From Brain Scans to Wearables, Learn More About the Research at Mount Sinai’s New AI Center

Nov 26, 2024 | Artificial Intelligence, Featured, Research

The Mount Sinai Health System has been an early adopter of artificial intelligence (AI) in improving patient care and health over the past few years, innovating in various clinical areas such as in imaging and patient monitoring. Now, the Health System is doubling on its investment in the field, and is opening the Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health on November 25, a 12-story, 65,000-square-foot facility at 3 East 101st Street. The facility aims to organize Mount Sinai’s artificial intelligence (AI) efforts under one roof, to facilitate collaboration and innovation.

“Mount Sinai sees artificial intelligence and machine learning as key to our continued successes in making critical discoveries in science and in advancing medicine,” says David Reich, MD, President of The Mount Sinai Hospital.

The co-location of data scientists with the basic science and clinical scientists on the campus shared by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and The Mount Sinai Hospital is a strategic decision to create a community of clinical, basic, and data scientists that interact seamlessly.

The new building houses Mount Sinai’s core AI facilities: the Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health; the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai; the Institute for Genomic Health; the Mount Sinai BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute; and the Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine.

Exterior of the Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health.

Investing in AI is key to Mount Sinai’s commitment to patient health. “Science and medicine are advancing rapidly and artificial intelligence is the key to scaling our ability to help our staff be more effective in creating better outcomes and enhancing safety in multiple clinical domains and to speed scientific discovery,” says Dr. Reich.

What do the core facilities do, and what are some of the research activities going on inside? Click on each button to find out more.

Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health
Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai
Institute for Genomic Health
Mount Sinai BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute
The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine

The Department was founded more than two years ago. Its inaugural Chair, Thomas Fuchs, Dr.sc., Dean for Artificial Intelligence, set a goal of designing an “intelligent fabric”—a platform containing various AI tools and services that can be easily integrated into clinical applications at hospitals within the Health System. This centralized platform would help clinicians get a holistic view of the patient, which not only helps on the diagnostic side, but also for treatment decisions, better follow-up, and better prevention of disease, says Dr. Fuchs.

The Department has more than 80 faculty members, spanning clinicians, basic scientists, computer scientists, and engineers. In addition to creating AI tools for the Health System, it hosts the annual New Wave of AI in Healthcare conference to share findings with Mount Sinai researchers and other institutions around the country. Research areas include computational pathology and machine learning in chronic disease characterization and management. Some activities include:

  • Oncology: In collaboration with The Tisch Cancer Institute, an ongoing project involves the development of computational biomarkers for cancer, which could be used to predict patient outcomes and recommend treatment options or clinical trials for patients.
  • Neurology: The Department is involved in the 10,000 Brains Project, a philanthropic initiative that uses AI in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. It intends to digitize neuropathology slides of brains across diverse populations, aiming to uncover underlying mechanisms and shed light on diagnostic and treatment options in the future.
  • Pathology: Team members are building what could be considered the largest academic foundation model in pathology. It comprises billions of images from millions of digitized slides to provide data and information about the microscopic world. This data could be used as a foundation for AI applications to build biomarkers, create predictive models, or answer questions about cancer and tissues.

Learn more about the Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health

The institute was formed in 2019 through a collaboration with the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering in Potsdam, Germany. With a focus on software and digital health solutions, the Institute builds computational frameworks and architectures for rapid scientific discovery, and mobile applications that integrate health data from patients via wearables. With more than 12 concurrent ongoing studies, some key projects include:

  • AI-Ready Mount Sinai (AIR·MS): Patient data, such as scans or clinical reports, can often be siloed in separate departments. AIR·MS is a cloud-based platform that integrates Mount Sinai patient data into a consistent format. This platform allows researchers access to information about Mount Sinai’s 12 million patients to build out AI applications at scale or to conduct research.
  • Ehive: A platform involving a mobile application, available on the Apple App Store or Google Play, that conducts digital health studies. Participants answer questions on the app and provide other health information via wearables, such as an Apple Watch, for the study’s duration. Ehive helps researchers understand complex diseases and wellness.

