Why a Colonoscopy Is the Best Way to Detect and Prevent Colon Cancer

Oct 19, 2022 | Featured, Your Health

Colonoscopy is one of those important, routine medical procedures that most people would rather avoid. But experts say the test is a highly effective tool for both preventing colorectal cancer and diagnosing it at an early stage. Colonoscopy is also helpful in diagnosing and treating a variety of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.

The American Cancer Society recommends that people with an average risk for colorectal cancer start regular screening for that cancer at age 45. There are several choices for colorectal cancer screening; colonoscopy is one of those options and has the advantage of being a one-step test, where precancerous polyps can be identified and removed if they are there at the same time.

For those in good health who have a colonoscopy—a procedure that enables a physician (usually a gastroenterologist) to directly image and examine the entire colon—it does not need to be repeated for ten years.

Those looking for an excuse to put off a colonoscopy might now point to a large study conducted in Europe and published in September 2022 in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that appeared to question the benefits of colonoscopies.

But many experts caution that the results of the NordICC study are being misinterpreted. They say colonoscopies remain “the gold standard” to detect and prevent colon cancer, and that this study should not cause you to change your behavior, no matter how much patients might wish otherwise.

“People should continue to rely on high-quality colonoscopy for polyp detection and removal, which will lead to prevention in most cases of colorectal cancer,” says David Greenwald, MD, Director of Clinical Gastroenterology and Endoscopy at The Mount Sinai Hospital.

David Greenwald, MD

In this Q&A, Dr. Greenwald, Immediate Past-President of the American College of Gastroenterology, and Co-Chair of New York’s Citywide Colorectal Cancer Control Coalition (C5), discusses the recent study and why the value of colonoscopies remains unchanged.

He adds, “The bottom line: This study, along with prior studies, shows that colonoscopy decreases your chances of getting and dying from colorectal cancer. Getting sick and dying from colorectal cancer—especially due to delayed screening—is real. Screening with colonoscopy saves lives.”

Why is a colonoscopy important?

Colonoscopy is effective in the diagnosis and/or evaluation of various GI disorders, such as colon polyps, colon cancer, diverticulosis, inflammatory bowel disease, bleeding, change in bowel habits, abdominal pain, obstruction and abnormal X-rays or CT scans. It is also used for therapy, such as the removal of polyps or control of bleeding. A colonoscopy is also used for screening for colon cancer. A key advantage of this technique is that it allows both identification of abnormal findings and also therapy or removal of these lesions during the same examination. This procedure is particularly helpful for identification and removal of precancerous polyps.

Does this recent study change how we view colonoscopies and how doctors in the United States will recommend colonoscopy screening?

No. The results of this study must be understood in context, and the accompanying editorial in the same issue of the NEJM spelled out significant details about the strengths and limitations of this study.  The bottom line is that colonoscopy is still the gold standard to detect and prevent colorectal cancer, especially for high-risk individuals. Most importantly, in the section of the study that analyzed people who actually had a colonoscopy, the risk of developing colorectal cancer decreased by 31 percent and the risk of dying from colorectal cancer decreased by 50 percent, which is huge.

What is one of the most significant issues with this study?

One drawback of the study is that participants were randomly invited to have a colonoscopy, and many people who should have gotten a colonoscopy chose not to. In fact, less than half (42 percent) of those invited to have a colonoscopy actually had one. This remains an issue in the United States as well. Screening for colorectal cancer remains an enormous public health goal. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, but fully one-third of the eligible U.S. population remains unscreened.

Are there other issues with the study?

The benefits of colonoscopies take time to be realized. Colon polyps typically take many years (ten or more in most cases) to advance  from small polyps to large polyps to cancer, and so the benefits of taking out small polyps or even large precancerous polyps is not seen as leading to a reduction in colorectal cancer for many years, maybe even decades. Other studies that have looked at the effect of removing polyps have shown greater reductions in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality when they looked at outcomes over a longer period of time than was reported in the NordICC study. The NordICC study, short for Northern-European Initiative on Colon Cancer, included more 84,000 men and women ages 55 to 64 from Poland, Norway and Sweden, and covered a period of 10 years, which included a period before these countries began widespread screenings.

