Celebrating Nurse Practitioners: A Critical Role in Health Care

Nov 6, 2025 | Featured, Nursing

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) play an increasingly important role in the fast-paced and high-reliability field of health care. Since the nation’s first NP program launched in 1965, there are now more than 431,000 licensed NPs throughout the United States, responsible for nearly 1 billion patient visits annually. These are clinically trained health professionals who have journeyed a rigorous professional development path, earning graduate-level degrees and completing exacting board certification requirements. Their shared goal: to provide better care for their patients and advance practice.

In recognition of National Nurse Practitioner Week, November 9-15, Nurse Practitioners from throughout the Mount Sinai Health System talked about their own experiences.

 

Genevieve McHugh, FNP-C, RN-BC, PCCN, works in an inpatient cardiology service within Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. There, 38 nurse practitioners are responsible for diagnosing, managing and treating, admitting, and discharging complex cardiac patients in collaboration with the physicians.

“When I started as a nurse, I didn’t know the tremendous role NPs play in health care,” Ms. McHugh says. “I worked on a Mount Sinai cardiac step-down unit with a talented and caring group of NPs. They were reviewing patient labs, data, and vitals, rounding with the attending, fellows, and residents, participating in interdisciplinary rounds, and discharging patients. And they absolutely influenced my decision to pursue advanced practice nursing.”

Yehwon Lee, DNP, MS, FNP-BC, specializes in thoracic medical oncology at The Blavatnik Family Chelsea Medical Center.

“Nurses and nurse practitioners play invaluable roles delivering patient care that requires continued learning and improving expertise,” Dr. Lee says. “The more I learned about oncology nursing, the more I wanted to expand my scope of practice and have a bigger influence on patients who are going through cancer diagnoses.” She now cares for patients along the spectrum of work-ups for diagnoses, receiving treatments, continuing surveillance, and survivorship.

Deborah Louis, PMHNP-BC, practices in the 36-bed Psychiatry Inpatient Unit at Mount Sinai South Nassau. Having spent 12 years as an RN Supervisor at a traumatic brain injury facility before becoming a psychiatric mental health NP, she had an opportunity to see a different side of mental health.

“Many of the patients struggled with depression, anger, and intense emotions because of their injuries, but too often, no one truly listened to them. Becoming a psychiatric mental health NP allowed me to take my advocacy for y patients even further, not only to listen but to help create meaningful change.”

Similarly, a focus on clinical expertise and advocacy defines the practice of Michael Olivier-De La Torre, DNP, FNP-BC, Mount Sinai West, Institute for Advanced Medicine-Samuels Clinic. He began his career in community health, supporting patients living with HIV and chronic illnesses. Dr. Olivier-De La Torre quickly realized how much trust, empathy, and advocacy matter in health care, particularly in giving voice and care to those who face stigma and barriers to health.

“I pursued advanced practice nursing because I wanted to expand my ability to advocate for patients and deliver comprehensive, evidence-based care,” he says. “Becoming an NP, and then earning my Doctor of Nursing Practice the following year, allowed me to step into the role of a primary care provider who could manage acute conditions, chronic disease, and preventive care all at once. And it allows me to advance not just individual care, but community health.”

Some Mount Sinai NPs started out on a less conventional path. In her mid-twenties, Randi Adelman, PMHNP-BC planned to be a sportswriter. After reading about nursing in a book about career choices, something clicked. She earned a second-degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing and later studied to become an NP in psychiatric mental health. She currently works as a team leader in the Comprehensive Adolescent Rehabilitation and Education Service (CARES), a partnership between the Mount Sinai Department of Psychiatry, the Addiction Institute of Mount Sinai, and the New York Department of Education that provides critical mental health and substance treatments to New York City’s most vulnerable teens.

“I chose to become an NP because I wanted more responsibility, more autonomy, and specialized knowledge in my field,” says Ms. Adelman. She is now responsible for providing psychiatric and medication management services to about half of the CARES patients, in addition to leading group therapy sessions and providing individual and milieu therapy. “It’s exciting to be in a position where I can make a real impact in the lives of my patients and at such a critical time in their lives.”

Stephane Geneus, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, an NP working with gynecologic medical oncology patients at The Blavatnik Family Chelsea Medical Center, echoes these sentiments.