Learn more about the Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health at Mount Sinai

Genomics involves the study of genes and genetic material and how they might affect health. Led by Eimear Kenny, PhD, Director of the Institute, teams use AI to analyze and characterize the vast information from DNA and genetic material, collected from biobanks such as the BioMe® and Mount Sinai Million Health Discovery programs, to examine the health impact of disease-associated genes and variants in real-world settings. Some key focus areas include:

  • Genomic discovery: Teams are involved in large-scale projects that infer population history through genetic sequencing. These studies provide information about how genetic diversity has changed throughout history, evolution, and disease. Ongoing projects vary in scope from the local population in East Harlem in Manhattan to continental populations in North and South America.
  • Medical genomics: With a better understanding of genetic data, researchers can infer the prevalence, clinical impact, and comorbidities associated with a particular variant. The institute is involved in the NYCKidSeq clinical trial, a collaboration between Mount Sinai, the New York Genome Center, and Montefiore Medical Center and its Albert Einstein College of Medicine, to find genetic causes of health problems in children. Other efforts look at the intersection of genomics and infectious diseases, screening, and electronic health records.

Learn more about the Institute for Genomic Health

With a team of more than 45 members and under the leadership of its Director, Zahi Fayad, PhD, the Institute works at the forefront of imaging, nanomedicine, and drug delivery, with a focus on brain, heart, and cancer research. The Institute has a track record with wearable innovations, but it is also making strides in AI-powered digital solutions. Some recent innovations include:

  • Warrior Watch: By applying AI to analyze heart rate and other variables collected via an Apple Watch, researchers developed a way to monitor and assess psychological states remotely without requiring the completion of mental health questionnaires. The study found the AI model to be predictive in identifying resilience or well-being states.
  • “Digital twin”: By computationally modeling pathway interactions of cells and organs, researchers at the institute have created essentially a “digital twin” of organs. This allows researchers to make predictions about gene expression and organ function, which in turn allow for better understanding of health and disease states.

Learn more about the Mount Sinai BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute

Spearheading the biobank programs, including the BioMe® and Mount Sinai Million Health Discovery programs, the Institute, guided by co-Directors Alexander Charney, MD, PhD, and Girish Nadkarni, MD, works closely with the Institute for Genomic Health and others to understand human disease through cohort studies. AI is the backbone for genetic sequencing to provide insight into how one’s genes might influence health, but also other factors including environmental and socioeconomic.

  • Mount Sinai Million Health Discoveries Program: This endeavor aims to carry out genetic sequencing of 1 million Mount Sinai patients in five years, and is considered one of the largest sequencing projects of its kind. With understanding of health at a local and population level, the program hopes not only to discover new therapeutics to treat and prevent disease, but also to integrate genomic profiling into routine clinical decision-making.
  • BioMe®: A vast, ongoing collection of de-identified data comprising information about DNA, plasma, clinical medical records, and questionnaire data, and large-scale genome-wide genotype and exome-chip data. Since its creation in 2019, the biobank has acquired information from more than 52,500 patients. The database allows genetic, epidemiologic, molecular, and genomic studies in many different fields, including inflammatory bowel disease, chronic kidney disease, cancer, allergic conditions, and more.

Learn more about The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine

Three Things You Need to Know About Lung Cancer

Nov 25, 2024 | Featured, Your Health

True or false: Lung cancer only affects those who have smoked a long time. The answer: False.

The actual connection between smoking and lung cancer is one of three key takeaways about lung cancer from the experts at Mount Sinai.

  • Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but not the only cause. Smoking is responsible for about 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer cases. But a growing number of nonsmokers are being diagnosed with lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer increases with the number of cigarettes smoked and how long someone has smoked. For non-smokers, a family history, secondhand smoke and exposure to chemicals like radon and asbestos can increase the risk of lung cancer.
  • Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and is the deadliest type of cancer for both men and women.
  • Early diagnosis is important. Lung cancer is often diagnosed at advanced stages, when treatment options are limited. Early diagnosis can make a big difference in survival rates.

The symptoms of lung cancer are the same whether or not you have smoked. Some people have general symptoms of not feeling well or feeling tired all the time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some people cough frequently, cough up blood, or have chest pain, wheezing, or shortness of breath. These symptoms can happen with other illnesses. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor, who can help find the cause.

Here are more important updates on lung cancer prevention and treatment from the Center of Excellence for Thoracic Oncology, led by co-directors Fred R. Hirsch, MD, PhD, and Andrew J Kaufman, MD, and the entire team at Mount Sinai Health System have vast experience researching, detecting, and treating lung cancers.

These experts note a number of important developments in the field, including improved cure rates thanks to early detection of lung cancer through low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans and by raising awareness of lung cancer risk in “never smokers.” Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is helping to find lung cancer earlier and more accurately, while a recent study points to disparities in lung cancer testing.

Cure Rate From Early Detection

Research led by Claudia Henschke, MD, PhD, Professor of Diagnostic, Molecular and Interventional Radiology and Director of the Early Lung and Cardiac Action Program (ELCAP) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, indicates that early detection works. In a multi-decade study (1992-2022) involving more than 31,000 people, those who detected lung cancer early through low-dose CT scans had an 81 percent survival rate after 20 years. The average five-year survival rate for all lung cancer patients is 28 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. However, only 23 percent of lung cancers are diagnosed at an early stage.

“Early detection is crucial in the fight against lung cancer,” said Dr. Henschke. “Our research shows that annual low-dose CT screening significantly increases survival rates by identifying cancers at their most treatable stages. We encourage individuals, especially those at higher risk, to take advantage of these screening opportunities.”

Lung Cancer in Never Smokers

According to the American Cancer Society, up to 20 percent of lung cancer cases occur in people who have never smoked. This fact helps us understand that lung cancer can affect anyone, not just smokers. Factors like exposure to secondhand smoke, radon, air pollution, asbestos, or a family history of lung cancer may increase your risk of lung cancer. Researchers estimate that second-hand smoke contributes to about 7,300 and radon to about 2,900 of these cases. Mount Sinai offers a program that allows individuals 40 and older to be screened even if they have little to no smoking history.

“Lung cancer is often associated with smoking, but it’s important to recognize that it can develop in people who have never smoked or have smoked very little—fewer than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime,” said Raja Flores, MD, Chair of Thoracic Surgery at the Mount Sinai Health System. “In fact, about 10-20 percent of lung cancers in the United States occur in individuals who have never smoked. Lung Cancer Awareness Month is an important time to highlight that many factors beyond smoking influence an individual’s lifetime risk for lung cancer. We need education about exposure and subsequent access to testing to improve early detection in all populations, regardless of smoking history.”

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Screening

Icahn Mount Sinai is advancing the use of AI technology to find lung cancer earlier and more accurately. Recently developed by the I-ELCAP team, the Open Source Automated Image Reading System (AIRS) will analyze CT scans to spot nodules that might be missed by the human eye and assess a patient’s risk for lung cancer based on their medical history and other factors. Designed as a future “rule out” tool for annual repeat and follow-up low-dose CT scans, AIRS is expected to cut radiologists’ reading time by approximately 85 percent.

“Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way we approach lung cancer screening. By enhancing the analysis of CT scans, AI can help us detect growths earlier and more accurately than ever before,” said David F. Yankelevitz, MD, Director of the Lung Biopsy Service at Icahn Mount Sinai. “This technology is a tool not only to improve diagnostic precision but also to allow us to tailor screening protocols to individual patients, ultimately leading to better outcomes and survival rates.”

Disparities in Lung Cancer Testing

A recent Mount Sinai study found that people with lung cancer face significant differences in getting important tests based on their race and income. This study, led by Emanuela Taioli, MD, PhD, and her team at the Institute for Translational Epidemiology at Icahn Mount Sinai, identifies a serious concern in cancer care.

“The results of this study are important because they show that if we can fix these gaps in testing, more people will be able to get the treatments they need and improve their chances of survival,” said Dr. Taioli. “For doctors, this means they need to make sure that everyone has equal access to these important tests. For patients, especially those from lower-income or minority backgrounds, it means there’s a need for better access to treatments that can improve their health and improve their chances of survival.”

Accessing Care at Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai has broad experience with a variety of diagnostic tools and some of the most advanced treatment options in the New York City area. Here are a few of our locations across New York City and Long Island:

  • Mount Sinai Brooklyn, 3201 Kings Highway, Brooklyn, NY
  • Lung and Thoracic Cancer Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital, 1190 Fifth Avenue

For more information, please visit www.mountsinai.org/lungcancer

Advancing Health Equity With the Mount Sinai Million Health Discoveries Program

Updated on Nov 19, 2025 | Artificial Intelligence, Community, Engagement, Featured

Alexander Charney, MD, PhD

An essential part of achieving health equity is the fair collection of genomic data, ensuring that informed health care decisions can reflect the unique, diverse genomes of all cultures. Currently, there is a lack of diversity in genomic research data. This limits what we can uncover about health and potential treatments for our global population.

