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New Curriculum for the Master of Science in Biomedical Science Program Provides More Options for Students

Updated on Feb 12, 2025 | Featured, Research, School

Jose Silva, PhD, left, Program Director, Master of Science in Biomedical Science, and Professor, Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine, and Oncological Sciences, shown in his lab.

The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, part of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, has announced a new curriculum structure for its Master of Science in Biomedical Science (MSBS) program.

The MSBS program, started in 2005, features the multidisciplinary research education available at the school, a commitment to translating fundamental biomedical research into disease prevention and novel therapies, and a dedication to preparing students to contribute to the biomedical enterprise in the non-profit or for-profit sectors.

The program prepares students for a range of health-related advanced degree programs and careers, whether focused on medicine, such as the MD program; research, such as the PhD and MD-PhD programs; or manager-level employment in the clinical and industrial sectors. Eligible students should have a degree in science or a related discipline from an accredited college or university.

“For 20 years, our MSBS program has successfully prepared our students for future success in advance degree programs. Nonetheless, we recognized that a changing job environment required us to provide students with more options, and the new program structure does just that,” says Eric Sobie, PhD, Senior Associate Dean for Master’s in Basic Science Programs.

The program has been restructured to address the changing educational landscape. The new MSBS program offers four distinct tracks that target different types of students and provide greater flexibility for how students can complete the program. The total minimum credits has been reduced from 45 to 36 credits over two to four semesters.

Students will choose their track based on their career goals and stage of life:

Track 1: Post-Baccalaureate Pre-doctoral (pre-PhD or pre-MD-PhD): This full-time, four-semester track requires students to complete a master’s thesis based on original laboratory research and features a staggered block schedule to facilitate focused study. Students will learn the fundamentals of biomedical sciences while engaging in hands-on research in the laboratories of their chosen Principal Investigators.
Track 2: Post-Baccalaureate Pre-medical (pre-MD): This full-time, three-semester track also follows a block schedule structure. Students graduate with a capstone project and a final comprehensive examination. This track allows students interested in applying to MD programs to better prepare for the MCAT exam by offering a lighter course load during the spring semester. Students also benefit from non-curricular experiences available at The Mount Sinai Hospital, such as clinical shadowing.
Track 3: Industry/Clinical/Professional Development: This flexible track, available in three or four semesters, combines a block schedule alongside a capstone project. It caters to individuals working in the clinical, educational, or private sector who aim to enhance their skills and advance their careers into higher-ranked, better-paid positions.
Track 4: Accelerated Industry/Clinical/Professional Development: This faster-paced version of Track 3 consists of two full-time semesters with a block schedule, a capstone project and a final comprehensive examination. It is designed for individuals seeking to enhance their skills within a condensed time frame.

“Our new curriculum retains our unique hands-on training while offering more options and flexible tracks to support your career goals. Whether you’re interested in research, healthcare, or industry, and whether you’re a recent graduate or a professional looking to advance, we’re committed to helping you gain the knowledge and experience needed to take your career to the next level,” says Jose Silva, PhD, MSBS Program Director and Professor, Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine, and Oncological Sciences.

These tracks will continue to leverage the multidisciplinary training areas available at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai through the PhD programs in Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, and the recent joint PhD program in Health Sciences in Engineering with the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This structure allows students to earn a specific concentration or specialization notation on their transcripts by completing a minimum of six credits in concentration-related elective courses, in addition to the required courses and a thesis or capstone project in concentration-related fields.

Students can choose from nine specialty areas to tailor their studies, including:

Cancer Biology
Disease Mechanisms and Therapeutics
Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cells
Immunology
Genetics and Genomics
Microbiology
Neuroscience
Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies in Medicine
Health Sciences in Engineering

Visit our website or contact us to learn more about this program and find out which track aligns with your schedule and career goals.

Levy Library Celebrates 50 Years of Supporting Learners

Updated on Dec 17, 2024 | Featured, School

Levy Library staff celebrating the 50th anniversary in 2024.

The Levy Library at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has gone through many revamps and reiterations, but one thing remains the same—its steadfast mission of helping students, researchers, faculty, staff, and clinicians get the knowledge and information they need. November 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of the library, and for some staff, looking back at how it has grown is a source of pride.

“Over the past 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of leading the team providing library and digital services that support Mount Sinai’s entire scholarly and research community,” says Paul Lawrence, MFA, Dean for Scholarly and Research Technologies at the Icahn School of Medicine.

“I am incredibly proud to be part of a team and a 50-year legacy that exemplifies unwavering support for our mission, continually adapting and innovating while remaining committed to exceptional service,” says Mr. Lawrence, who is also Vice President for Information Technology of the Mount Sinai Health System.

The Library was named in honor of Gustave Levy and his wife, Janet Levy. Gustave Levy had been Chairman of the Boards of then-named Mount Sinai Medical Center and Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and The Mount Sinai Hospital. He helped with a $154 million fundraising effort for the medical school building and endowment, and the planning and erection of the Annenberg Building in which the Library is located.

“Witnessing the evolution and modernization of the Library’s physical spaces throughout the Health System, fostering partnerships with our research community, and advancing the Library’s commitment to supporting artificial intelligence initiatives have been true highlights for me,” says Mr. Lawrence.

Indeed, at the two-floor library, the space has constantly been updated to meet the needs of patrons. Use the sliders to look at how the Levy Library has changed over the decades.

Photo of Gustave (left) and Janet (right) Levy, taken in 1973.

Comparing Levy Library, 1980s and now

Levy Library staff have flourished alongside the library’s many changes. “I first worked at Mount Sinai in the 1990s as a lab technician; during that time, I loved to visit the Levy Library to read print journals and books,” says Jill Gregory, MFA, CMI, Associate Director for Scholarly Publishing and Visualization at the Library.

“Three decades and a medical illustration graduate degree later, I’m so excited to be a part of the Levy Library team itself,” says Ms. Gregory. “The Library is constantly evolving, from the print materials I used to reference to now being a hub of digital resources and scholarly activity. I find it so gratifying to support Mount Sinai’s clinical and scientific excellence through our team’s research and visualization skills, and I look forward to all that the future holds.”

From November 2024 through November 2025, the Levy Library is celebrating its history, its present-day achievements, and its view toward the future through a series of showcases and activities.

Click to learn more about the Levy Library 50th anniversary activities

Curious about how far the Levy Library has come? Here’s a timeline and some quick facts.

Nov. 22, 1974

Levy Library is dedicated.

1982

First identified documentation of the Library Committee as a Standing Committee of the Academic Council with student members from each class year.

1990

Division of Academic Computing is created.

1994

Implemented computer-assisted instruction programming for the school.

1995

Associated Alumni provided funds to establish the Electronic Information Center.

2001

WebCT launched to allow access to course materials from any site, any time.

2018

10th floor renovated to a 24-hour study space, and 11th floor transitioned from bookstacks to shared learning spaces.

2019

Levy Library Press publishes the first article in Journal of Scientific Innovation in Medicine.

2022

Scholars Portal (scholars.mssm.edu) launched.

2023

Educational Technology rejoins the Library and partners fully with the Medical Education ASCEND curriculum transformation.

In 2023, more than 217,000 people visited the Levy Library

Patrons accessed more than 8.2 million items in 2023

The Library transitioned its books and journals primarily to digital in the 2000s, now offering more than 350,000 e-books and 3,500 print books

Publications by Mount Sinai authors have grown from 698 in 1974 to a peak of 7,686 in 2021

Mount Sinai’s Lab Coat Ceremony: Instilling the Rigors and Responsibility of Science in PhD and MD-PhD Students

Updated on Dec 6, 2024 | Featured, Research, School

“Persistence, resilience in the face of criticism, combined with a willingness to listen and adapt, is the thing that can most define your success,” says Neil Dhawan, PhD.

Neil Dhawan, PhD, had a story to share with the audience of new PhD and MD-PhD students who attended the 2024 Lab Coat ceremony at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Graduate School Biomedical Sciences. He was on familiar ground: Dr. Dhawan received both a master of science and PhD degree in biomedical sciences at Mount Sinai, and his story was one of encouragement and success.

Dr. Dhawan, whose training area was in cancer biology, is a co-founder of two companies, starting with Dual Therapeutics LLC, a venture-backed biotechnology company that he established as a student, where he helped to develop the lead drug program, small molecule agonists of PP2A, which led to a collaboration deal with Bristol Myers Squibb that was valued at up to $225 million.

He is also Co-founder, Chief Scientific Officer, and Head of Research and Development at Totus Medicines, where he focuses on combining small molecule design, structural biology, genetics, biochemistry, and cell biology to create new classes of drugs to target untreatable diseases. “Over the past three years, we have raised more than $100 million, we advanced our first drug targeting one of the most common oncogenes in cancer, and we presented our first clinical data showing tumor responses in late stage cancer patients,” he said.

“When I first started at Mount Sinai, the idea of discovering and developing a drug to the clinic seemed almost impossible. I always would hear that it could take a lifetime and hundreds of millions of dollars. There were even skeptics who doubted the value of my work because I was just starting out. When I set out to develop my drug idea, most people told me ‘Most biotechs fail,’ or, ‘Do you think you can compete with Pfizer?,’ or ‘Why would investors give you money?’”

And, he gave this advice: “So, what should you do when you feel frustrated and things are confusing? I encourage you to put your head down and do the work—read every paper, read through patents, study the leaders in the field, and most importantly go and speak to those leaders who are a floor or hallway away at Mount Sinai…Persistence, resilience in the face of criticism, combined with a willingness to listen and adapt, is the thing that can most define your success.”

The Lab Coat ceremony symbolically represents the beginning of the students’ academic research and training at Mount Sinai and reinforces the responsibility and professionalism they will cultivate and uphold as they pursue their degrees.

Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, opened the ceremony. “Our PhD programs in biomedical sciences, clinical research, and neuroscience offer rigorous, collaborative training that equips our students to lead the next generation of scientific and medical advances,” she said. “These programs are essential in addressing complex challenges and finding solutions grounded in data and robust statistical analysis.”

Dr. Filizola is also the Sharon & Frederick A. Klingenstein/Nathan G. Kase, MD Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, Professor of Neuroscience, and Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health.

Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

“We are branching out into new research frontiers, leveraging artificial intelligence and other technologies in medicine to improve both patient health and quality of life,” she said. “Our students are integral to this process, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences that drive innovation in both basic and translational research.”

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Dean for Academic Affairs at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, welcomed the students, faculty, and guests. “The core process of science is the scientific method, which describes a systematic process—to quote from the dictionary, ‘for acquiring knowledge that involves making observations, collecting data, and testing hypotheses.’ We can all appreciate the paramount significance of the integrity of science,” he said. Dr. Nestler is also Director of The Friedman Brain Institute, Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience, and Chief Scientific Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System.

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Dean for Academic Affairs

“Science and the scientific method, with its embrace of empiricism and causality, represent the proud tradition that created all of us, and that each of us in turn has the responsibility to promote, protect, and defend,” he said. “By earning a PhD degree, you are the new generation upon whom society will depend to continue this tradition, with the goal of further improving the health and lives of its citizens.”

Why an MD-PhD and PhD degree? Watch these video interviews with three students to learn more about the programs—and their passions.

Nicole Hirsh is a third-year student in the MD-PhD program studying Cancer Immunology.

Vivek Kanpa is an aspiring AI scientist and a first-year student in the PhD in Biomedical Sciences program.

Brooke Friedman completed the SURP program and is a first-year doctoral student in the PhD in Neuroscience program.

AAMC Recognizes Mount Sinai Office of Gender Equity With Prestigious Award

Updated on Dec 6, 2024 | Diversity and Inclusion, Featured, School

Mount Sinai’s Office of Gender Equity in Science and Medicine at the AAMC Annual Meeting in Atlanta, on Saturday, November 9. From left: Carol Horowitz, MD, MPH, MD; Sandra Masur, PhD; Jenny J. Lin, MD, MPH; Devin Madden, PhD, MPH; and Toni A. Stern, MD, MBA.

A leader in health equity, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has made strides in recent years to develop innovative programs aimed at ensuring women have equal opportunities to excel. In recognition of these efforts, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) awarded the School of Medicine’s Office of Gender Equity in Science and Medicine (OGE) the 2024 AAMC Group on Women in Medicine and Science Emerging Leadership Award for an Organization. The prestigious, highly competitive award demonstrates OGE’s commitment to the advancement of women in medicine and science, and helping all people, regardless of gender or gender identity, realize their full potential.

“We are proud that we have been able to move the equity needle and humbled that we still have a lot to do,” said Carol Horowitz, MD, MPH, Dean for Gender Equity in Science and Medicine, and Director, Institute for Health Equity Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, during the team’s acceptance speech at the AAMC Annual Meeting in Atlanta, on Saturday, November 9, where the team received a standing ovation.

Dr. Horowitz thanked Dennis S. Charney, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System, for his “vision and unwavering support” of the Office of Gender Equity, and spoke about the obstacles she and the OGE team—who come from “diverse races, ages, ethnicities, and gender identities”—overcame while forging a path for others.

The AAMC selected the Office of Gender Equity for its unique tiered approach to leadership support, particularly through notable programs including the Distinguished Scholar Program; the Robin Chemers Neustein Mid-Career Women Faculty Award Program; the Learning as Leaders program; and the formation of Gender Equity Action Teams that developed metrics for use across the School of Medicine’s departments and institutes.

“Ten years ago, under 10 percent of department chairs and deans at Mount Sinai were women,” Dr. Horowitz said. “Now, nearly 40 percent of chairs and more than half of deans are women. Together, we will continue to have conversations and take actions to ensure an inclusive, equitable future.”

Mount Sinai Nursing Research Day Features Phillips School of Nursing Student Researchers

Updated on Nov 25, 2024 | Nursing, School

From left: Alyssa Ramkissoon, Jessica Jurgens, Kathryn Cole, Aliza Ben-Zacharia PhD, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN

Three aspiring nurses studying at the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing (PSON) were accepted into the 2024 Phillips Evidence-Based Practice/Quality Improvement (EBP/QI) Fellowship Program earlier this year and presented their projects along with nurse researchers at The Mount Sinai Hospital’s annual Nursing Research Day on Friday, November 15.

The Program, also known as the Phillips Fellowship, at PSON was developed in 2017 to increase pre-licensure nursing student experience in evidence-based practice and nursing science. Under the direction of Aliza Ben-Zacharia, PhD, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, and supported by lecturing professors, selected fellows undergo the development and implementation of an EBP/QI project. All projects are submitted to the review committee at the Mount Sinai Health System’s Center for Nursing Research and Innovation (CNRI) for ethical approval before implementation. At the end of the fellowship, students present their projects along with nurse researchers at The Mount Sinai Hospital’s Nursing Research Day; this year taking place on Friday, November 15. Alyssa Ramkissoon, Jessica Jurgens, and Kathryn Cole are the 2024 fellows.

The objective of Alyssa Ramkissoon’s project, Enhancing Nursing Communication in Palliative Care by Empowering Nurses Through the COMFORT Model’s Connect Module, is to increase palliative care knowledge by nurses and nursing students. Alyssa, who worked at the Mount Sinai Health System for six years as a Cardiology Research Associate and in the Department of Neuropathology/Manhattan HIV Brain Bank before enrolling in PSON, explains that in palliative care, effective communication is essential to the efficacy of nursing interventions. “Palliative care is frequently a difficult subject for new nurses to understand, and occasionally even for seasoned nurses. In their conversations with patients at the bedside, nurses frequently encounter challenging questions from the patients. Knowing how to adequately answer these questions is crucial since it affects the patient’s course of treatment. Further, hospice and palliative care are sometimes confused. It is critical to bridge this informational gap and promote confidence in nursing communication.”

Jessica Jurgens also focuses on communication for her project, Bridging the Communication Gap Between Nursing Students and Spanish Speaking Patients. She explains, “Effective communication is the cornerstone of patient care. But miscommunication between providers and patients can result in insurmountable problems, and a language barrier can compound these consequences. The Hispanic population in the United States has grown to 65 million, so there is close to a one in five chance a provider will be treating a Spanish speaking patient. While Spanish translators are often provided by hospitals, there are times when knowing simple/common phrases, similar to those that a nurse would use in their daily practice, would benefit the nurse in providing expedited answers or care, without needing to take the time to reach a translator for every interaction. This project aims to teach nursing students basic medical Spanish phrases in hopes of building their confidence and self-reliance, while addressing the language barrier. This will also save time that might be spent locating a translator, at times when only a simple question might be asked.”

Kathryn Cole also worked at Mount Sinai prior to enrolling at PSON; she was a medical scribe for the Department of Urology. The goal of her project, Cloudy Judgment: Addressing Gaps in Awareness of Cannabis Use and Surgical Patients is to enhance nursing students’ and nurses’ understanding of cannabis, particularly regarding perioperative screening and its implications. She discusses the rationale for her initiative: “As more people use cannabis for both recreational and medicinal purposes, there’s a growing need to understand how this impacts pain management during and after surgery. However, current preoperative assessments often do not adequately address cannabis use, which could lead to less effective pain management strategies. Additionally, the opioid crisis remains a significant public health issue, with nearly 75 percent of drug overdose deaths involving an opioid in 2020. This crisis continues to affect communities nationwide and addressing potential interactions between cannabis and opioids is crucial in ensuring safer pain management practices. My project explores whether incorporating simple, standardized marijuana screening tools into the nursing curriculum can lead to better pain management outcomes for patients undergoing surgery, potentially mitigating the risks associated with opioid use.”

Dr. Ben-Zacharia is understandably proud of these student fellows. “We only choose two to three fellows each year, based on numerous highly selective criteria, including GPA, faculty and peer recommendations, and a personal interview. They do most of their work in the span of one semester, including literature searches, survey implementation, and analysis, and, of course, preparing their presentations. All while they are simultaneously doing their final semester requirements and clinical rotations. We are so fortunate to have these and many other students at PSON who are committed to improving the field of nursing.”

Kiran Nagdeo, BDS, Highlights How a Master of Public Health Degree Put Her on a Career Path to Improve Maternal and Child Oral Health on a Global Scale

Jul 12, 2024 | School

Kiran Nagdeo, BDS

After eight years of experience in dentistry, Kiran Nagdeo, BDS, realized she could have a greater impact on patient care if she pivoted toward a career in public health. In the following Q&A, Dr. Nagdeo, who received a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Global Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from Mount Sinai’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, reveals how she is gaining the skills and experiences she will need to make a transformative difference in health care.

Why an MPH?

I began my career as a clinically oriented dentist in India, finding fulfillment in my work. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic served as a pivotal moment for me. During this challenging time, I came to appreciate the need for broader, more impactful interventions beyond the confines of individual patient care. While my focus had always been one-on-one relationships with patients, I realized there was the potential, with the right resources, to make a difference on a larger scale. This made me pivot toward a career in public health.

Even with this shift, I still have a passion for dentistry and oral health, and I actively seek out avenues to stay engaged in this field. However, I have observed a notable lack of emphasis on oral health within the public health sector, with only a select few professionals—often with dental backgrounds—contributing to dental public health initiatives. My goal is to bridge the gap between oral health and public health, particularly by advancing maternal and child health initiatives.

How Did You Excel at Mount Sinai?

I had many milestones, which include authoring two full-text publications. My first-ever publication was in collaboration with the World Federation of Public Health Associations for creating a protocol for a scoping review on maternal tobacco cessation and prevention, focusing specifically on international and national frameworks, guidelines, recommendations, and strategies. The second publication explored the association between prenatal metal exposures, childhood gut microbial signatures, and depression score in late childhood from the PROGRESS cohort. Several more are currently under review, and I have additional works in progress.

I also attended six conferences, where I gave more than a dozen presentations, and participated in a global health summer research program offered by Mount Sinai, which involved shadowing both dental and medical complex care services teams at Rikers Island. I also took part in community-based participatory research under Luz Guel, Director of Community Engagement and Environmental Justice at the Center on Health and Environment Across the LifeSpan in the Department of Environmental Medicine and Climate Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, tackling air pollution, odor, and dust problems faced by New York City residents. I was recognized with four awards for my contributions and inducted into the Delta Omega Honorary Society.

Within the realm of research, I am ever so grateful to have contributed to the Microbial Exposomics lab under the leadership of Vishal Midya, PhD, a biostatistician and environment epidemiologist in the Environmental Medicine and Climate Science Department at Icahn Mount Sinai, and Shoshannah Eggers, PhD, in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Iowa, where I continue to learn the intricacies of research.

In addition to my academic pursuits, I remain actively involved with the World Federation of Public Health Associations, where I credit all my achievements to Hyewon Lee, DMD, MPH, DrPH, Chair of the Oral Health Workgroup (OHWG). Dr. Lee has not only mentored and supported my professional development but has also invested in my personal growth. I hold the position of Vice Chair within the OHWG, working closely under Dr. Lee’s guidance and leadership.

What Are You Doing Now?

I am a PhD student in the Epidemiology program at the New York University (NYU) School of Global Public Health under the esteemed mentorship of Andrea Deierlein, PhD, MPH. This opportunity allows me to further my passion for oral health through collaboration with Fernando Hugo, DDS, MSc, PhD, Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion at NYU School of Dentistry. I am also very excited and grateful to embark on my first project as a PhD student under the mentorship of the world renowned, Habib Benzian, DDS, MScDPH, PhD, Co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Quality-Improvement and Evidence-Based Dentistry, NYU Dentistry, and someone who continues to inspire me with his significant contributions to the field of global oral health.

How Are These Experiences Helping Shape Your New Career Goals?

My path has been one of continuous growth and dedication, and I am committed to advancing the integration of oral health into public health frameworks. With the skills and experiences I gained through my MPH degree, and all the new experiences I am having in my PhD studies, I know I will have the capability to drive impactful health initiatives that will ultimately improve maternal and child oral health outcomes on a global scale.

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