“Our teams think of AI as augmented intelligence, versus artificial intelligence,” says Robbie Freeman, DNP, RN, Vice President of Digital Experience and Chief Nursing Informatics Officer at the Mount Sinai Health System. “The goal is to leverage AI as a supportive tool to enhance clinical decision-making—not to replace it.”
He adds, “Risk assessment models and tools for guiding care have always been integral to nursing practice. By combining nursing expertise and critical thinking with the ability to analyze vast amounts of data, AI is transforming how we deliver care, elevating quality and safety to unprecedented levels. In the coming years, this technology will continue to support nursing practice by enabling the creation of highly targeted, personalized care plans for every patient.”
Shown from let: Eric Kim; Prem Timsina, ScD; Arianna Goldman; Dhaval Patel; Maria ‘Vickee’ Sevillano, RN; Kim-Anh-Nhi Nguyen, MSc; Robbie Freeman, DNP, RN; and Arash Kia, MD, MsC
“Every AI project starts with a working group,” says Dr. Freeman, “and that working group always includes the people who are delivering care. For example, if we’re working on a falls-related initiative, we sit down with front-line nurses, with geriatricians, with nurse leaders, and from day one we’re talking together about what might be helpful.”
Currently, Mount Sinai nurses are using a machine learning model that predicts which patients are most likely to fall while in the hospital. The data behind this tool largely came from examining electronic medical record (EMR) data. By combing through nursing notes using recognition algorithms, Mount Sinai also developed an AI tool to better identify which patients are at higher risk for becoming delirious while in the hospital so that tailored preventive interventions could be put in place at the earliest opportunity.
From left: Prem Timsina, ScD; David Reich, MD, Chief Clinical Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, and President of The Mount Sinai Hospital; Robbie Freeman; Matt Levin, MD, and Arash Kia, MD, MsC
Mount Sinai is leading the world in developing a variety of AI products that support nurses and keep patients safe, according to Dr. Freeman.
Another AI product came about when Maria ‘Vickee’ Sevillano, BSN, RN, CWCN, COCN, a Mount Sinai clinical nurse, proposed an idea focused on the prevention of pressure injuries, also known as bed sores.
“We embraced the idea, collaboratively explored its nuances through a co-design process, and partnered with our internal data scientists and software engineers to transform it into a fully realized product,” says Dr. Freeman. “We tested and fine-tuned it, and in early 2024 the idea brought forward was introduced to the clinical setting. This predictive software is currently embedded in our EMR at The Mount Sinai Hospital, and we hope to expand its use as we continue to evaluate the product.”
Mount Sinai has also done a lot of work with a new type of AI called large language models, which, among other tasks, can recognize and generate large amounts of text. One particular study involved examining nursing triage notes to identify predictors for which Emergency Department patients were likely to be admitted to the hospital.
“In many cases the nursing documentation can really power AI,” says Dr. Freeman. “Much of nursing documentation data reflects their expert observations and has predictive power. So, using things like natural language processing algorithms, the nursing observations and assessments are really helpful in the development of AI tools that have broader use and impact. ”Mount Sinai is also using AI to help reduce the amount of time nurses spend doing documentation by rolling out macros—a sequence of computer instructions to automate a task—and tools that can streamline the process and relieve the documentation burden.
Kim-Anh-Nhi Nguyen, MSc, left, and Maria ‘Vickee’ Sevillano, BSN, RN, CWCN, COCN
As this emerging field continues to grow, Dr. Freeman says it is important to note that Mount Sinai has governance in place to ensure there is a solid understanding of how these tools work, that they are safe, and that they are being used in ways that are ethical and sound before they are being used in patient care.
“There’s a science and methodology for ensuring AI products are used responsibly,” Dr. Freeman says. The shared decision-making structure plays a critical role. Mount Sinai is also part of the nonprofit Coalition for Health AI, which brings together a diverse array of stakeholders to drive the development, evaluation, and appropriate use of AI in health care.
“AI is here and has proven it holds promise for thoughtfully revolutionizing care delivery in ways never imagined,” he says.
“Learning to live with MS is an enduring, educational process. We feel strongly that this holistic approach improves people’s long-term prognosis and significantly improves their quality of life,” says Ilana Katz Sand, MD,Co-Director of the C. Olsten Wellness Program. “We want to be able to offer this to every person we treat.”
A multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis is life-changing. The challenge of managing doctor appointments, MRI exams, and treatments, while also focusing on how you feel, can be extraordinarily stressful. Many essential things in life, such as exercise, nutrition, sleep, work, and family, often receive insufficient attention in the face of these demands.
