MS.

“I’m taking a lot of the ‘mystery cases’ and seeing MS Center patients with complex syndromes,” he says. “It’s exciting to see these mysteries unfold as we’re learning more about MS and other related diseases.”

A lot of these patients have ailments that may mimic MS, including neuromyelitis optica, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-associated demyelinating disease, neurosarcoidosis, and other autoantibody-driven inflammatory diseases of the brain and spinal cord.

“Everyone who goes into neurology is fascinated by the black box that is the brain. It is the material substrate for where our identity, our perceptions, our experiences lie,” Dr. Horng says.

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

The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis

From the Classroom to the Real World: Mount Sinai Welcomes New Residents

Updated on Jul 24, 2026 | Featured, School

As part of their onboarding experience, Mount Sinai residents review, via simulation training, how to call a code, how to respond, different roles on the code team, how to manage the hospital patient during a code, and how to communicate efficiently during emergencies.

At 14 sites across the five boroughs of New York City, the Mount Sinai Health System welcomed 950 new residents in late June to its hospital campuses, in addition to Valley Hospital, Elmhurst Hospital, Queens Hospital Center, and the Bronx VA.

“Our incoming class of residents is an extraordinary and talented group of young doctors,” says Michael Leitman, MD, Dean for Graduate Medical Education (GME) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and a practicing surgeon.

“We make a big deal out of welcoming them because it is one of the toughest transitions for a medical doctor in training, moving out of the classroom and into the real world. I remember it well because there are so many firsts, including the moment your first patient calls you ‘doctor.’ You realize how much responsibility is on your shoulders,” says Dr. Leitman.  First year residents, previously called “interns,” will practice medicine under the guidance of an attending physician for three to seven years, depending on their chosen specialty.

“We make a big deal out of welcoming them because it is one of the toughest transitions for a medical doctor in training, moving out of the classroom and into the real world.” — Michael Leitman, MD, Dean for Graduate Medical Education

The class of 2026 residents are a highly qualified cohort who became residents at Mount Sinai after one of the most competitive years for residency matches, according to Dr. Leitman. The National Resident Matching Program, which oversees the matching of young doctors into residency posts, reported that 53,373 applicants registered for the match this year—competing for 41,126 positions and reflecting a trend of strong growth.

Mount Sinai’s GME program is the largest in the United States, according to Dr. Leitman. Each year, thousands of residents and fellows rotate through its programs, many considered among the best in the country. With more than 250 programs, Mount Sinai provides top-tier educational opportunities in almost every specialty—yet that’s just one of many aspects that makes the Icahn School of Medicine exceptional.

Residents are drawn to Mount Sinai for the wide spectrum of accredited, high-profile GME programs, the opportunity to study in one of more than 350 labs, and to do research in an institution ranked No. 11 for National Institutes of Health funding. The 2026 Doximity Residency Navigator, considered the definitive reference for top residency programs, based on peer nominations, ranks Mount Sinai’s many residency programs at the top.

“I think we’ve created an atmosphere of growth and trust. The residents have each other’s backs, and their faculty mentors really encourage an atmosphere of teamwork, where we all work for each other,” says Michael Leitman, MD.

For Dr. Leitman, much has changed since he began his journey as a medical doctor, including the specialties that future doctors choose.

“When I chose surgery, it was considered an outlier. My colleagues asked, ‘Why surgery, you won’t have enough patients to operate on; medical discoveries are eliminating the need for surgery.’ That couldn’t be farther from the truth,” says Dr. Leitman, who has held several leadership roles in Mount Sinai’s Department of Surgery.

“Radiology was not a draw back then. We all thought of radiology as being isolating, sitting in a dark room and writing reports. It’s now very popular, in large part due to advances in technology, including the introduction of AI,” says Dr. Leitman.

In fact, in addition to Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Radiology has become one of the most competitive specialties. Mount Sinai offers several top-ranked Radiology specialties, including Interventional Radiology–Integrated, Radiology Nuclear Medicine, and Radiology Diagnostic, all of them top ranked programs.

The culture at Mount Sinai has also changed, and there is now more of an emphasis on physician well-being.

“Since I was a young resident in the 1980s, the opportunities have grown in leaps and bounds. And at Mount Sinai, where we have a robust residency program, the sheer volume of talented residents and fellows means we don’t need to force them to do grueling 24-hour shifts. That was something I grew up with, and I’m glad we were able to move away from that model,” says Dr. Leitman.