Should people still rely on their routine colonoscopy screenings to prevent colorectal cancer?

Yes. People should rely on high-quality colonoscopy for polyp detection and removal, which in most situations will lead to prevention of colorectal cancer.  The National Polyp Study demonstrated a substantial decrease in expected colon cancer incidence and mortality related to removing colorectal polyps, and was published in the NEJM years ago. High-quality colonoscopy is key.  Nearly 30 percent of the endoscopists who were included in the NordICC trial did not meet a key quality measure. The adenoma detection rate (ADR) measures the percentage of patients who have one or more precancerous polyps detected. The NordICC study did not meet the 25 percent rate that is recommended in the United States; the ADR average in the United States is rising and now approaches approximately 40 percent in many studies.

Learn more about Gastroenterology at Mount Sinai

Marla C. Dubinsky, MD, Receives 2022 Sherman Prize Recognizing Excellence in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Oct 19, 2022 | Community, Featured, Research

Marla C. Dubinsky, MD

Marla C. Dubinsky, MD, an internationally recognized leader in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), was one of three national recipients of the 2022 Sherman Prize.

The award, which recognizes individuals for pioneering achievements that have transformed patient care and rewards outstanding achievements in Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis, was announced September 21 by the Bruce and Cynthia Sherman Charitable Foundation.

Dr. Dubinsky is Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine (Gastroenterology) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She is also Chief of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital and Co-Director of the Susan and Leonard Feinstein Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Center at Mount Sinai.

In its announcement, the Foundation cited Dr. Dubinsky as “one of IBD’s preeminent game changers” and said she has been “giving hope to children and their parents for decades.” The Foundation added, “Dr. Dubinsky works on being a guiding figure for those coming up the ranks, teaching her mentees to tailor care to a patient’s needs and reinforcing the importance of empowering patients to better manage their IBD so they can live the life they want.”

Her work has included defining therapeutic dosing levels of medicines to optimize treatment in children; identifying some of the most predictive biomarkers for disease progression; and bringing intestinal ultrasound to the bedside. In addition, she is the co-founder of Trellus Health, a publicly traded digital health company based in London and New York that has a goal of improving care for people with chronic conditions. The other co-founder is Laurie Keefer, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Director for Psychobehavioral Research within the Division of Gastroenterology.

“I am both humbled and honored to be one of the 2022 Sherman Prize recipients,” said Dr. Dubinsky. “It is truly an honor to be recognized for your life’s passion and this award inspires me to keep pushing forward and continuing to impact the lives of patients with IBD.”

Uma Mahadevan, MD, Professor of Medicine, Director of the Colitis and Crohn’s Disease Center, and Director of the Advanced IBD Fellowship at the University of California San Francisco in San Francisco was also awarded the Sherman Prize.  Both Sherman Prize honorees receive a prize of $100,000.

Parambir S. Dulai, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Director of GI Clinical Trials and Precision Medicine, and Director of the Digestive Health Foundation BioRepository at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, received the Sherman Emerging Leader Prize Honoree, which includes a $25,000 prize.

Learn more about the Susan and Leonard Feinstein Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Center at Mount Sinai

At African American Day Parade, Mount Sinai Shares a Message of Health and Equity

Oct 5, 2022 | Community, Featured

Mount Sinai staff, family, and friends marched in the African American Day Parade in Harlem, in a procession that included a festive float, messages of health equity and antiracism, and the Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening van.

The Mount Sinai Health System sponsored the 53rd Annual African American Day Parade on Sunday, September 18, with a festive group of close to 80 employees and their family and friends in attendance. Held in Harlem on the third Sunday in September, the event is the nation’s largest parade in celebration of African American culture, heritage, and unity.

The theme of this year’s parade was “Good Health Is Essential,” and two members of Mount Sinai’s leadership were among the Grand Marshals: Gary C. Butts, MD, Executive Vice President, the Mount Sinai Health System, and Dean for Diversity Programs, Policy, and Community Affairs at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and Pamela Abner, MPA, Vice President, Mount Sinai Health System.

The Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening van followed the Mount Sinai float as it proceeded up Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, from 111th to 136th Street, making certain that spectators were aware of this critical resource.

Mount Sinai participants in the parade later expressed what it meant to them: “I felt a call to action as an African American to give thanks to my community,” says Celeste Valentine, Facilities Coordinator for the Facilities Management/Engineering Department at The Mount Sinai Hospital. “Both my parents died of cancer. Their respective passing moved me into the field of health care, and I am also an advocate of preventive health, dealing with my own health issues. I try my best to make sure that those around me get regular checkups and live a healthier lifestyle.”

Jacobie Ricard, Senior Director of Planning Design and Construction at Mount Sinai Morningside, wanted to acknowledge his colleagues for their role in the success of the parade, including Leroy Francis, Administrative Director of Cardiovascular Services, Mount Sinai Queens, and Kimberley Ennis, DNP, APRN-BC, Senior Director of Nursing, Mount Sinai Queens.

“As we proceeded, you repeatedly heard the same thing from the crowd: ‘There goes Mount Sinai!’ I now know that the Health System touched the lives of this community. The people of Harlem wanted us there, and they let it be known, from 111th to 136th Street. I was lost for words, as I didn’t expect this type of reception from the crowd,” says Mr. Ricard. “My role is not patient-facing, so this was an amazing feeling. To my colleagues in the Health System, this is a testament to what you do.”

Ms. Valentine had a similar reaction: “During the parade and seeing the faces of all the people smiling and waving at our float, I felt my ancestors’ spirit, especially my parents, applauding and hearing their words, saying, ‘Job well done,’  and ‘Good health is essential.’”

 

Mount Sinai honorees 
Advisory Board Member Theresa Mack, MD, and Grand Marshals Pamela Abner; MPA, and Gary C. Butts, MD

Leaders of Four Mount Sinai Hospitals
From left: Cameron Hernandez, MD; Evan L. Flatow, MD; Scott Lorin, MD, MBA; and James Tsai, MD

Mount Sinai’s Anthony Smalls, MBA, right, and his DJ team provided a soundtrack

The Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Cancer Screening van

We Find a Way: A Photo Exhibit on the Mount Sinai Spirit

Sep 22, 2022 | Community, Featured

We Find a Way: A Photo Exhibit on the Mount Sinai Spirit

We Find a Way is a photo installation that offers a glimpse inside the Mount Sinai Health System community in various moments of employees caring for patients through compassion, skill and often times going above and beyond. Australian photojournalist and writer Ashley Gilbertson, who typically covers war zones and social unrest, was able to capture powerful moments between a patient and health care worker.

“At Mount Sinai, I had the opportunity to see another side of health care,” Mr. Gilbertson said. “Yes, there was urgency, stress, and life-threatening situations. However, in these photos, I was also able to capture moments of powerful connections and a deep sense of humanity.”

This photo installation is part of Mount Sinai’s overarching branding and advertising campaign that launched in June 2021 and presents an emotional and raw view of what it takes to overcome challenging and complex health and scientific problems.

The We Find a Way campaign and exhibit drew inspiration from the entire Mount Sinai community who went above and beyond to save countless lives during the pandemic, and how it seeks to do so for all health conditions. Their work has led to the development of new COVID-19 protocols, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

The photo installation was displayed at The Mount Sinai Hospital and is moving to Mount Sinai West.

Listen to and see what Mr. Gilbertson experienced as he visited several Mount Sinai hospitals over the course of a few days during the spring of 2021.