“Many of our patients seek and can benefit from a more holistic approach to their MS,” says Ilana Katz Sand, MD, Co-Director of the C. Olsten Wellness Program at The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis. “Empowering people living with MS to take ownership of their health is the goal of our Wellness Program.”
The Wellness Program is designed to enable people with MS to live their lives as fully as possible by creating healthier habits. Since its inception in 2020, more than 500 people have participated in this program, the first of its kind at a comprehensive MS care center in the United States.
The program is open to both newly diagnosed patients and those who have been receiving care from neurologists, nurse practitioners, and other Center staff for many years. Some of the original participants from 2020 are still engaged in their wellness activities, while others have found satisfaction in charting a course of action after just a few visits.
“The duration of participation is up to the patient,” Dr. Katz Sand says. “We partner one-on-one with our patients, offering each individual options that help with changing behaviors, such as assistance with scheduling workout routines, adjustments to food shopping and eating habits, or support for addressing mental health. These are all key components of comprehensive MS care.”
Deciding to participate in the Wellness Program begins with conversations between patients and their health care providers. Before the first visit, patients undergo an evaluation through the Center’s Comprehensive Annual Assessment Program at the MS Neuropsychology Clinic, which helps identify potential areas of need. The initial visit is extensive, lasting two and a half hours, and involves individual meetings with staff.
Each specialist—nurse practitioners, dietitian, physical therapist, and social worker—assess various aspects of the patient’s health, including their abilities, living environment, and support systems. Nurse practitioners Stacie Lyras, FNP-BC, and Gretchen Mathewson, NP, conduct an overall assessment and help each patient set goals. Dietitian Jessica Gelman, MS, RDN, CDN, reviews food choices, eating schedules, how groceries are obtained, and how meals are prepared. Elizabeth Pike, PT, DPT, NCS, physical therapist, evaluates the patient’s current physical activity level and exercise program. Finally, social worker Konul Azimzade, LCSW, assesses the patient’s emotional health.
At the end of each new evaluation session, the Wellness staff meet with Belenmarie Mixon, program coordinator, and Dr. Katz Sand to make sure all providers are on the same page. Each patient has a unique set of circumstances and different ways that MS affects their life. A customized plan is prepared for and discussed with the patient.
Dr. Katz Sand notes that several of her patients have had life-changing experiences with the Wellness Program. Using strategies learned from the program, some patients regained mobility through exercise. Others addressed longstanding mental health issues, or were finally able to manage their fatigue by changing diet or other lifestyle habits.
“Patients are so appreciative of the way our team listens to what is going on in their lives and what they need to feel better. Providing care that is truly holistic is a different approach that puts patients at the center,” says Dr. Katz Sand.
Dr. Katz Sand joined the Center in 2011 on a National Multiple Sclerosis Society-sponsored fellowship and became a full-time staff member in 2013. Today, she serves as the Center’s Associate Director. In addition to treating MS patients, she has spearheaded research for more than a decade on the connections between gut health and MS. Her groundbreaking work on nutrition and how food choices affect MS was key to forming the holistic approach embraced by the Wellness Program.
To further encourage people living with MS in managing their nutrition, Dr. Katz Sand’s team, led by Ms. Gelman, has produced a 73-page cookbook. It puts into practice the nutrition guidance Dr. Katz Sand has long advocated. The cookbook covers the basics of kitchen equipment, nutrition guidelines, and detailed recipes. It’s user-friendly for both beginners and more experienced home chefs. The Wellness Program cookbook is available to Wellness Program participants upon request.
As the Wellness Program becomes more popular, expansion will be necessary to accommodate more patients. This growth will require more space and staff so that more patients can take advantage of its unique offerings.
“Learning to live with MS is an enduring, educational process. We feel strongly that this holistic approach improves people’s long-term prognosis and significantly improves their quality of life,” says Dr. Katz Sand. “We want to be able to offer this to every person we treat.”
By Kenneth Bandler, a multiple sclerosis patient, advocate, and member of The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis Advisory Board
Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing graduates attend commencement at The Stern Auditorium at The Mount Sinai Hospital on December 19, 2024.
On December 19, 2024, the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing celebrated the graduation of 103 students of Cohort 12, the class of students who began their studies in September 2023. The Stern Auditorium at The Mount Sinai Hospital was filled to capacity with proud families and friends of the graduates and school faculty.
Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Chief Nurse Executive, Senior Vice President, Cardiac Services, while in transit, offered her congratulations virtually. She stated that nursing is a profession not just known for clinical skill but significant for the compassion, resilience, and dedication to the well-being of others. And she emphasized the importance of direct patient care.
“The bedside, or chairside, is where the essence of nursing comes alive. You may step into roles as educators, researchers, administrators, or leaders in the field of nursing. You will become the mentors, advocates, and champions for the next generation of nurses. But regardless of where your path takes you, always remember the foundation of your practice: bedside is the best side. Every role you take on will ultimately come back to that fundamental connection with the people you serve.”
Brendan Carr, MD, MA, MS, with Kimberly Glassman, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN (left) and Vivian Lien, DNP, RN, CNE, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Wellbeing and Clinical Associate Professor at the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing
Brendan Carr, MD, MA, MS, Chief Executive Officer, Professor and Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Distinguished Chair, Mount Sinai Health System, spoke to the new graduates about their essential role in health care, how nurses make special connections not only to patients and patients’ families, but also to their colleagues.
“As a young physician, I learned that nurses are the engine of teamwork, especially with physician partners, because they understand the patient as a whole. You have a superpower.” He added that the graduates were very special to Mount Sinai and hoped they would continue as professional nurses in the Mount Sinai Health System.
Janet Green, Chair of the Board of the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, whose family was integral to the founding of the school, relayed congratulations, noting that nursing is a calling and “an integral part of patient health care.”
The Valedictorian, Jennifer Moffa, thanked her fellow classmates and faculty, giving them credit for her achievement. She added that it was “bittersweet” to complete her education at the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, but was thankful for “everlasting connections” and reminded her peers to “choose kindness.”
Before the recitation of the International Pledge for Nurses by the graduating class, and the flipping of their cap tassels from right to left, Kimberly Glassman, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAONL, FAAN, Dean, Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing, reiterated that there are diverse career paths open to the graduating class, saying, “the entire world is open to you.”
Levy Library staff celebrating the 50th anniversary in 2024.
The Levy Library at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has gone through many revamps and reiterations, but one thing remains the same—its steadfast mission of helping students, researchers, faculty, staff, and clinicians get the knowledge and information they need. November 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the library, and for some staff, looking back at how it has grown is a source of pride.
“Over the past 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of leading the team providing library and digital services that support Mount Sinai’s entire scholarly and research community,” says Paul Lawrence, MFA, Dean for Scholarly and Research Technologies at the Icahn School of Medicine.
“I am incredibly proud to be part of a team and a 50-year legacy that exemplifies unwavering support for our mission, continually adapting and innovating while remaining committed to exceptional service,” says Mr. Lawrence, who is also Vice President for Information Technology of the Mount Sinai Health System.
The Library was named in honor of Gustave Levy and his wife, Janet Levy. Gustave Levy had been Chairman of the Boards of then-named Mount Sinai Medical Center and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and The Mount Sinai Hospital. He helped with a $154 million fundraising effort for the medical school building and endowment, and the planning and erection of the Annenberg Building in which the Library is located.
“Witnessing the evolution and modernization of the Library’s physical spaces throughout the Health System, fostering partnerships with our research community, and advancing the Library’s commitment to supporting artificial intelligence initiatives have been true highlights for me,” says Mr. Lawrence.
Indeed, at the two-floor library, the space has constantly been updated to meet the needs of patrons. Use the sliders to look at how the Levy Library has changed over the decades.
Photo of Gustave (left) and Janet (right) Levy, taken in 1973.
Comparing Levy Library, 1980s and now
Levy Library staff have flourished alongside the library’s many changes. “I first worked at Mount Sinai in the 1990s as a lab technician; during that time, I loved to visit the Levy Library to read print journals and books,” says Jill Gregory, MFA, CMI, Associate Director for Scholarly Publishing and Visualization at the Library.
“Three decades and a medical illustration graduate degree later, I’m so excited to be a part of the Levy Library team itself,” says Ms. Gregory. “The Library is constantly evolving, from the print materials I used to reference to now being a hub of digital resources and scholarly activity. I find it so gratifying to support Mount Sinai’s clinical and scientific excellence through our team’s research and visualization skills, and I look forward to all that the future holds.”
From November 2024 through November 2025, the Levy Library is celebrating its history, its present-day achievements, and its view toward the future through a series of showcases and activities.
“Persistence, resilience in the face of criticism, combined with a willingness to listen and adapt, is the thing that can most define your success,” says Neil Dhawan, PhD.
Neil Dhawan, PhD, had a story to share with the audience of new PhD and MD-PhD students who attended the 2024 Lab Coat ceremony at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Graduate School Biomedical Sciences. He was on familiar ground: Dr. Dhawan received both a master of science and PhD degree in biomedical sciences at Mount Sinai, and his story was one of encouragement and success.
Dr. Dhawan, whose training area was in cancer biology, is a co-founder of two companies, starting with Dual Therapeutics LLC, a venture-backed biotechnology company that he established as a student, where he helped to develop the lead drug program, small molecule agonists of PP2A, which led to a collaboration deal with Bristol Myers Squibb that was valued at up to $225 million.
He is also Co-founder, Chief Scientific Officer, and Head of Research and Development at Totus Medicines, where he focuses on combining small molecule design, structural biology, genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology to create new classes of drugs to target untreatable diseases. “Over the past three years, we have raised more than $100 million, we advanced our first drug targeting one of the most common oncogenes in cancer, and we presented our first clinical data showing tumor responses in late stage cancer patients,” he said.
“When I first started at Mount Sinai, the idea of discovering and developing a drug to the clinic seemed almost impossible. I always would hear that it could take a lifetime and hundreds of millions of dollars. There were even skeptics who doubted the value of my work because I was just starting out. When I set out to develop my drug idea, most people told me ‘Most biotechs fail,’ or, ‘Do you think you can compete with Pfizer?,’ or ‘Why would investors give you money?’”
And, he gave this advice: “So, what should you do when you feel frustrated and things are confusing? I encourage you to put your head down and do the work—read every paper, read through patents, study the leaders in the field, and most importantly go and speak to those leaders who are a floor or hallway away at Mount Sinai…Persistence, resilience in the face of criticism, combined with a willingness to listen and adapt, is the thing that can most define your success.”
The Lab Coat ceremony symbolically represents the beginning of the students’ academic research and training at Mount Sinai and reinforces the responsibility and professionalism they will cultivate and uphold as they pursue their degrees.
Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, opened the ceremony. “Our PhD programs in biomedical sciences, clinical research, and neuroscience offer rigorous, collaborative training that equips our students to lead the next generation of scientific and medical advances,” she said. “These programs are essential in addressing complex challenges and finding solutions grounded in data and robust statistical analysis.”
Dr. Filizola is also the Sharon & Frederick A. Klingenstein/Nathan G. Kase, MD Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, Professor of Neuroscience, and Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health.
Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
“We are branching out into new research frontiers, leveraging artificial intelligence and other technologies in medicine to improve both patient health and quality of life,” she said. “Our students are integral to this process, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences that drive innovation in both basic and translational research.”
Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Dean for Academic Affairs at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, welcomed the students, faculty, and guests. “The core process of science is the scientific method, which describes a systematic process—to quote from the dictionary, ‘for acquiring knowledge that involves making observations, collecting data, and testing hypotheses.’ We can all appreciate the paramount significance of the integrity of science,” he said. Dr. Nestler is also Director of The Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience, and Chief Scientific Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System.
Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Dean for Academic Affairs
“Science and the scientific method, with its embrace of empiricism and causality, represent the proud tradition that created all of us, and that each of us in turn has the responsibility to promote, protect, and defend,” he said. “By earning a PhD degree, you are the new generation upon whom society will depend to continue this tradition, with the goal of further improving the health and lives of its citizens.”
Why an MD-PhD and PhD degree? Watch these video interviews with three students to learn more about the programs—and their passions.
People with HIV are now living healthier, longer lives thanks to advances in antiretroviral therapy, but they can still have chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Eventually, they might need organ replacements, like kidneys, but this group of people has been at a disadvantage.
Patients with HIV have been known to receive lower priority on waitlists given the shortage of organs and misconceptions about the patients’ ability to receive them. But what if we could increase the pool of available organs by allowing the use of organs from donors with HIV for recipients with HIV?
A new milestone was achieved in a first-of-its-kind study in the United States in which Mount Sinai was a major player. The HOPE study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that not only are kidney transplants from HIV+ donors safe and effective, they are just as much so as transplants from HIV- donors.
“It had been illegal, by federal law, to use HIV+ organs,” says Sander Florman, MD, Director of the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute at Mount Sinai and an author of the paper. “Prior to the HOPE Act signed by then-President Obama, organs with HIV had to be discarded. But if we can show it is safe to use organs from people with HIV, why not use them, so that HIV+ people can get transplanted quicker?”