“I think we’ve created an atmosphere of growth and trust. The residents have each other’s backs, and their faculty mentors really encourage an atmosphere of teamwork, where we all work for each other,” says Dr. Leitman.

Residents are drawn to Mount Sinai for the wide spectrum of accredited, high-profile GME programs, the opportunity to study in one of more than 350 labs, and to do research in an institution ranked No. 11 for National Institutes of Health funding.

The institution keeps a watchful eye on its residents and faculty and monitors physician wellness through regular surveys, taking corrective steps when the surveys suggest problems, says Dr. Leitman. In fact, Mount Sinai was among the first in the county to publish on post-traumatic stress disorder among graduate medical education trainees. As a result, the program has earned a national reputation for its innovative resources geared toward well-being.

“Physician burnout is a real thing, and we are laser focused on knowing how everyone is doing—from our newest residents to our senior faculty—so we can make changes that will optimize their work life,” says Dr. Leitman. He has found a critical partner in the institution’s Well-Being and Work Experience Core, which runs a robust program geared toward enhancing workplace culture through leadership trainings, coaching efforts, communications tools, and role modeling.

“We will never eliminate all of the challenges of health care, but we can take steps to minimize daily stressors and enhance the lives of our residents so they can focus on their true calling of doctoring,” said Dr. Leitman.

Learn more about Residencies and Fellowships at Mount Sinai

A Dance Class Like No Other: Medical School Students Teach Ballet to Kids With Autism

Updated on Jul 23, 2026 | Community, Featured, School

If you peered through the window of Studio 5 at Ballet Academy East on the Upper East Side, and watched these ballet dancers moving under the watchful eyes of their young instructors, the class might seem like countless other classes in New York City. 

But this class is different.  

The kids all have autism spectrum disorder (ASD). And the instructors are three medical students at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, located just a few blocks from the studio. 

Struck by the rise in ASD and motivated by a shared love of ballet, the medical students are replicating a successful ballet curriculum created by the California-based nonprofit Ballet for All Kids, which has been implementing its program for children with developmental differences for close to a decade.  

The students, Noy Alon and Camila Vicioso, both third-year medical students, and Michelle Adler, who is in her fourth year of a combined MD/PhD program, set out to create a program geared toward children ages 6 to 12 years old with a diagnosis of ASD, regardless of severity level or other medical conditions. Each semester features two 45-minute classes, one tailored for beginners and one for returning students.   

“I have been working with Ballet for All Kids since 2020. When I came to Mount Sinai, I knew I wanted to bring this program to New York City, so I partnered with two amazing fellow student founders,” says Ms. Alon, who has been dancing ballet for 14 years. 

“Children with autism can have difficulty with balance and joint mobility. Ballet is uniquely suited to help them with both of these challenges, and this incredible program meets children where they are,” says ​​​​Sheena Ranade, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopedics, and Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine and Division Chief, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Ranade is a faculty advisor and mentor. 

The program offers a free 12-week ballet curriculum, with funding support from the American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s Helping Hands Grant and the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation. The funds cover the cost of securing ballet studio space, providing transportation assistance for families, and purchasing ballet slippers for each child.  

The initial results appear promising. 

Adalia Richardson said she saw improvements in her 12-year-old daughter, Isabella, now in her second year of participating in the program, noting improvements in confidence and coordination. “She’s done amazing and made so many friends,” she told WCBS-TV. 

In response to the overwhelming enthusiasm from families, the children’s eagerness to continue ballet, and a long waiting list, the team hopes to establish long-term continuity and sustainability for the program. 

The ballet program combines community outreach, clinical benefits, and rigorous research to support children with ASD. “Many children with ASD have limited access to recreational activities that are adapted to their needs, despite the important role movement, routine, and community can play in development,” says Ms. Vicioso, who has been dancing ballet since she was two years old. 

The three students first offered the classes two years ago in partnership with the Seaver Autism Center at Mount Sinai, under the leadership of Clinical Director Alexander Kolevzon, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, and Pediatrics at the Icahn School of Medicine.  

“The ballet program addresses a critical and often unmet need for kids with autism to experience meaningful recreational programs that build social skills,” says Dr. Kolevzon. “As a bonus, we’ve been pleased to see how families have fostered a strong community around the ballet program.”  

The program has now completed four semesters and has included more than 40 families and 20 medical student and graduate volunteers from Mount Sinai, who provide one-on-one support for each child, allowing for individualized teaching within a structured environment that prioritizes having fun. The classes are taught by the three founding students alongside a new member of the leadership team, Eliana Elikan, a second-year student. 