“As an NP, I have the ability to make a meaningful impact on individuals and communities as part of an interdisciplinary team of oncologists, radiologists, social workers, dieticians, and many others,” she says. “Our goal is not only to treat illness but to empower patients through education and support, so they feel more in control of their health.”

Erica Valenski, MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC, GERO-BC, WCC, a nurse practitioner specializing in geriatrics at Mount Sinai South Nassau, also demonstrates the NP’s ability to extend their influence beyond the point of care. “I’m building my nursing career on Long Island—where I was born, raised, and now care for the neighbors and older adults who shaped my community,” she says.

Passionate about expanding age-friendly initiatives, Ms. Valenski has collaborated across disciplines in efforts to educate staff, enhance end-of-life care, and lead various hospital improvement initiatives to ensure age-friendly, person-centered care is woven into daily practice. She recently led a research project on falls, ageism, and high-risk medications in the Emergency Department that her team is writing up for publication.

 

Because NPs have an opportunity to build stronger relationships with patients over time, they are ideally positioned to promote personalized care for their own patients and more broadly. “In my current role in general and bariatric surgery,” says Etella Veyg, ANP-BC, Clinical Program Manager, Surgery, Mount Sinai Brooklyn.

“I’m able use my experiences and knowledge to guide patients through the challenges and rewards of weight loss and help them achieve both physical and emotional well-being. As a clinical program manager, I can combine my leadership and clinical expertise to oversee projects and programs on a larger scale, to have a more strategic impact beyond direct patient care.”

Minna Park, DNP, FNP-C, ACHPN, works at Mount Sinai Queens in the Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine. Early in her career, an opportunity to be a wound care champion deepened her clinical knowledge, strengthened her sense of autonomy, and inspired her to pursue advanced practice nursing. She became a family nurse practitioner and then completed an adult palliative and end-of-life care fellowship during her doctoral program. Today she cares for people facing serious illness.

“We help manage severe symptoms,” Dr. Park says, “but my role also involves listening to patients’ concerns, validating their struggles, exploring available resources, advocating for their needs, and creating care plans together that reflect their values and goals. My goal is to support patients, caregivers, and the medical team throughout the course of an illness. Although I may be involved with a patient for only a short time, I know the care I provide can significantly influence the last chapter of their life. Through palliative care, I help empower people to plan their lives and have greater control even in the face of uncertainty.”

Helping patients feel more confident and knowledgeable about their health is especially important in the management of diabetes.

Abigail Tamru, DNP, NP-C, works at The Mount Sinai Hospital in the Department of Endocrinology as part of the inpatient diabetes management consulting service. She also sees patients in the hospital’s outpatient High A1C Clinic once a week.

“I’m especially passionate about reducing readmissions and supporting patient self-management through education and follow-up,” Dr. Tamru says. “I was drawn to nursing because it combines science, problem-solving, and the ability to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Becoming an NP allowed me to deepen my knowledge and expand my impact on patient care.”

In virtually every specialty area and in all environments of care throughout the Health System, Nurse Practitioners play a vital role in health care delivery and direction. Every day and with every encounter they make a difference in the lives of patients who are often at their most vulnerable. They are health care superstars. To learn more about advanced practice nursing at Mount Sinai, click here.

My Story: Why I Decided to Disclose My Multiple Sclerosis

Updated on Oct 29, 2025 | Featured, Your Health

Author Kenneth Bandler, a multiple sclerosis patient and advocate, is a member of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis Advisory Board

“What are you doing here?” Andrea and I asked each other when we met in the waiting area at Mount Sinai’s Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis. She was a volunteer at the American Jewish Committee (AJC), where I was director of media relations.

My heart sank at this surprise encounter in June 2004. I had managed to keep my multiple sclerosis (MS) a secret for years. Quickly adjusting, I said to her that a few days earlier I had told AJC’s CEO about my MS. Luckily, Andrea and I had not crossed paths at the Center earlier. It might have swayed me to disclose sooner than I desired.

Concealing MS is not stress-free. I first came to the Center in May 2003, shortly after the second MRI in my life revealed new brain lesions, showing the disease had progressed since my first MRI and diagnosis in 1990. I needed to see an MS neurologist.