Ashley Gilbertson, photographer, recounts his journey through the Mount Sinai Health System

COVID-19 Unit at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Emily Okioma, Clinical Nurse

A surgeon rushes to the operating room
Ismail El-Hamamsy, MD, PhD

Emergency Room at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Ami D. Shah, MD; Adam Czulak, RN; and Lauren Reyes, RN

Children’s Emergency Room at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Lauren Keyes, Certified Child Life Specialist and Hazel Encarnacion, RN

Stroke Center at Mount Sinai Queens
Kayla Epstein, PA-C, and Maggie Yu, NP

Heart surgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Ismail El-Hamamsy, MD, PhD; Percy Boateng, MD; Alison McCarry, RN; and Javier Mejia, MD

Research lab at The Tisch Cancer Center
Ieisha Scott, Clinical Research Coordinator

Neurosurgery Department at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Jeffrey Gilligan, MD; Arjun Patel, MD; Tony Feliz, Operating Room Technician; and Ben Toure, MD

Emergency Room at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Danielle Green, RN

Rehabilitation and Human Performance Department at Mount Sinai West
Raegan McCraney, Occupational Therapist Clinician, and Stephanie Smith, Occupational Therapist

A cancer vaccine patient at home with her daughter

Brain imaging MRI at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Ricardo Berrios, Pharmacy Technician

Research at The Tisch Cancer Center
Jose Javier Bravo-Cordero, PhD, and Shilpa Dilipkumar, PhD

Anesthesiologists prep for heart surgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Muoi Trinh, MD, and Stamatis Baronos, MD

Specialty pharmacy for cancer treatments at The Tisch Cancer Center
Amy Aye Aye Fu, Pharmacist; Christine Negron-Hayes, Pharmacy Technician; and Cattie Best, Pharmacy Technician

A physician assistant braids a patient’s hair
Leslie Schlachter, PA, Clinical Director and Chief Physician Assistant, Department of Neurosurgery; and Marvin Ramos, Surgical Neurophysiologist

Before neurosurgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Joshua Bederson, MD

Emergency Room at Mount Sinai Morningside
Matthew Carpiniello, MD, and Mizza Compas, RN

Husband and wife before neurosurgery at The Mount Sinai Hospital

Neurosurgery Department at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Agniescka (Agnes) Pabich, NP

Immunology research at The Tisch Cancer Center
Matthew Brown, Graduate Student; and Ashley Reid, PhD Candidate, Cancer Immunotherapy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Intensive Care Unit at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Ruth Levy, NP

A quiet moment before heart surgery
Stamatis Baronos, MD, and Muoi Trinh, MD

Immunology research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Nicolas Vabret, PhD; Jenna Newman, PhD; and Ashley Reid, PhD Candidate

OB/GYN nurses huddle at Mount Sinai West
Michael Trinidad, Florecilla Rodriquez, Miriam Rivera, Moses Fallah, Kimberly McCarthy, Ibtheesam Zaman, Bevin Watters, Catherine Genovese, Annette Bert, Cecilia Blake, and Joann Garcia

Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit at The Mount Sinai Hospital
Cappi C. Lay, MD, and Ruth Levy, NP

A toddler who had a life-saving liver transplant at The Mount Sinai Hospital is back at home

Ashley Gilbertson is an Australian photographer and writer living in New York City, recognized for his critical eye and unique approach to social issues globally. His prints and books are included in permanent collections of museums and art galleries around the world—and have been shown at institutions such as the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris.

Today, Mr. Gilbertson documents global migration in Africa and Europe, and works on climate, social and health issues in the United States and Asia. He writes regular opinion and news stories for outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, ProPublica, and UNICEF.

Three New Students at the Icahn School of Medicine Show the School’s Unique Partnership with the U.S. Military

Sep 21, 2022 | Engagement, Featured, School

The first year of medical school is probably one of the toughest challenges for any young person. For three incoming students at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, maybe not.

Three members of the United States military whose careers propelled them in different ways toward medicine have joined Icahn Mount Sinai through the school’s Institutional Partnership with the U.S. Military.

Through this unique pathway, the only one of its kind in the country, veterans gain an unprecedented opportunity to apply for admission to the School of Medicine without having to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Also, candidates admitted into the program are offered provisional acceptance with the flexibility to defer their acceptance to continue their military service to meet all necessary requirements.

In interviews, the three talked about their experiences in the military, why they decided to attend medical school, and their plans for the future.

Katrina Nietsch

When Katrina Nietsch enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy after graduating college, she knew she wanted to serve on the front lines.