Expanding diversity among participants in genomic research can bridge these gaps, advancing our understanding of human genetics for all communities. One ambitious initiative that strives to diversify this data is the Mount Sinai Million Health Discoveries Program.

Mount Sinai Health System’s Health Equity Data Assessment (HEDA) team met with leaders of the program who expressed their challenge with identifying the ethnic identities of Mount Sinai patients participating in the program. HEDA was quickly able to assist in rectifying the data issue, which resulted in increasing the ethnic identities from 0.5 percent to 66 percent.

This assistance will have a significant impact on the program objectives. A hypothesis was formulated in the Measures and Outcomes section of the HEDA Hub. The HEDA team will track progress towards the program’s goal of reaching a million patients.

The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai leads this project and aims to sequence the genomes of one million Mount Sinai patients over the next five years. It seeks to integrate health and research data to drive discoveries that directly benefit a diverse patient population.

Lea K. Davis, PhD

Mount Sinai Million is poised to serve as a model for embedding genetics into routine clinical care. By leveraging data from one of the world’s most diverse patient populations within a massive New York City health system, this program seeks to deepen our understanding of the connections between genetics and disease.

In a recent conversation with Alexander Charney, MD, PhD, Director, The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, and Associate Professor, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Psychiatry, Neuroscience, Neurosurgery, and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Icahn Mount Sinai; and Lea K. Davis, PhD, Scientific Director of the Mount Sinai Million Health Discoveries Program, The Charles Bronfman Institute for Personalized Medicine, and Associate Professor of Medicine (Data-Driven and Digital Medicine), Icahn Mount Sinai, we gained further insight into this initiative.

Dr. Charney explains: “Our goal is to develop personalized treatments tailored not only to the disease but to the individual’s genetic makeup, which we know varies significantly across populations.”

“Equity is a core value of the scientific vision for the Mount Sinai Million,” says Dr. Davis. “We are thrilled to connect the program with HEDA and are looking forward to supporting equity-focused research through the development of this incredible resource.”

Reflecting on the broader impact, Dr. Charney says the initiative “isn’t just about collecting data; it’s about improving lives.” He envisions a health care system where genetic insights enable clinicians to make more informed, individualized decisions.

“With this kind of data,” he says, “we’re not just diagnosing based on symptoms—we’re diagnosing based on a person’s unique genetic and biological profile, which could mean a huge leap in effectiveness.”

With this forward-thinking approach, Dr. Charney and the Mount Sinai team are working toward a future where each person’s treatment is precise, effective, and, above all, personalized.

To enroll as a participant or to learn more about the Mount Sinai Million Health Discoveries Program, visit mountsinaimillion.org.

Advancing Health Equity at the ISQua 2024 Conference

Nov 15, 2024 | Community, Engagement, Featured

The Mount Sinai Health System’s Health Equity Data Assessment (HEDA) team made significant strides at the International Society for Quality in Health Care Conference in Istanbul,Turkey.

Those attending included HEDA members Pamela Abner, MPA, CPXP, Senior Vice President and Health Equity Officer, the Mount Sinai Health System; Lyndia Hayden, MS, PMP, Senior Director of Data Integrity and Equity Analytics; and Doran Ricks, MS, RN, MBA, Vice President of Data Quality and Stewardship.

The conference theme was “Health for People and Planet: Building Bridges to a Sustainable Future,” focusing on enhancing health care quality and safety worldwide.

“Attending the ISQua conference was a wonderful opportunity to hear about experiences from experts and colleagues around the world and share strategies for improving health access and outcomes,” said Mr. Ricks. “Many of the challenges we face in health care are common, even across international borders. It is key that we take the time to learn from the experiences of others.”

The HEDA team showcased their work, titled “Unleashing the Power of Data for Health Equity: A Blueprint for Elevating Quality and Patient Safety,” and presented a poster titled “Providing an Equity Lens on Quality Metrics: Evaluation of ‘Left Without Being Seen’ in the Emergency Department,” which emphasized the critical need to evaluate patients who leave the emergency department without being seen.

Throughout the conference, the team collaborated with fellow health care professionals, sharing insights on advancing health equity and committing to bring valuable findings back to the community.

“I was surprised to learn how much we have in common with other nations who struggle to address health equity. It was a most rewarding experience and exchange of ideas, and an opportunity for future collaboration,” said Ms. Abner.

As the HEDA team wrapped up their participation in the conference, they expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the global discourse on health equity and quality improvement.

“The conference served as an invaluable platform for the HEDA team to share insights, foster collaboration, and advocate for advancing health equity on a global scale,” said Ms. Abner.

Get more information about Mount Sinai Health System's Health Equity Data Assessment (HEDA) team

Celebrating Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week: NPs at the Heart of Health Care

Updated on Nov 15, 2024 | Featured, Nursing

Nurse Practitioner team, The Mount Sinai Hospital

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) profession originated in the 1960s through the collaborative and collegial efforts of nurse Loretta Ford, MS, EdD, FAAN, FAANP, and physician Henry Silver, MD, with an emphasis on illness prevention and health promotion including patient education.

Today, there are more than 385,000 licensed NPs bringing a comprehensive perspective to health care all across the United States. The NP role is deemed as one of the fastest growing professions, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a 46 percent increase by 2031.

In collaboration with physicians and interdisciplinary team members, NPs continue to make valuable contributions in delivering optimal patient care while minimizing duplication of clinical effort and promoting the appropriate and timely use of all health care providers on the team. NPs provide care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, and values, and ensure that patient values guide all clinical decisions.

Nurse Practitioner Week, Sunday, November 10, to Saturday, November 16, provides the Mount Sinai community with the opportunity to reflect on the valuable contributions of our approximately 900 NPs in advancing the mission, vision, and values of our organization.

Below are brief personal reflections of a few of our Mount Sinai Health System NPs on the importance of the NP role in health care:

“NPs bring a unique blend of clinical expertise and patient-centered care to health care. With advanced training, we provide comprehensive assessments, diagnose conditions, and develop treatment plans, often with a focus on preventive care and patient education,” says Meghan Costigan Kraus, FNP-BC, CDCES, Director of Diabetes Services/Endocrinology, Mount Sinai South Nassau. “NPs’ holistic approach emphasizes communication and education, fostering strong relationships and empowering the patients they care for.”

Meghan Costigan Kraus, FNP-BC, CDCES

J’Adore Larosa-Mattis, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC

“As a NP, I prioritize patient-centered care and building strong relationships with my patients and their families,” says J’Adore Larosa-Mattis, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai-Union Square. “A great NP combines clinical expertise with empathy, active listening, and a holistic approach to health. Patients often describe us as approachable and dedicated, highlighting our ability to understand their unique needs and concerns, which fosters trust and enhances their overall experience.”

“NPs bring knowledge and understanding from both nursing and medicine to care for patients and their families, enhancing our ability to collaborate with all care teams and provide the best possible care,” says Francisco Diaz, DNP, RN, NP-BC, GNP-BC, CDCES, Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Mount Sinai Morningside.

Francisco Diaz, DNP, RN, NP-BC, GNP-BC, CDCES

Helen Wu, NP-BC

“I chose to transition from RN to NP to continue learning and expanding my ability to care for patients,” says Helen Wu, NP-BC, Heart Failure, Mount Sinai Queens. “This journey has been a significant step in my professional development, allowing me to enhance patient care through advanced practice. NPs are important to patient care and provide a blend of clinical expertise, patient-centered care, and compassion.”

“NPs approach the patient with a nursing perspective, which is grounded in being caring and compassionate, really trying to understand our patient from a human perspective,” says Lisette Kimbere, DNP, ANP-BC, Oncology Care Unit, The Mount Sinai Hospital. “We also bring the provider perspective. We understand what may be best for these patients and how to proceed with a specific line of treatment. In a way, we bring the best of both worlds to the patient and their family.”

Lisette Kimbere, DNP, ANP-BC

Holly Morhaim, MSN, NP

“An NP is a clinician who is caring, attentive, establishes trust with their patients, and uses their knowledge, expertise, and experience in bridging gaps in care,” says Holly Morhaim, MSN, NP, Clinical Program Manager, Mount Sinai Stroke Center, Mount Sinai Brooklyn.” An NP differs from a clinical nurse in being able to diagnose and treat medical conditions, order diagnostic tests, and prescribe medical therapies. NPs are nurses at heart, and in addition to diagnosing and treating patients they also focus on patients’ comfort; help bridge patients’ understanding of the disease process, treatments, and expectations; and provide more comprehensive patient education.”

“My sister has been a patient in the health care system for her whole life,” says Chloe Jones, NP, Mount Sinai West. “It can be a confusing, contradictory, and frustrating system to navigate. She has an NP on her cardiology team who is the ‘go-to person.’ If there’s a problem, she solves it. If there’s a question, she answers it. If she doesn’t know, she finds the answer. That’s the value that an NP can bring to care: being the go-to person to help guide patients and families through this often very frightening and challenging experience.”

Fashionably Fighting Multiple Sclerosis at New York Fashion Week

Updated on Nov 8, 2024 | Featured

During New York Fashion Week, hundreds of attendees gathered for Project Lab Coat—a showcase of custom-designed, colorful lab coats created and designed by Anthony Rosa, founder and CEO of Runway 7 Fashion, a Fashion Week production company. More than 30 faculty, staff, patients, and families from The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai attended the event, hosted by Runway 7 Fashion on Saturday, September 7, at Sony Hall in Times Square.

“We created Project Lab Coat to use our platform of Runway 7 Fashion for a greater cause,” said Mr. Rosa, who also serves on the Center’s Advisory Board. “The goal of the Project is fighting multiple sclerosis. It’s a first in many ways for us and could be a model for fighting additional important health battles—cancer, Lyme disease, or others. Our slogan is ‘Project Lab Coat at New York Fashion Week with Mount Sinai… Elevating awareness, fashionably fighting against multiple sclerosis, and uniting for a cause that truly matters.’”

In memory of his late brother, Ralph, who battled multiple sclerosis for 23 years, Mr. Rosa designed fashionable lab coats to raise multiple sclerosis awareness. In a unique touch, Mr. Rosa enlisted doctors, nurse practitioners, and families from the Center to model the coats. Amid a thumping soundtrack by DJ Tone Experience, staff from the Center and professional models alike took to the runway, spinning, strutting, and creating an atmosphere that was both lively and emotional.

Ilana Katz Sand, MD

Before the models began their runway walk, Elizabeth Rosa, mother of Mr. Rosa and Ralph, presented Fred Lublin, MD, Saunders Family Professor of Neurology at Icahn Mount Sinai and Director of the Center, with a $25,000 donation to support the Center’s critical work.

Walking the runway to support the cause were Ilana Katz Sand, MD; Stephen Krieger, MD; James Sumowski, PhD; Sammita Satyanarayan, MD; Sarah Levy, PhD; and Nurse Practitioner Gretchen Mathewson, alongside administrative staffer Lady Navia and research coordinator Claire Wigley, and several professional models. Adding a family touch, Michelle Fabian, MD’s daughter Julia Fabian, Fred Lublin, MD’s granddaughter Avery Lublin, and Social Worker Ilona Silva Alvarez’s daughter Isabella Veliz-Silva also joined.

“All of us at the Center are deeply appreciative of the remarkable and unique opportunity that Anthony Rosa has afforded us in raising awareness of multiple sclerosis and the Center, and in raising needed funds for our goals,” said Dr. Lublin. “I was especially appreciative of having my granddaughter, Avery Lublin, walk the runway and model Anthony’s reimagining of the laboratory coat.”

Stephen Krieger, MD, FAAN

Ilana Katz Sand, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, Icahn Mount Sinai, and a physician from the Center who walked the runway, shared her experience. “Participating in the fashion show was an amazing experience. Although I was completely terrified while we were standing backstage, I looked around at my wonderful colleagues and was reminded how fortunate I am to be surrounded by such dedicated and caring professionals. We were all there to raise awareness and resources for the Center and all people living with multiple sclerosis; this inspired me to step out onto the runway with my head held high. We are extremely grateful to Anthony for this incredible opportunity and his generous support.”

For Stephen Krieger, MD, FAAN, Professor of Neurology, Icahn Mount Sinai, the evening also meant getting a little uncomfortable. “I was thrilled—terrified, actually—to walk the runway at Fashion Week to support the Center and the Mount Sinai Community,” he said. “It was fun to step out of my comfort zone for the cause. My lab coat said, ‘Find the Cure for MS: Someone I Love is Waiting.’ I think this is an incredible message, our north star at the Center, where we focus every day on both caring for our patients and making advancements in the field.”

The event offered a space not only to enjoy the fashion show but also to connect and celebrate with each other. Attendees from the Center had reserved tables to relax, catch up over drinks and appetizers hosted by Runway 7 Fashion, and cheer on their colleagues as they showed off these meaningful designs.

“A heartfelt thank you to Mr. Rosa and Runway 7 Fashion for creating such a memorable night and for their unwavering support of the Center’s dedicated staff and their work,” said Dr. Lublin.

Learn more about The Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis

Pin It on Pinterest