I chose the Center for several reasons. It was convenient to my residence and workplace. I was able to get an appointment with Fred Lublin, MD, the Center’s director. And I noticed a social worker was on the Center staff. I thought she might come in handy as I embarked on a new chapter in my MS journey.

After an MS diagnosis, finding trusted individuals to speak with for help in navigating this unpredictable disease is critical in averting loneliness. For many, one’s immediate family—spouse, parents, siblings—are the first line of assistance. Others find comfort in MS support groups.

A workplace is a very different situation. For comradery some people share information about family, vacations, and other interests, but certainly they are not obliged to divulge a health condition.

With my relapsing-remitting MS, maintaining the secret was not difficult, as in this most common form of the disease, there are periods of remission and symptoms disappear. I looked fine to my colleagues, and I did not allow MS to interfere with my work production.

I was very fortunate that the Center’s comprehensive care includes a social worker whose unparalleled guidance was crucial in giving me the self-confidence to tell my secret.

But the reality was that only I knew how I felt and that I needed to manage exacerbations. I thought about telling my boss so that he would be aware of my MS in case a debilitating attack struck me at the office or while travelling for work. However, I knew you cannot take it back if sharing did not go well. I feared the unknown of what the reaction would be. Why take that risk when my job was going well?

Enter the social worker. Through confidential one-on-one conversations, a social worker familiar with MS helps you navigate life challenges related to the disease. The social worker and I established a very good rapport. Our conversations encouraged my thinking about the pros and cons of disclosing. Their questions about the demands of my media relations work for a global advocacy organization, and my relationship with the CEO, helped me focus on how I saw MS affecting my job.

Our discussions helped me recognize what I already knew deep inside—that it would be best for me to tell my boss, and it would be safe to take that risk by disclosing on my terms. Deciding to divulge was huge, but how and when to do it still were big hurdles. Several times over a period of months I told my social worker that I was ready, but at the last moment, as I sat with my boss, I hesitated. The timing and setting did not feel right.

Another stress factor weighing on my mind was an oped article I had written about my MS. Center staff encouraged me to publish it, but how could I without telling my employer I have MS?

One Friday evening, in late May 2004, I walked into the CEO’s office and told him I have MS. He was stunned to learn about my disease, and that I had kept it a secret. I gave him my article to read over the weekend, and Monday morning he encouraged me to publish it with my AJC title. It appeared in the International Herald Tribune under the headline “The loneliness of coping with MS.”

The psychological burden of constantly thinking about whether or not to disclose had been lifted. Relieved of the stress of concealing my MS I continued to pursue an enjoyable, successful career heading AJC media relations for more than 25 years.

I was very fortunate that the Center’s comprehensive care includes a social worker whose unparalleled guidance was crucial in giving me the self-confidence to tell my secret.

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

 

Listen to Kenneth Bandler talk about his story on the Can Do MS Podcast
Learn more about the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis
Find a Mount Sinai doctor

Midwives: Offering Personalized Care Throughout a Lifetime

Oct 9, 2025 | Featured, Nursing

Grace Ferguson-Pell, CNM, WHNP, RN

It is a common misconception that midwives provide only natural childbirth or pregnancy services. In fact, all New York State licensed midwives, both Certified Midwives and Certified Nurse Midwives, offer a unique brand of care throughout a patient’s lifetime, from adolescence to post-menopausal years.

“A midwife is an independent practitioner who focuses on reproductive health,” says Grace Ferguson-Pell, CNM, WHNP, RN, a certified nurse midwife at the Midwife Practice at Mount Sinai Doctors at Delancey Street, in Manhattan’s Lower East Side.  “And many Mount Sinai patients who are pregnant and at low to moderate risk choose to be cared for by a licensed midwife.”

Midwives provide a wide range of care, including:

  • Contraceptive counseling
  • Menstrual cycle issues
  • Prenatal care
  • Attending births
  • Postpartum visits
  • Annual reproductive health exams like cervical cancer screening and testing for sexually transmitted diseases

Lesley Cohen, CNM, MSN, MPH

Midwives also support patients through menopause and perimenopause, providing ongoing reproductive health services such as screenings, symptom management, and education.

They also focus on providing care for the individual.