Thinking about the discipline, focus, and strength required of ballet from their own experiences, the team was also interested in studying how a structured recreational ballet program for children with ASD could have positive outcomes in both mind and body. The co-founders worked together to start a randomized controlled trial under the name Approach to Dance for Autism (ADAPT). 

“As the prevalence of diagnosed ASD continues to rise, recreational movement programs are highly relevant to pediatric musculoskeletal care,” the founders wrote in an article in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, published in November 2025.   

So far, their data has shown improvements in balance and motor skills, coordination, attention and engagement, and psychosocial skills following the 12-week ballet curriculum, along with high adherence and attendance to the classes. Early insights from the pilot study have also informed multiple international presentations and an ongoing manuscript currently under review.  

“Every kid comes into our class at a different starting point, and what makes this program so special is that for each child, we devise an individualized plan. I believe that every child who participates in this program will gain something meaningful, whether that’s physical skills, confidence, or a sense of connection,” says Ms. Adler, a ballet dancer since she was two years old. Growing up with a sister with Down syndrome, she saw firsthand the impact of communities who come together to support their kids. 

“Seeing our students taking something they have loved for so many years and bringing it to a community that hasn’t had easy access to ballet and other recreational opportunities is just amazing.  It reflects the strong commitment at Mount Sinai to engaging with our community,” says Dr. Kolevzon.  

Learn more about the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Why a Master’s Degree? Six New Mount Sinai Graduates Reveal Their Experiences and How They Excelled

Updated on Jul 21, 2026 | Featured, School

Six master’s program graduates from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences discuss how they are using their degrees to explore new paths in science, health care, and medicine.

 

How Zirui (Frank) Feng Found a Way To Connect His Computational Background With Real Biomedical Discovery Through a Master of Science in Biomedical Data Science and AI Degree

“The master’s program at Mount Sinai helped me move from data science into biomedical discovery, and the next step for me is to become an independent scientist who can build technologies that turn molecular insight into medicines.”

 Read the Q&A

 

With a Master of Science in Clinical Research, Taylor Ward Aims to Advance Cardiovascular Health Through Research, Education, and Community Partnership

“What drew me to Mount Sinai was its commitment to health equity and translational research. The program allowed me to work alongside clinicians, researchers, and community partners while developing the skills needed to design meaningful clinical research.”

Read the Q&A

Sameer Ahmed, Long Curious About Air Quality and Respiratory Health, Gets a Master of Public Health Degree—and a New York City Job in Asthma Prevention

“My interest in public health and asthma work is deeply personal. I was born in and spent the first 18 years of my life in Pakistan, where air pollution and poor air quality are major public health concerns.”

Read the Q&A

Intrigued by Neurobiology and Molecular Biology, Nitika Kamath Receives a Master of Science in Biomedical Science Degree as she Pursues a Career in Translational Research

“Mount Sinai provided the ideal ecosystem for me to elevate my technical expertise and grow as a researcher, largely due to the exceptional culture of mentorship and collaboration.”

 Read the Q&A

Rohitha Ravisekar, MBBS, MHA, Gets a Master of Science in Epidemiology Degree To Learn More About the Environmental, Social, and Systemic Forces that Can Shape Individual Health Outcomes

“I want to build a career at the intersection of epidemiology, environmental health, and health care improvement, with a particular focus on translating research findings into meaningful changes in clinical care.”

Read the Q&A

How a Master of Health Administration Degree Is Giving Maggie So, Fresh Perspectives on Health Care—Knowledge She Now Uses as a Hospital Office Manager

“I have always wanted to help people and felt at home whenever I was in a hospital setting. I want to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. I believe in always treating people the way I would like me, my daughter, and my family to be treated, no matter one’s race, ethnicity, or gender.”

Read the Q&A

Read more about the Mount Sinai Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Master’s Commencement: Celebrating Growth, Resilience, and Success of Mount Sinai’s 2026 Graduating Master’s Students

Updated on Jul 17, 2026 | Featured, School

The Master’s Commencement ceremony at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SInai Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences celebrated the outstanding accomplishments of the close to 200 students of the 2026 class who excelled across a wide range of scholarly efforts.

A total of 182 graduates earned degrees across eight programs: Master of Science in Biomedical Science, Master of Public Health, Master of Heath Administration, Master of Science in Clinical Research, Master of Science in Epidemiology, Master of Science in Biomedical Data Science and AI, Master of Science in Biostatistics, and Master of Science in Genetic Counseling.

From Left: Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD; student speaker Nitika Kamath, MSBS; and Marta Filizola, PhD

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, greeted the students, faculty, friends, and families in attendance, and congratulated the graduates on their achievements.

“Technology can accelerate discovery, but it cannot replace human judgment, imagination, or empathy,” he said. “Progress depends on smart, committed, knowledgeable people generating novel solutions. With your education and training at Mount Sinai, with your skills, passion, and drive, you are exceptionally prepared to meet the challenge…Rely not only on your technical education, but also on the growth, resilience, adaptability, and perseverance that brought you to this point. The path to greatness rarely begins with certainty. It begins with curiosity, eagerness, and a deep desire to contribute toward the greater good.”

 

Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Sharon & Frederick A. Klingenstein/Nathan G. Kase, MD Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, recounted the many specific achievements of this class and said:  “The graduates of 2026 are ready to make their impact on science and medicine, to drive innovative research, realize the potential of AI in medicine, advance the delivery of health care, effectively advocate for patients, eliminate health disparities, and make hospitals and health systems more efficient and cost-effective. We are very proud of all you have achieved at Mount Sinai, and we look forward to seeing the mark you will make on our world.”

Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation, was presented with an honorary doctor of science degree for her vision and action in making a positive, meaningful, and lasting impact on health by accelerating support for medical research.

Dr. Pomeroy talked about a challenging childhood being raised in a home “full of abuse and fear,” and an uncertain life. Still, she said: “I was lucky. I had foster parents who took care of me and teachers who believed in me. But I saw a lot of other foster kids who were not so lucky; kids who society was willing to ‘throw away’; kids who saw no future and therefore gave up hope.

Claire Pomeroy, MD, MBA, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation

“This formed my core values of caring for the vulnerable and fighting for social justice—and those core values have been my moral compass and have guided all that I have done since.”

She told the graduates: “Embrace your core values and understand what gives meaning to your life, so that you can define the best way for you to give meaning to other people’s lives.”

Student speaker Nitika Kamath, MSBS, asked her classmates to reflect on their shared experiences. “Every failed experiment. Every technical setback. Every difficult exam. Every critique we received. Every single moment has forged us into individuals stronger than who we were. They refined our thinking, strengthened our resolve, and prepared us for uncertainties we have yet to encounter.”

She added: “Thank you for supporting one another. Thank you for believing in one another. Lastly, thank you for helping shape one another into the people we are today.”

Meet six outstanding graduates who recount their experiences and reveal how they will use their new degrees to advance their careers.

What to Know About the Cyclospora Stomach Illness Outbreak

Updated on Jul 20, 2026 | Featured, Infectious Diseases, Your Health

You have probably heard about the Cyclospora outbreak, a stomach illness affecting a number of people in New York and across the country. Cyclospora is a parasite that can infect food and water, and the disease it causes is called cyclosporiasis. While the risk is considered low, there are a number of ways to protect yourself.

In this Q&A, Daniel Caplivski, MD, an infectious disease doctor with Mount Sinai, explains what to know about Cyclospora infection and how to prevent it.

A headshot of Daniel Caplivski, MD

Daniel Caplivski, MD

What are the symptoms?
Many people do not experience symptoms. In rare cases, Cyclospora can cause severe diarrhea. Cyclospora infection is usually not life threatening.

What is the risk that I might contract Cyclospora infection?
Overall risk remains low for the general population. We often see food-borne infections in clusters of the population.

Who is most at risk?
People with compromised immune systems, such as cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and people with severe autoimmune diseases, are at risk for more severe diarrhea.

How do you know if you have Cyclospora?
We have special testing on stool specimens, including molecular testing and acid fast staining. This helps us identify parasites that are difficult to grow in culture systems. If you have severe diarrhea and vomiting that gets better then returns more than once, you should see a doctor and get checked.

How can I avoid it?
Your can avoid Cyclospora infection by:

  • Cooking your vegetables (this kills the parasite)
  • Thoroughly washing fresh fruits and vegetables (helps prevent spread)
  • Avoiding prewashed packaged lettuce unless you wash it again yourself
  • Wash your hands with soap and water thoroughly before handling raw fruits and vegetables

What are the treatments?
We have antibiotics that help treat patients with severe cases, but most people recover with supportive care, such as drinking plenty of fluids and getting rest. And your doctor may suggest an anti-diarrheal medicine.

What is causing the current outbreak?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating the source of the current outbreak. Prior outbreaks have been linked to raspberries, prewashed lettuce, basil, and snow peas.

Find a Mount Sinai doctor who specializes in Infectious Diseases
Learn more about Cyclospora on the CDC website.