She had been in middle school on September 11, 2001, and that was a major moment for her. “I wanted to serve my country from that moment on,” the former Lieutenant Commander says.

“The Navy underlined for me that the essence of mission success relies on the team, and caring for others.”

She signed up to be a pilot in the U.S. Navy and soon found herself flying the C-2A Greyhound, a twin-engine plane that delivers cargo to aircraft carriers.

Among many high stakes missions around the world, her first deployment as a C-2 pilot was a career turning point. She was on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean about 400 miles off the coast of Acapulco, Mexico, when a young sailor on board got very sick, suffering from severe seizures. She was tapped to fly the sailor to Mexico for life-saving care.

“Flying that MEDEVAC mission with our sailor on board was a watershed moment for me, as it galvanized my desire to pursue medicine,” she says.

She applied to Icahn Mount Sinai through the streamlined pathway to medical school for active service members. She was accepted in 2019 but the unique Military Institutional Partnership allowed the flexibility to defer acceptance for several years to fulfill her service commitment to the Navy.

“The flexibility of the program allowed me to continue my service as a pilot, which ultimately prepared me for medicine,” she says. “As in the Navy, medicine involves high-stakes responsibility and quick risk calculations under pressure. The Navy also underlined for me that the essence of mission success relies on the team, and caring for others.”

She played sports all her life, first as a young girl playing football with her older brother and was recruited to play varsity lacrosse at the Naval Academy. Now in medicine, she is leaning towards a career in sports medicine.

At the United States Military Academy at West Point Graduation in 2016, Tirone Young with with his stepfather James Imoh and his mother, Marie Imoh

Tirone Young

When Captain Tirone Young graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 2016, he was commissioned as an infantry officer.

Due to injuries from an Army football career as a running back, he leveraged his background in nuclear engineering and transitioned to work as a nuclear medical scientist. While stationed in Landstuhl, Germany, he gained experience in health care and in public health. He also served as a subject matter expert on radioactive material and radiation-producing devices for United States and NATO Forces in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

“As members of our immediate environments and the larger country, we all stand to benefit if each person feels a responsibility to care for the people and resources around us.”

While working overseas, he noticed parallels between the values upheld in military service and those of a physician.

At the same time, he was processing some tough news in his family. “I lost my two biological grandmothers to cancer, he says. “With my mom being treated for breast cancer after successfully battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, my interest in pursuing an oncology-related specialty within medicine was solidified.”

In 2020, he applied to Icahn Mount Sinai through its military institutional partnership program, and he was able to defer for a year while concluding his active-duty service abroad.

“My mother, father, and step-father honorably served in the military,” he says. “They introduced me to the concept of communal stewardship: As members of our immediate environments and the larger country, we all stand to benefit if each person feels a responsibility to care for the people and resources around us. Despite a dynamic change in careers, I continue to be guided by this foundational concept that my family embraced.”

Michael Auten with his father, George Auten, a retired U.S. Air Force officer, at graduation day at West Point in 2016.

Michael Auten

After graduating from West Point in 2016, Mike Auten traveled to Ukraine on a Fulbright fellowship focused on security studies. He then joined the Marine Corps as an officer, serving five “very fast-paced” years throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. During his last tour of duty, while at a small base with a small emergency medical and trauma unit, he began to explore a career in medicine by shadowing the doctors and medics.

“This incredible team took care of the entire base, but they also treated the local security forces as well,” he says. “It was part of our mission and obligation to provide them with care, particularly if things went wrong.”

On witnessing emergency surgery on a remote military base: “It was a powerful introduction to the field of medicine and the rewards of helping and healing. That night completely changed my life.”

One night, a group of local security forces were traveling in a vehicle when they hit a roadside bomb.

“The whole medical team, from the front-line medics to the trauma surgeon, immediately sprang into action with a well-rehearsed plan,” he says. “When the patients arrived, they found that one had been badly hit in the calf, and I was able to observe an extremely intricate and challenging surgical procedure to repair a critical artery and save this patient’s life. The surgery endured for 12 hours, but afterward, I felt full of energy and clarity about what I wanted to do next. It was a powerful introduction to the field of medicine and the rewards of helping and healing. That night completely changed my life.”