“Certified Nurse Midwives are clinically trained in the full scope OB/GYN, but their nursing background brings a depth of empathy and compassion to their care delivery,” says Lesley Cohen, CNM, MSN, MPH, a certified nurse midwife at Mount Sinai West.

“In general, we view health from a wellness perspective,” she says. “This allows me to create strong relationships and truly connect with the patients in my care.”

By developing a mutual understanding with patients, Ms. Cohen strives to make them feel comfortable and at ease, which means patients will be more open about their health and any concerns.

Gail Rivera, MSN, CNM

Gail Rivera, MSN, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at The Mount Sinai Hospital, says midwifery care places a focus on wellness that positions the patient at the center of decision-making.

“Midwives turn the medical approach from illness to optimal health,” she says. “We focus on the natural processes of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and breastfeeding using medical interventions as needed.”

A midwife for more than 30 years, she has worked in a variety of settings, including at a birth center, at home, and at high-risk labor and delivery units.

“I know from experience how critical it is to engage patients,” she says. “I come from a humble background and am a bilingual Afro-Latina woman,” she says. “I have seen how important cultural connections can be in establishing a good, trusting relationship with a patient.”

Suzanne Ricca-Hinchey, CNM, MS

Suzanne Ricca-Hinchey, CNM, MS, a certified nurse midwife at The Mount Sinai Hospital, says she ensures she provides patients with personalized care.

“Our training requires us to be present, connect, and overall to educate,” she says. “We follow the same accepted standards of all professionals, with the focus of individualizing our care to consider the unique situation of each patient.”

Ms. Ricca-Hinchey is passionate about the opportunity to guide patients into motherhood.

“Birth can be messy and overwhelming,” she says. “Birth can also be calm and transformational. It’s always unpredictable. New parents deserve to feel strong and empowered so they can properly nurture and protect the next generation. If I have my hands in accomplishing this, I have done my job.”

Ms. Ricca-Hinchey keeps a photo taped to the inside of her locker that was given to her by a patient in her labor room following delivery.

“Looking at this photo reminds me that I am part of the story for this family, and for every family I assist in labor and birth,” she says. “It reminds me to remain purposeful in my words and interactions because it shapes the experience, and it will all be repeated when the story is told.”

A Journey of Firsts at the White Coat Ceremony

Updated on Oct 3, 2025 | Featured, School

For the class of 2029 of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the White Coat Ceremony marked the start of their medical careers. It was also an opportunity for Mount Sinai staff and faculty to pass on their wisdom about what it means to be on that path.

“As students, it represents the privilege you have earned to study medicine,” said Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Interim Dean of the Icahn School, speaking to the crowd at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, September 16. “As practitioners, it will be a constant reminder of your sacred responsibility to patients. And to your patients, it will symbolize the deep trust that they place in you,” he said.

Incidentally, remarked Dr. Nestler, just as the event was the first White Coat Ceremony for the incoming class, it was also the first that he had presided over as Interim Dean since assuming the role last year. The incoming class is a diverse group from different socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, with representation from 31 states, 52 different schools, and two who joined from the military. Collectively, class members speak more than 20 different languages.

The new students are stepping into a world that will contain many firsts for diagnosing and treating patients, led by artificial intelligence and genomic sciences, and Dr. Nestler said it will be a world unrecognizable to himself, his peers, and his mentors: “You are preparing to join our profession as it faces a revolutionary inflection point.”

But behind the prestige and brilliance, doctors must remember that they, too, are human, said Brendan G. Carr, MD, MA, MS, Chief Executive Officer and Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Distinguished Chair of the Mount Sinai Health System.

“The point is that medicine will take a toll. And we used to celebrate that. But we don’t anymore,” said Dr. Carr. “We don’t want the numb version of you. We want the version of you that feels deeply and sees the connection you have with your patients. And we want the professional version that commands authority and respect and is polished and professional.”

Class of 2029, By the Numbers

128

Class size

7,529

Number of traditional entry applications

54%

Percentage of women

18

First-generation college students

519

Median MCAT score of class

3.94

Median GPA of class

The class of 2029 is entering medicine with a vision for shaping the future. Click on each student’s name to learn more about why they chose to enter the field and the impact they hope to achieve.

