Spearheading Precision Education: Improving Communication in Medical Training

Updated on May 18, 2026 | Artificial Intelligence, Featured, OB/GYN, Primary Care, School

A recording device is being used to improve communication between medical residents and preceptors at Mount Sinai.

Precision medicine, which uses an individual patient’s genetic information to tailor treatment, has shown evidence of improving outcomes, particularly for those who don’t respond well to standard treatment. Mount Sinai educators are now exploring whether the same concept of precision can be applied to the way medical training is carried out, leading to improvements in learning efficiency.

Just as no two patients are the same, teachers and learners all differ in the way they teach, mentor, learn, and process information. A team of medical educators at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is developing a framework for “precision education,” leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to establish evidence-based metrics for how mentors and trainees operate in a learning setting.

The project leverages new technologies, including AI analysis, to analyze the human-defined metrics of how patients, residents, and their attendings/preceptors communicate. A goal is to study communication patterns and explore whether certain approaches are associated with differences in patient engagement or care outcomes. Residents and their preceptors would then use these insights to try to adjust their communication styles to better match those of the people they are interacting with.

“Precision education is a relatively new concept—it started to be discussed in the post-COVID era—and in a sense, builds on the success of precision medicine,” says Deborah Edelman, MD, Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency, Mount Sinai Morningside-West.

Deborah Edelman, MD, Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency, Mount Sinai Morningside-West

“When people start residency, they don’t all start with the same levels of information, and they don’t all take the same journey to get to the end,” says Dr. Edelman. Almost all teaching programs—in medicine and other fields—aim to account for the middle of the bell curve. “Wouldn’t it be great if we can target all parts of the curve and help everyone maximize education?”

The framework that Dr. Edelman’s team is building is backed by a $1.1 million grant from the American Medical Association (AMA), which has tasked 11 institutions to develop precision education systems over four years. The grant program stems from AMA’s ChangeMedEd initiative, aimed at innovating medical education across the United States.

Linking communication styles to outcomes

Assessing the effectiveness of residency training starts with examining how feedback occurs. Currently, this is conducted with feedback forms.

“It works fine, but there are definitely areas for improvement,” says Dr. Edelman. “It can be biased—affected by whether a trainee likes the faculty member or not. The feedback is very subjective and variable, and if multiple suggestions conflict, it makes it hard for the faculty member to know what to change or improve.”

The team from the Icahn School of Medicine, as part of its AMA grant proposal, has designed a system that uses a recording device, such as a cell phone secured with HIPAA protections, to capture how residents interact with patients, and how residents discuss that patient interaction with their attending mentors.

That information is deidentified and parsed out by a large language model into structured variables relevant to the mentor, trainee, and patient. These could include:

  • Linguistic: talk time balance between parties, interruptions, word complexity, or sentence length
  • Patient outcomes: medication adherence, preventive care uptake, or visit adherence and continuity
  • Faculty assessment: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education surveys, or narrative feedback
  • Demographic: race, gender, language preference, or socioeconomic status

“The idea is to gain actionable insights into how people communicate, and see how different combinations of variables are linked to patient outcomes,” says Dr. Edelman, who is also Associate Professor of Medicine (General Internal Medicine) at the Icahn School of Medicine. “When we have a collection of metrics, we can start to form phenotypes of how a person communicates, and from that point, it’s easier to see what works and what has room to improve.”

An overview of the Mount Sinai proposal for its precision education system, which uses ambient listening to improve communication skills (click here to view a larger image).

It’s important to highlight that the framework isn’t meant to cast judgment on any one communication style over others, notes Dr. Edelman. The framework is meant to demystify the process of communication by linking it to results, and to acknowledge the individual nature of each teacher, learner, or patient.

Scaling from Mount Sinai to nationwide

A pilot is underway to test the ambient listening system with Mount Sinai residents in OB/GYN and internal medicine programs. The pilot is born from a collaboration between the Departments of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Graduate Medical Education (GME), Digital and Technology Partners, and the various clinical departments at Mount Sinai to ensure patient information is handled safely and ethically.