“Eventually, the goal of this study is to move HIV-to-HIV kidney transplants out of just research and into a standard of care,” says Meenakshi Rana, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and an author of the paper. “This has larger implications not just for people with HIV, but for everyone who’s on a waitlist—if a person with HIV can receive an organ faster from a donor with HIV, then everyone on the list also moves up.”
Drs. Florman and Rana discuss the importance of the HOPE study, how it could destigmatize organ transplants for people with HIV, and future impacts.
What’s the history of organ transplantation for people who are HIV+?
In the past, people with HIV were considered not medically suitable for organ transplants. It was thought that the immune-suppressing drugs required to prevent organ rejection might cause the HIV to develop into AIDS, says Dr. Florman.
In the late 1990s, Mount Sinai showed that it was possible to do a living liver donation to a patient with HIV. “It was extremely controversial,” says Dr. Florman. “At the time, nobody was doing HIV transplants. And second of all, very few centers in the country were doing living-donor liver transplants.”
Sandy Florman, MD, Director of the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute at Mount Sinai (left) and Meenakshi Rana, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Infectious Diseases (right).
What is the current law on use of organs from donors with HIV?
In regulations dating to 1988, it was made illegal to transplant or even study organs from donors with HIV. In 2013, President Obama signed the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act, which lifted the research ban.
On November 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a final rule stating kidney and liver transplants involving donors and recipients with HIV no longer need to be done under the auspices of a clinical trial. The decision was motivated by evidence from studies enabled by the HOPE Act that showed such procedures were safe and effective.
In the 2000s, Mount Sinai participated in another trial that showed it was possible to transplant kidneys from donors without HIV to recipients with HIV—a trial that was the predecessor to the HOPE study.
However, people with HIV faced more than just medical skepticism—they also faced social stigma.
What does having an undetectable HIV load mean?
Having an undetectable load, or simply being undetectable, means HIV levels in a person are so low that they cannot transmit the virus to another person sexually. This is typically achieved through antiretroviral therapy.
“Even with the advent of the medications, where your HIV can be well controlled and you could live a normal life, there is stigma among some medical professionals about getting a needlestick or getting splashed in the eye with blood,” says Dr. Florman. “The reality is that part of the criteria for doing these transplants is that the candidates need to have well-controlled HIV, even undetectable viral load. And so the risk of getting HIV from a needlestick or a splash is actually very low, although not zero.”
What were the HOPE study results?
The HOPE study transplanted 198 kidneys into recipients with HIV. Half of those kidneys were from donors with HIV and the other half from donors without. Mount Sinai was the largest enroller of the trial, transplanting 55 patients.
There was no significant difference in outcomes between both groups, including overall survival at one year and three years, survival without graft loss at one year and three years, and rejection at one year.
Adverse events, infections, and complications were similar between both groups, and any HIV-related infection events were able to be treated.
What impacts could this study have?
“Even though we’ve had previous findings that people with HIV could receive transplants, historically, people with HIV have had longer wait times in terms of access to an organ, and higher mortality rates,” says Dr. Rana. “So one of the huge implications of this study is that it could really reduce the wait time of access to organ transplantation for people with HIV, and that’s really important for reducing disparities in transplant.”
That goal is one step closer to becoming reality. On November 26, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a final rule stating that after a decade of studies enabled by the HOPE Act, kidney and liver transplants between donors and recipients with HIV are now permitted, and no longer have to be done as clinical trials.
This announcement will hopefully encourage organ procurement organizations (OPOs) to be more inclusive of donors with HIV. “Some OPOs have been good and pursued donors with HIV. Others have not been interested for a variety of reasons. Hopefully, as more HIV patients are able to access transplants, these OPOs would follow the demand and seek more donors with HIV,” says Dr. Florman.
Additionally, the study could expand awareness among patients with HIV and providers that access to life-saving transplantation is more a possibility than ever, says Dr. Rana.
Does this mean people with HIV should consider becoming donors?
“I would definitely want to encourage people with HIV to become donors,” says Dr. Rana. “This would help destigmatize what it means to be a person living with HIV.”
“The patients we helped transplant have always been very grateful, especially because other centers often wouldn’t offer them the procedure,” says Dr. Florman. “But I was surprised that people with HIV who don’t need transplants are grateful that they can now be organ donors. Because now they feel a sense of pride in the idea that they, too, can be organ donors and help save other lives.”