Jude Barakat

Cesar Espinal

Eva Ingber

Rahmah Jingo

Jude Barakat, Class of 2029

Why did you choose to enter medicine?

I chose to enter medicine after seeing my mom battle her diagnosis with her rare autoimmune disorder, scleroderma. With such a complicated diagnosis, we visited tons of physicians and physician-scientists, where I saw first-hand the impact of their discoveries. Over years, these professionals gave me the invaluable gift of long hikes with my mom and celebrating life milestones—like this White Coat Ceremony—by her side. I hope to do the same for others through my pursuit of science and medicine.

What do you see as gaps that exist in medicine, and how do you think you can help bridge that gap?

I observe a disconnect between scientific research and clinical practice. It’s not only important to pursue our scientific curiosity, but to ground that research and inquiry in advancing care for our patients. In pursuit of my physician-scientist training, I hope to help bridge the gap, speaking both a scientific and medical language to improve human health for my patients and on a larger scale.

What drew you to the Icahn School of Medicine?

As an MD/PhD student, I appreciated that the “bench-to-bedside” translational research model is baked into the very nature of Mount Sinai as both a hospital system and a powerhouse in biomedical research. Beyond the lab, I instantly felt the supportive and collaborative atmosphere from the students and faculty the moment I entered Second Look, the event for accepted students to learn more about the program. Plus, Mount Sinai has the best location of any medical school in the world: next to Central Park and a train ride away from any action of New York.

Interesting facts about yourself?

When not doing science or medicine, I love to watch reality TV—specifically Survivor; I even minored in psychology to study social behavior and dynamics. A life goal of mine is to be on Survivor… maybe during grad school?

 

I am a medical student and so much more. I’m also… an educator and mentor.

Cesar Espinal, Class of 2029

Why did you choose to enter medicine?

I chose to enter medicine because this field will allow me to have an impact on someone’s life during their most vulnerable moments. Having seen how my own life and the lives of my loved ones have benefited through the efforts of compassionate health care workers, I feel both a deep desire and responsibility to provide that same care for others. Whether it’s through a clinical intervention or just being there to listen, I know that my actions as a physician will have the potential to be life-changing. The white coat bestowed upon me symbolizes not just knowledge, but a commitment to consistently honor the privilege of being relied upon to do what is best for my future patients. With every step I take toward honoring that trust, I find myself living out the very reasons I chose this path.

What do you see as gaps that exist in medicine, and how do you think you can help bridge that gap?

A major gap I see in medicine is the lack of adequate language access for patients with limited English proficiency. Through my experience researching language access in New York City public hospitals, I have become aware of the fact that patients who don’t share a common language with their care team often struggle to fully understand their care, and relying on telephonic or video interpreters can make it even harder to feel truly connected and comfortable.

Now, as a medical student, I am grateful to take a more active part in addressing them as a Spanish interpreter at the East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership, where I hope to serve as both a language and cultural bridge between patients and providers. Through work like this, I hope to grow into a physician who not only recognizes these invisible barriers but also becomes more mindful of how to better connect with patients whose languages I do not speak.

What drew you to the Icahn School of Medicine?

I was initially drawn to the Icahn School of Medicine because of the FlexMed program, which allowed me to live in Spain and Argentina to strengthen my fluency in Spanish—it’s my heritage language that I didn’t grow up speaking, even though my mum is from Mexico, and my dad is from the Dominican Republic. During those years, I also conducted research at NYU Langone, Bellevue Hospital, and the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, examining language access and minority health in hospitals serving largely Hispanic communities across New York City.

Now, I hope to bring these skills and experiences back to East Harlem by serving the vast Hispanic patient population that comes to Mount Sinai for care. Access to such a community has always been central to where I envision practicing medicine, as I strive to bridge language gaps for the community I come from but could not always fully connect with. Achieving this dream has only been possible because of the Icahn School of Medicine, which gave me the foundation I needed to serve this community today.

Interesting facts about yourself?

I’ve traveled to five continents and I’ve lived in four. But more impressively, I can solve a Rubik’s cube in 17 seconds.

 

I am a medical student and so much more. I’m also… a runner, a cyclist, and hopefully a future triathlete.

Eva Ingber, Class of 2029

Why did you choose to enter medicine?

I was an avid reader as a teen, deeply stirred by the works I read, such that I often thought to myself: I want to do this. At the time, I thought “this” meant that I strictly wanted to be a writer, a storyteller. Over time, I learned what it was that truly inspired me: I wanted to touch people’s lives the way books touched mine. Over time, this same feeling—coupled with an ever-growing interest in science, a craving for interpersonal connection, and a firm belief that actions often speak louder than words—led me to the realization that I didn’t just want to write people’s stories, I wanted to take an active part in shaping them. This desire was cemented the summer before my senior year of high school, when I had my first shadowing experience. I witnessed a J–pouch procedure, and the surgeon had me hold the freshly removed colon.

I often think back to that moment, to the emotions I felt all at once: disbelief that I was holding a part of the human body, deep sadness for the patient who just lost an organ and whose life would be forever changed, but also reverence for the ingenuity of medicine. I have been privileged to witness cutting-edge procedures, but my reverence of medicine is equally attributable to the littlest moments I’ve seen: a resident holding a hysterectomy patient’s hand as she awoke from surgery, a physician delicately fixing the gown of an anesthetized patient for privacy, an entire operating room of staff singing Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” for a patient as she drifted to sleep. The stimulation and connection I’ve sought on the page are everywhere in the hospital. I am inspired and deeply moved by the humanness of medicine, a field that is a constant reminder of the paradoxical duality of our existence: we are flesh and bone, and we possess such awesome potential.

What do you see as gaps that exist in medicine, and how do you think you can help bridge that gap?

I have observed—both in the clinical space, amongst my peers, and during my own experiences as a patient—the helplessness that can arise in the moments after leaving a physician’s care. A patient can be given instructions but face frustrating and confusing obstacles in trying to complete them. I feel that the onus of navigating these next logistical steps should not fall squarely on a patient’s shoulders. The logistic and circumstantial barriers to care can be mitigated by more physicians not only telling patients what their next steps should be, but how they can accomplish them.

This clarity might be as simple as affirming for a patient that their office will handle filling the prescription or that they will take care of reaching out to pathology to receive the necessary slides. I hope that every patient I am privileged to treat not only feels cared for in my presence, but leaves with this same feeling, empowered and confident in their understanding of their health and how to continue protecting it.

What drew you to the Icahn School of Medicine?

As a volunteer researcher at Mount Sinai during my undergraduate years, I would walk into the Annenberg Building and be surrounded by the vibrancy of Mount Sinai—doctors and nurses in scrubs running to grab lunch between shifts, families coming to visit loved ones, researchers carrying samples on ice, cleaning staff making sure that the hospital shines, and delivery people bringing essential goods to their respective locations.

I’ve seen firsthand the unique paradox of the Mount Sinai community: that despite its large size, its magnitude of accomplishments, Mount Sinai has created and cultivated warmth and intimacy across the institution in a way that is palpable. From the new ASCEND curriculum that breathes life into the facts and goes beyond lecture learning, to the cutting-edge research and clinical opportunities that come from the immersiveness of a medical school that’s part of a hospital, to the equitable model of care and emphasis on the dynamic role of physicians, I am inspired by the way the Icahn School of Medicine teaches and practices the art of medicine. I wanted to attend a medical school that, like me, believes care goes beyond a diagnosis—and I know with absolute certainty that Mount Sinai is that school.

Interesting facts about yourself?

I was in a rock band growing up. I was the lead singer!

 

I am a medical student and so much more. I’m also… daughter, sister, granddaughter, wife, writer, reader, artist, lover of music (anything from Frank Sinatra to Taylor Swift), and an exercise aficionado.

Rahmah Jingo, Class of 2029

Why did you choose to enter medicine?

I have felt a calling to medicine for as long as I can remember. My dad is an internist, and as a kid, my favorite days were going with him to work. I loved seeing my dad share the understanding and caring side of himself that I loved so much with his patients. This was my earliest insight into how special the physician-patient relationship truly is. I grew older and pursued patient-facing experience by volunteering as an EMT and working at an urgent care facility. I learned to anticipate and respond to my patients’ needs, and I built meaningful relationships grounded in compassion and trust during moments of vulnerability. My work gave me the clarity to recognize my purpose: to pursue the clinical training and scientific knowledge that would best equip me to meet others’ health needs. I chose medicine knowing it is a privilege to wake up every day with the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

What do you see as gaps that exist in medicine, and how do you think you can help bridge that gap?

There are an overwhelming number of issues that come to mind. Limitations exist in structural barriers to care, workforce burnout, policy changes, health care costs—to name a few. In pursuing a medical career, I have considered the way being a physician would put me in a unique position for advocacy that leads to widespread policy changes. I’ve seen how practicing medicine informs research that uncovers clinically relevant solutions to address such gaps. However, I am but one individual, still uncovering where medicine will ultimately take me. At this stage, I know the most important thing I can do is hold hope for a better future. Hope allows us to imagine what a better future looks like, and from that imagination, tangible and necessary action may arise.

What drew you to the Icahn School of Medicine?

I attended a medical conference early in my undergraduate career when I first met students from the Icahn School of Medicine. It was very easy to see myself attending this school; I saw a bit of myself in the students I met. I made sure to ask the “hard” questions about life as a medical student, and left with the feeling that I would be well-supported and welcomed by this institution. I got the sense that the values the Icahn School upholds aligned extremely well with my own. I wanted to be in a school that centers the patients, the greater community around us, and the pursuit of science. All of those factors gave me confidence that I would fully step into my potential as a doctor by attending the Icahn School.

Interesting facts about yourself?

For middle and high school, I went to international schools in my hometown, Atlanta, Georgia, and in Kampala, Uganda. Because of that, I have made lifelong friends from many different places around the world.

 

I am a medical student and so much more. I’m also… a daughter, a sister, and a friend. I’m also a person who commits herself to too many hobbies!

Beyond the Scalpel, Learning About Humanities in Medicine

Updated on Oct 9, 2025 | Featured, School

From left to right: Alexis Hatch, MD student and organizer of the Two-Minute Talks in the Medical Humanities; Suzanne Garfinkle, MD, Director, Academy for Medicine and the Humanities; and Jacob Appel, MD, JD, MPH, Assistant Director, Academy for Medicine and the Humanities.

Training to be a researcher or physician at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai isn’t just about excellence at the bench and bedside but also understanding the humanity that underpins these callings.

Thus exists the field of “medical humanities,” an area of study that draws upon the arts, the humanities, and the social sciences to enhance medical practice. On Thursday, September 18, members from the Mount Sinai Health System were invited to share and learn about topics where humanities and medicine intersect at the inaugural Two-Minute Talks in Medical Humanities.

With just 120 seconds each, 18 presenters—spanning faculty members, medical students, master’s students, and PhD students—covered topics they were passionate about: Where did Leonardo da Vinci think the soul was located in the body? How has the medical stretcher evolved through time? Can listening to Indian classical music have therapeutic effects?

“As a student admitted through Flex Med, a program designed to bring students in the humanities into medicine, I know firsthand how valuable a humanities background is when learning how to be a compassionate physician,” said Alexis Hatch, a second-year MD student, who came up with the idea for the event.

The inspiration for Two-Minute Talks came from Ms. Hatch’s time as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago, where she participated in a similar event. “When I started as a student ambassador for the Academy for Medicine and the Humanities at the Icahn School of Medicine, I immediately thought a similar event would draw students and faculty to share their interests outside of clinical medicine or research,” she said. “I knew the interest was there—every time I shadowed a physician, they seemed much more interested in discussing my history degree than any scientific research I did!”

“We loved the idea because you can teach an audience a great deal in two minutes, and the time limit made each talk extra dynamic,” said Suzanne Garfinkle, MD, Founding Director of the Academy, and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medical Education. “The event offered a very special window into participants’ creative and scholarly passions. I could see these two-minute lectures developing into a real Mount Sinai tradition.”

Take a look at what some of the presenters talked about during the event in the slideshow below.

Alexis Hatch, medical student and organizer of the Two-Minute Talks in Medical Humanities, gave a presentation on things that exist today thanks to the existence of tuberculosis.
In addition to tuberculosis camp towns—the roots of places like Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Pasadena, California—Stetson hats and the fictional character Sherlock Holmes had origins relating to the disease. For the latter, author and physician Arthur Conan Doyle based Sherlock Holmes’ deductive reasoning traits on the methods he used to debunk a failed tuberculosis remedy at the time.
Jeffrey Laitman, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Medical Education, talked about Leonardo da Vinci’s search for where the soul is located in the body anatomically.
Leonardo da Vinci, said Dr. Laitman, was obsessed with the human skull, and searched for the “senso commune,” which he thought was where the soul was located. The polymath thought he had found its location: at the floor of the third ventricle, just superior to the pituitary fossa.
Vasundhara Singh, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Hospital Medicine), and Medical Education, elaborated on the history of the medical stretcher. “Why do I care about stretchers? Because I spend half my time bent over them,” she said.
The earliest stretchers date back more than 150 years, and were also called “ambulances.” Over the decades, stretcher designs were informed by wartime constraints for space, and eventually paid more attention to comfort and materials, said Dr. Singh.
Some spiritual healing retreats in “hot igloos” in Mexico promoted on social media are simply co-opted traditional birthing huts, said Jaime Gonzalez, medical student, who talked about indigenous Mexican birthing practices.
Giving birth in hot houses is still practiced in parts of Mexico. Culture and tourism might have been intertwined, but it important for tourists to be mindful of the origins of some of these practices, said Mr. Gonzalez.
Enna Selmanovic, PhD candidate, spoke about brain donation law and representation in the United States.
Brain donation has the potential to greatly advance understanding of human disease but is complicated by law, culture, family dynamics, and ethics. “These choices shape the stories that medicine tells us about disease, and whose medical history is left out,” said Ms. Selmanovic.

Bridging Cultures in Medicine: A Mount Sinai Student’s Time at Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal

Updated on Oct 2, 2025 | AIGH, Featured

Sunset view from a valley hike

As a fourth-year medical student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, I spent one month in February in Nepal for my clinical elective. This experience was humbling, challenging, and deeply meaningful, undoubtedly shaping my career in medicine.

The Role of Family and Spirituality in Patient Care

I split my time between the pediatric and psychiatry departments at Dhulikhel Hospital, each offering a unique lens into health care delivery in a resource-limited setting. One of the most striking differences I observed, particularly in psychiatry, was the active role of family members in patient care even within the secure psychiatric unit.

Unlike in the United States, family members in Nepal were allowed to remain with patients throughout the entire day. I witnessed firsthand how this level of involvement improved patient outcomes, elevated morale, and deepened the family’s understanding of mental illness. While one might assume this model could compromise safety, staff reported surprisingly few security issues.

Another aspect that stood out to me was the integration of religious and spiritual beliefs into psychiatric treatment. Religion was one of the strongest protective factors for patients experiencing depression, making it imperative for providers to build upon those beliefs to create a safety plan for patients. It was a powerful reminder of the impact of culture on medical treatment and patient-provider trust, a factor often overlooked in medicine in the United States.

The view of Kathmandu from the top of Swayambhunath Temple

Engaging With Nepali Culture

Outside of the hospital, we experienced Nepali culture in countless meaningful ways. Each afternoon, we ate traditional meals like momos, a type of dumpling, and thalis, a variety of dishes served together on a single platter, at small canteens and cafes near the hospital. We visited historic temples and witnessed funeral processions and religious rituals along the Bagmati River. Observing these ceremonies was particularly moving as we were able to see how spirituality, grief, and community are such a visible part of everyday life.

Each evening, we hiked along trails adjacent to small huts, farms, and croplands. This was one of the most peaceful ways to spend the close of the day, among the sounds of the birds, goats, and dogs that would follow us deep into the valley.

The Impact of International Exchange

My time in Nepal was truly inspiring not just within the hospital but also through meeting incredibly caring people and experiencing delicious food and breathtaking nature. It was a privilege to experience both the medical and cultural aspects of the country. I hope to visit again one day as a physician!

Author Salonee Shah, MD, right, shown with Abhi Mogili and Cecilia Katzenstein. They are recent graduates of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Dr. Shah completed her clinical elective at AMPATH Nepal through funding provided by the Arnhold Institute for Global Health at Mount Sinai. She is a psychiatry resident at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and plans to pursue a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship. Her goal is to eventually work with refugee and immigrant families in trauma-focused care.

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