“Our programs care for some of New York City’s most underserved populations, and we are committed to developing tools to advance health equity,” says Dr. Edelman.

Andrea Schecter, MD, Medical Director, Ambulatory Practices, Raquel and Jaime Gilinski Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Mount Sinai Health System (right), with Madeleine Reznik, MD, PGY-2 Internal Medicine resident, Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West (left), trialing a precepting session with a recording device as part of the proposed precision education framework. As residents engage in their one-on-one sessions with their preceptors, their communication styles are recorded and analyzed by large language models.

Dr. Edelman (right) is in the process of assessing ideal recording setups for different interaction types, such as using an external microphone in a trial precepting session with Alexandria Still, MD, PGY-4 Internal Medicine and Chief Resident, Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai West (left), to improve recording quality.

A road map for the four years has been drawn out, with system development and testing in the first year. This will be followed by a staggered rollout and data collection in the second year, system refinement and data analysis in the third year, and scaling for dissemination to GME programs across the country in the final year.

“Precision education could be a big step for medical education, just as precision medicine has been for patients,” says Dr. Edelman. “Everybody wants to feel seen and heard. And when we have a system that is set up to listen to them and ties their communication to evidence-based metrics, nobody has their time wasted.”

World Cancer Day 2026 Brings Research, Support, Screening, and Community Together at Mount Sinai

Updated on May 15, 2026 | Community, Featured

A photo of Guy Montgomery, PhD, Melissa Mazor, PhD, Jamilia Sly, PhD, Mariana Figueiro, PhD, and Alison Snow, PhD.

From left: Guy Montgomery, PhD, Melissa Mazor, PhD, Jamilia Sly, PhD, Mariana Figueiro, PhD, and Alison Snow, PhD

The Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center and its Center of Excellence for Cancer Support Services recently welcomed patients, caregivers, staff, and community members for an event recognizing World Cancer Day 2026, which highlighted how Mount Sinai is advancing cancer care through research, education, supportive services, screening, and community engagement.

The event was held Monday, April 20, at The Mount Sinai Hospital. The event was originally scheduled for February 4, which is World Cancer Day.

The event began with a morning symposium titled “Supportive Oncology in Practice,” organized by Melissa Mazor, PhD, Assistant Director of Community Outreach and Engagement for the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, and her team.

Opening remarks were delivered by Ramon Parsons, MD, PhD, Director of the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center; Luis  Isola, MD, Associate Director of Cancer Clinical Services, Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center;  and Fran Cartwright, PhD, RN-BC, AOCN, FAAN, Vice President of Oncology Nursing and a member of Mount Sinai’s Executive Nurse Cabinet.

Experts from across Mount Sinai shared research and clinical insights focused on improving quality of life for people living with cancer.

  • Mariana Figueiro, PhD, Director of the Mount Sinai Light and Health Research Center, discussed how light-based interventions may help improve sleep and reduce symptom burden in cancer patients.
  • Jamilia Sly, PhD, Associate Professor, Population Heath Science and Policy, and Family Medicine and Community Health, at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, discussed Health at Home, a community-based initiative that brings cancer screening directly to New York City Housing Authority developments across the city.
  • Guy Montgomery, PhD, Professor and Vice Chair in the Department of Population Health Science and Policy, and Director of the Center for Behavioral Oncology, spoke about professional training in hypnosis techniques designed to support cancer patients during treatment.
  • Joining virtually from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Manan Nayak, PhD, led a discussion on the use of medical cannabis for symptom management in cancer care.

During the symposium, Mount Sinai also recognized volunteers Colette Smith and Jean Claude Noel for their contributions as community scientists, and honored the Rema Hort Mann Foundation for its continued commitment to supporting cancer patients and families.

In the afternoon, the event expanded into a cancer screening, awareness, and health fair in the Guggenheim Pavilion organized by Alison Snow, PhD, Co-Director of the Center of Excellence for Cancer Support Services.

More than 20 local and national community organizations participated, connecting attendees with educational resources, support services, and wellness information. Mount Sinai teams also provided opportunities for prostate cancer screening thanks to the Mount Sinai Robert F. Smith Mobile Prostate Screening Unit, as well as bone marrow, dermatology, and breast cancer screenings, while licensed massage therapists offered mini massage sessions for attendees.

The afternoon also featured live music performances by singers Meli Sul and Ana Hoffman, guests of Mount Sinai patient advocate Diana Mui, helping create a welcoming and uplifting atmosphere throughout the event. A familiar crowd-favorite also returned: Muffin, Mount Sinai’s therapy dog, who spent the afternoon posing for photos and greeting visitors.

Learn more about cancer screening, support services, and community outreach at the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center Community Outreach and Engagement Program

What New Yorkers Need to Know About Hantavirus

Updated on May 15, 2026 | Featured, Your Health

A photograph showing a New York City street lined with apartment buildings.Just weeks ago, you may never have heard of hantavirus. Then it became a frequent topic on the news and in discussions with friends and family in New York City and around the world.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and global health authorities are closely monitoring the situation, following an outbreak of a type of hantavirus on a cruise ship traveling in the Atlantic Ocean. The CDC says the overall risk to the American public and travelers remains extremely low.

The World Health Organization reported the outbreak on May 2. Hantaviruses are a family of viruses usually spread by rodents that can cause serious illness and death.

Area health experts say there is no new concern for New Yorkers and no need to take special precautions.

“Outbreaks of this virus are really rare, and most of those cases that have been reported have occurred in the western areas of the United States,” says Bernard Camins, MD, Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and an expert in infectious diseases. “There is no reason for people to worry, though health experts will continue to work to identify what has caused this unusual outbreak.”

A portrait of Bernard Camins, MD

Bernard Camins, MD

If you are planning a cruise and are concerned about the recent outbreak, you should speak with your doctor, according to Dr. Camins.

What makes the recent outbreak unusual is that it involves an outbreak of a hantavirus strain that previously could rarely be passed from person to person. Normally hantavirus is spread through direct contact with rodents or rodent droppings.

In fact, the Andes strain that is involved in these cases is the only type of hantavirus that is known to spread from person to person. This spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with the sick person with the virus, according to the CDC.

People most at risk for hantaviruses are those who handle rodents or clean up after them, such as pest exterminators or animal caretakers, according to the CDC.

Over a 30-year period, the CDC says there have been 890 cases of hantavirus in the United States. About 35 percent of those cases resulted in death. About 94 percent of cases occurred west of the Mississippi River, with the largest concentration in New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. Farm workers are at high risk for hantavirus infection, according to the CDC.

Because hantavirus is spread by rodents, there is a special concern among New Yorkers who may be accustomed to rodents in very populated areas, especially apartment buildings, or for those who may spend time at a country home.

But there is no new guidance from health authorities. They continue to recommend the usual precautions you should take if you are living, working, or cleaning in areas where there may be rodents, which would include, for example, making sure to keep rodents out of your living areas and following safe clean up practices. The CDC provides detailed guidance on how to avoid exposure to rodents and clean up areas with rodent droppings.

Read the latest on hantavirus from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control

Can’t Sleep? Waking Up Tired? Try These Sleep Specialist Tips

Updated on May 14, 2026 | Featured, Sleep, Your Health

A woman stretches in bed after a good night's sleep

Insomnia is a common disorder that makes it hard for you to fall asleep or stay asleep. In many cases, insomnia is temporary, such as the jet lag you may experience after a long flight. But if the problem is ongoing, you may have poor sleep habits or even a sleep disorder.

In this Q&A, Andrew W. Varga, MD, PhD, a Mount Sinai neuroscientist who specializes in sleep, explains how to sleep better and how to know if you might have a sleep disorder.

A portrait of Mount Sinai sleep specialist Andrew W. Varga, MD, PhD

Andrew W. Varga, MD, PhD

What habits can help me sleep better?

Good sleep depends on three things:

  • Duration: Adults generally need 7 to 9 hours of sleep (slightly less with age)
  • Quality: Sleep should be uninterrupted
  • Consistency: Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day

To sleep better:

  • Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day—this is very important
  • Avoid screens like phones or TV before bed
  • Do calm activities like reading or deep breathing
  • Keep the bedroom dark, quiet, and cool
  • Use the bed only for sleep—not cellphone scrolling, reading, or watching TV

A warm shower before bed can also help your body relax and cool down afterward, which makes it easier to fall asleep.

How do I know if I might have insomnia?

Falling asleep takes most people about 20 minutes, though some people may take up to 30 minutes. If it sometimes takes a little longer, that may be normal. But if it happens often and causes stress, it can be a sign you have poor sleep habits or a sleep disorder.
Sleep problems often follow a simple pattern called the “3P model”:

  • Predisposing factors: Some people are naturally more anxious or sensitive to stress, which can make sleep harder.
  • Precipitating (triggering) events: Big life stressors, like the loss of a loved one, stress from work, or a major life change like a divorce, can trigger sleep problems.
  • Perpetuating habits: Engaging in behaviors that make it hard to fall asleep.

What are examples of habits that create sleep problems?

Some of the most common examples are:

  • Lying in bed and tossing and turning can train your brain to think your bed is not for sleep
  • Using devices like phones and laptops can make it harder to fall asleep because light from screens keeps you awake
  • Getting out of bed to clean, work, or check emails can make insomnia worse

If you can’t sleep after about 20 minutes, it may help to get up and do something quiet in another room until you feel sleepy again.

Why do I wake up early and can’t fall back asleep?

The same patterns that make it hard to fall asleep can also cause early waking. However, other sleep issues, like breathing problems (sleep apnea), restless legs, and periodic limb movement disorder, can wake you up

Ask yourself or your sleep partner:

  • Do you snore loudly or gasp during sleep?
  • Have you ever stopped breathing during sleep?
  • Are your legs or arms often moving at night?

If the answer to any of these is “yes,” you may need to see a sleep specialist.

Why do I feel tired even after sleeping eight hours?

Even if you sleep up to eight hours, the quality of your sleep could be poor. People with inconsistent sleep schedules, like shift workers, often have this problem. Otherwise, this problem might be related to:

  • A sleep disorder, like sleep apnea or movement disorder, which breaks up sleep without you realizing it
  • A natural need for more sleep than others (some people need between 9 and 11 hours to feel rested)
  • Rare conditions that cause strong sleepiness no matter how long you sleep (such as narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia, neurological conditions that cause excessive daytime sleepiness)

If you often feel tired after sleeping, you should talk to a doctor.

When should I see a doctor about my sleep?

You should see a doctor about your sleep if:

  • You often feel tired even after enough sleep
  • You regularly have trouble falling or staying asleep
  • You snore loudly, gasp, pause in breathing, or have unusual movement during sleep
  • Sleeping partners notice you do these while you sleep

A sleep specialist can help find the cause and suggest treatment.

Take control of your sleep—schedule an appointment with a Mount Sinai sleep specialist

Can Wearables Really Monitor Your Heart Health? A Mount Sinai Cardiologist Explains

May 14, 2026 | Cardiology, Featured, Your Health

A female doctor and her male patient discuss data from the patient's smart watch, shown on his wrist. Data from his watch is displayed on his smart phone, which he is holding in his other hand

You have probably heard that wearable technologies like smartwatches can help you monitor your heart health. But do they really work, and how do you decide which is right for you?

In this Q&A, Matthew I. Tomey, MD, Associate Professor, Medicine (Cardiology), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, says they can be useful, with a few things to keep in mind. He discusses what features to look for and why it’s important to talk to your cardiologist before you decide on a device.

A portrait of Mount Sinai cardiologist Matthew I. Tomey, MD

Matthew I. Tomey, MD

What can a smartwatch or fitness tracker tell me about my heart?

Wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers can measure several things related to your heart and overall health:

  • Heart rate. Most devices use a technology called photoplethysmography (PPG), a light sensor on the back of the watch that shines into your skin and measures blood flow to estimate your pulse. In controlled settings, wrist-worn devices have been shown to measure heart rate with roughly ±3 percent error compared to standard medical equipment, though accuracy decreases during physical activity.
  • Heart rhythm. Some devices can alert you to an irregular heartbeat that may suggest atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart rhythm disorder that increases the risk of stroke. Devices do this either by analyzing your pulse pattern in the background or by recording a single-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) when you place your finger on the watch.
  • Physical activity. Built-in motion sensors track steps, distance, and calories burned. Research shows that using a wearable activity tracker can help people with heart disease increase their daily walking by roughly 2,000 steps per day compared to not using one.
  • Sleep. Many devices estimate sleep duration and quality, which is relevant because poor sleep is linked to higher cardiovascular risk.
  • Blood oxygen level. Some devices estimate blood oxygen saturation, though the accuracy of this feature in consumer devices is still being studied.

These devices are not replacements for medical equipment, but they can provide useful day-to-day information about your health trends.

Are there any risks or limits to using a wearable to check my heart?

Yes. There are several important limitations and concerns to be aware of:

  • Accuracy varies. Not all devices perform equally. Accuracy depends on the brand, model, type of sensor, and what is being measured. For example, in a head-to-head study of five popular smartwatches, the sensitivity of automated algorithms for detecting AFib ranged from only 58 to 85 percent, and the devices could not determine the heart rhythm in 17 to 26 percent of recordings. When a doctor reviewed those same recordings, the rhythm could be identified 99 percent of the time. This highlights that these devices are screening tools, not diagnostic instruments.
  • Skin and fit matter. Accuracy can be affected by darker skin tones, tattoos, cold body temperature, obesity, poor skin contact, and how tightly the device is worn. Movement, especially during exercise, is a major source of error.
  • False alarms. The device may flag something as abnormal when nothing is actually wrong (a “false positive”). This can cause unnecessary worry and lead to additional medical visits and testing that may not have been needed. On the other hand, a normal reading does not guarantee that nothing is wrong.
  • They are not the same as medical devices. While some consumer wearables have received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for specific features, such as ECG recording or irregular rhythm notification, this clearance is for screening purposes only. An irregular rhythm alert from a wearable does not diagnose AFib. A doctor must review the data and confirm any diagnosis. Many other health features on these devices (such as blood oxygen or sleep tracking) have not been FDA-cleared at all.
  • Data overload. These devices generate large volumes of data continuously. Without a clear plan for how to use the information, it can become overwhelming rather than helpful, for both patients and doctors.
  • Privacy. Wearable devices collect sensitive health information. Privacy protections vary significantly across manufacturers, and health data from consumer devices are generally not protected by the same laws (such as HIPAA) that protect your medical records. It is worth reviewing a device’s privacy policy before purchasing.

How can I use a wearable to track my heart and build healthier habits?

Wearables are most useful when paired with clear goals and a plan. Before purchasing a device, consider:

  • What do I want to learn? For example, do I want to track how active I am, monitor my heart rhythm, or keep an eye on my resting heart rate over time?
  • What will I do with the information? Data alone does not improve health; acting on it does. For instance, setting a daily step goal and using the device to track progress has been shown in clinical studies to help people become more physically active.
  • Am I prepared to discuss the data with my doctor? If the goal is to manage a health condition, the device is most valuable when its data are shared with and interpreted by a health care provider.
  • Wearables can also support exercise safety. For people with heart disease, a doctor can help set a target heart rate range for exercise, and a wearable can help monitor whether activity stays within that safe zone.

What should I tell my doctor if I am using a wearable to check my health?

Start by letting your doctor know that you are using a device and what you hope to learn from it. Setting expectations early can prevent frustration on both sides. Key points to discuss:

  • What role will the device play in your care? Clarify what your doctor is willing and able to review. Doctors may not be able to monitor continuous data streams on an ongoing basis, and there are currently no standardized systems for integrating consumer wearable data into most electronic health records.
  • What should prompt a call or visit? Ask your doctor which alerts or readings should lead you to seek medical attention and which can be noted for your next scheduled visit.
  • Share data selectively. Rather than presenting weeks of raw data, focus on trends or specific events (such as an irregular rhythm alert or a sustained change in resting heart rate) that are most relevant to your health questions.

Ideally, discuss the idea of using a wearable before purchasing one, so your doctor can recommend features that align with your health goals.

What features should I look for to track my heart and health correctly?

The best features depend on why you are getting the device:

  • For heart rhythm monitoring: Choose a device with ECG capability, not just pulse-based (PPG) monitoring. Devices with ECG functionality are superior for determining heart rhythm. Several smartwatches from major manufacturers have received FDA clearance for ECG recording and irregular rhythm detection. However, even ECG-equipped devices require you to actively initiate a recording; they do not continuously record your heart’s electrical activity.
  • For general fitness and activity tracking: Most major-brand devices are reasonably accurate for step counting and heart rate at rest. If you plan to monitor heart rate during vigorous exercise, a chest strap is more accurate than a wrist-worn device.
  • Look for FDA clearance for the specific feature you care about. A device may be FDA-cleared for one function (such as ECG) but not for others (such as blood oxygen). Check the manufacturer’s website for details.
  • Consider comfort and battery life. A device only works if you wear it consistently. Choose something comfortable enough for daily and overnight use.

How can I know if a device has been validated by research?

Look for studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals that have tested the device against standard medical equipment (such as a 12-lead ECG or hospital-grade heart monitor). A few things to keep in mind:

  • Manufacturer claims are not the same as independent validation. When independent researchers have tested popular wearables head-to-head, the accuracy has sometimes been lower than what manufacturers report.
  • Watch for excluded data. Some studies exclude recordings that the device labeled as “inconclusive” or “unreadable.” When those are included in the analysis, accuracy drops significantly. In real-world use, you will encounter inconclusive readings.
  • Study populations matter. Most large wearable studies have been conducted in people in their 40s and 50s. Performance may differ in older adults or people with other medical conditions.

Your doctor or a medical librarian can help you find relevant research on a specific device.

What else should I know about wearables for my heart?

Wearable technology for heart health is a rapidly evolving field. A few additional points:

  • Wearables may help manage chronic conditions. Beyond rhythm monitoring, there is growing research into using wearables to help manage conditions like heart failure, for example, by tracking activity levels, weight trends, and other signals that may indicate worsening symptoms before a hospitalization occurs. However, this area is still in its early stages, and most consumer devices are not yet designed for this purpose.
  • Artificial intelligence is expanding what devices can do. Newer algorithms are being developed to detect a wider range of heart conditions and to reduce the number of inconclusive or unreadable recordings. These advances are promising but still require further validation.
  • Equity matters. Not everyone has equal access to these technologies, and accuracy can vary across different skin tones and body types. Efforts are underway to improve device performance across diverse populations, but gaps remain.
  • The doctor-patient relationship is central. Wearables generate data, but clinical judgment is needed to interpret that data and make decisions. The most effective use of these devices will come from a partnership between patients and their health care teams.

Both doctors and patients should stay informed as this technology continues to develop. The ways wearable devices are used in medical care will continue to evolve, and staying engaged with your health care provider is the best way to make the most of these tools.

Take charge of your heart health—schedule an appointment with a Mount Sinai cardiologist

Preparing for Medicine Through Research, Service, and Community at Mount Sinai

Updated on May 19, 2026 | Featured, School

A portrait of Daarayan Halatai in the lab at Mount Sinai

Daaryan Halatai

Daaryan Halatai is a first year student in the Master of Science in Biomedical Science (MSBS) program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

In this Q&A, he explains why he chose Mount Sinai and how his training program is preparing him to apply to medical school.

“My time at Mount Sinai has been a meaningful experience that has strengthened my passion for medicine and allowed me to be part of a community committed to caring for patients,” he says.

What is your academic and career background?

I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2024 with a major in Professional Sciences, concentrating in Biology, and a minor in Psychology. During my time at VCU, I built a strong foundation across different areas of science and applied that knowledge through summer research in the laboratory of Lauren Cowart, PhD. I was also involved with organizations such as the American Chemical Society at VCU, where I participated in weekly discussions and activities related to chemistry principles. Before enrolling at Mount Sinai, I worked as a clinical technician in the Emergency Department at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, which gave me valuable hands-on experience in the medical field.

What first attracted you to this field?

What attracted me to the medical field is my desire to help people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. I have always been drawn to science and medicine because they give an understanding of disease on a deeper level while combining problem-solving, compassion, and lifelong learning. To me, the medical field is a place where I can serve others, continue growing as a student of science, and make a meaningful impact.

Why did you choose to study at the Icahn School of Medicine?

After graduating from VCU, I wanted to strengthen my medical school application by continuing to grow academically while gaining more research and clinical experience. When I first spoke with Program Director Jose Silva, PhD, about the MSBS program, he explained that the Icahn School of Medicine would provide the opportunities I was looking for, including shadowing physicians, participating in research, and earning a graduate degree in Biomedical Sciences. When I visited the campus for the first time, I was inspired by seeing physicians, nurses, researchers, and students all working within the same environment. That sense of community reflected the type of academic and clinical setting I had hoped to be part of since committing to my goal of becoming a physician.

Who are your mentors, and what is the focus of your research?

At Mount Sinai, I am under the mentorship of Louis Cohen, MD, alongside Daniela Guisado, MD, Kushal Saha, PhD, Salima Soualhi, PhD, and Katherine Cook. Dr. Cohen leads the Crohn’s Disease Stem Cell Transplant Program at Mount Sinai, which is designed for patients with severe Crohn’s disease who have not responded to traditional medical treatments. As the first program of its kind in the United States, it brings together specialists from both clinical and basic science departments. The program combines advanced patient care with translational research to help guide patients through the stem cell transplantation process. Through this work, our lab aims to better understand refractory Crohn’s disease and how stem cell transplants may improve treatment for these patients.

What has been your greatest accomplishment in the program so far?

My biggest accomplishment in the program has been excelling in my graduate course classes while also participating and being a part of organizations such as the East Harlem Health Outreach Partnership (EHHOP) and being the master’s representative for SEOS (Students for Equal Opportunity in Science)!

What activities outside the classroom have contributed to your success?

On my breaks when I get to go back to Northern Virginia to spend time with my family, I also volunteer with Great Vibe Events. This has contributed to my personal growth and success by allowing me to help organize events for adults with disabilities aged 18 and older. Through this experience, I have strengthened my communication, empathy, and leadership skills while learning the importance of creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. As someone pursuing a future in healthcare, this volunteer work has helped me become more compassionate and committed to serving diverse communities.

What are your plans after you complete your MSBS?

My plan after graduating from the MSBS program is to apply to medical and osteopathic schools. I also hope I can remain involved in Dr. Cohen’s research. Through my experience at Mount Sinai, I feel more prepared and confident as I enter my first application cycle.

Learn more about the MSBS program a the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai