Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) announced the formation of a new partnership to jointly study and address a number of significant health issues and policies that impact the lives of people who live in urban areas. NYAM is an historic and independent institution that has been advancing the health of people living in cities since its founding in 1847.

During a signing ceremony held at Mount Sinai on Monday, February 10, leaders from both institutions said that together they will address issues such as disease prevention and global health initiatives, health care policy, and the emerging field of genetics and genomics, among other topics.

“Although we are two different institutions, each with its unique history and mission, our goals intersect in fundamentally important ways,” said Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Mount Sinai Health System. “Ultimately, we both strive to develop high-quality programs through education, research, and policy that increase access to care and improve the health of people living in the New York metropolitan area and around the globe. Given our longtime mutual respect, and our proximity to each other on the Upper East Side, our collaboration makes perfect sense.”

A Steering Committee comprised of representatives from Mount Sinai and NYAM will create guidelines and make recommendations for projects. It is anticipated the agreement will lead to collaborative research projects, grant applications, and publications, as well as educational courses and mentoring opportunities.

“The New York Academy of Medicine’s current priorities are to create environments in cities that support healthy aging; to strengthen systems that prevent disease and promote the public’s health; to eliminate health disparities; and to preserve and promote the heritage of medicine and public health,” Jo Ivey Boufford, MD, NYAM President, told the audience. “We are very excited about the special opportunities this agreement brings for synergies in our research and educational programs with Mount Sinai, our neighbor and an organization that shares our commitment to urban health.”

Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System, signed the agreement with Dr. Boufford. “We will draw upon our expertise in a wide range of disciplines and institutes across Mount Sinai, including the Department of Health Evidence and Policy, the Institute for Family Health, the Center for Health Equity and Community Engaged Research, Biomedical Informatics, General Internal Medicine, Preventive Medicine, the Institute for Translational Epidemiology, the Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences,” he said. “Working with the Academy, we expect to create research grants, conduct original research, publish our findings together, and sponsor educational courses and training for prospective scientists and health professionals, all in an effort to help improve the health of our populations.”