A month later, he submitted his application to the Military Institutional Partnership Program at Icahn Mount Sinai.

“I wouldn’t be in medical school now if it wasn’t for the flexibility of the military pathway,” he says. “I am grateful for this program and for the very warm welcome we all received as veterans. We have experienced a huge feeling of belonging with fellow students and faculty and are thrilled to have the opportunity to go to medical school as part of this amazing community.”

In Donning New White Coats, Students Take on a New Chapter

Updated on Sep 20, 2022 | Featured, School

The excitement in the Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts was palpable as families and friends waited for their loved ones to receive their coats in the White Coat Ceremony on Tuesday, September 13, as part of their journey at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Meanwhile, outside the hall, medical student Mateo Restrepo was feeling nervous.

“It’s been challenging getting to this point,” he said, “but this is a moment me and all my classmates have been waiting for a long time.”

In his address, Dennis Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of Icahn Mount Sinai, posed challenges to the 120 students who make up the class of 2026.

“But, now, as first-year students embarking on a career in medicine, the white coat you are about to receive represents a new tabula rasa,” Dr. Charney said. “How will you paint that blank canvas? What will you contribute to the field of medicine? How will you relieve suffering?”

Medical trainees then stepped up to the stage to receive their short white coats—a symbol of their journey to becoming fully fledged physicians with long white coats. As a faculty member robed each student, their stories about why they chose to enter health care were shown on a screen, spanning personal encounters with the health profession, heartfelt struggles with disease by family or themselves, and inspiration to challenge boundaries of health and science.

Meet: Mateo Restrepo, Class of 2026

Born in Colombia, Mr. Restrepo moved to Canada when he was five years old and was a professional soccer player. He then left his soccer career to pursue a medical education after graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?
Mount Sinai is uniquely situated to help underserved communities. Its presence in East Harlem especially means there are communities there that speak to my Latin [American] roots, and I look forward to seeing where I can help and learn from them.

What medical fields do you envision entering?
My sports background naturally makes me inclined toward orthopedic surgery, but I’m keeping an open mind.

What challenges might you anticipate in your medical journey?
One challenge that comes to mind is something I’ve already encountered: the need to take time to reconnect with myself during stressful times. I’ve learned more about myself during my time here and how I am able to deal with future challenges.

Meet: Katrina Nietsch, Class of 2026

Ms. Nietsch is one of three students who joined the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai through the school’s Institutional Partnership with the U.S. military. She was a pilot in the U.S. Navy and was accepted into the school in 2019.

What drew you to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai?
I was drawn to the school’s commitment to underprivileged communities, which is second-to-none, and its commitment to veterans’ health. Just walking around campus and seeing the humility, expertise, and resourcefulness of the faculty and students is inspiring.

What medical fields do you envision entering?
I am thinking about a career in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, but I am also looking at other possibilities, including women’s health.

What challenges might you anticipate in your medical journey?
I took the winding route since I served for 11 years in the military before finishing my commitment to the Navy and coming to medical school. It was time-consuming balancing a full-time career and preparing for medical school, so I am so grateful to be here now. As an older student, it has been a while since I was an undergraduate college-student, but I’m confident that with my intellectual curiosity and my military training, I will be able to tackle any challenges head on.

“Your white coats will never be cleaner or whiter than they are today,” remarked Victor Sta. Ana, MD, Director for Mount Sinai’s Primary Care Scholars Program, and Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health at Icahn Mount Sinai, in his keynote speech. He noted that the students’ journeys will only get more challenging. He described the isolation and grief he and his colleagues experienced during the height of the pandemic, and urged upon the incoming students a commitment to compassion and equity.

“I feel humbled and grateful for the opportunity to wear the white coat. I am also acutely aware of the responsibility which comes with wearing it,” said Katrina Nietsch. ”But I’m sure with the support of the faculty and my fellow peers, I’ll be up to the task to learn and find ways to get better as a provider.”

Here’s what some medical students had to say about what receiving their white coats meant to them: