Week of November 7, 2016
NEWS
It's Official: NYMC SOM Receives Full Eight-Year LCME Re-Accreditation

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) has awarded continued accreditation to the New York Medical College (NYMC) School of Medicine (SOM) for eight years, the maximum possible term. The long-awaited official LCME letter of decision concluded the road to re-accreditation, which included a multi-year institutional self-study led by Jennifer L. Koestler, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education, an independent student assessment, a mock site visit in October 2015 and the actual site visit conducted by the LCME team on February 28 - March 2, 2016.

D. Douglas Miller, M.D., C.M., M.B.A., dean of the School of Medicine, attributes the successful LCME re-accreditation to the collective efforts of many medical school faculty members, students, staff and affiliates, all of whom supported the Educational Quality Improvement Process (EQuIP), and the NYMC Board of Trustees who fully endorsed the medical school's re-accreditation efforts.

"LCME re-accreditation, the so-called ' Dean's Test,' can only be passed with the full engagement and support of the entire medical school -- it's faculty, students and staff -- and with the true partnership of our affiliated hospitals, clinics and community service sites," said Dr. Miller.

The LCME is a 19-member committee responsible for conferring accreditation on medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States and Canada. The next full LCME survey of the NYMC SOM will take place during the 2023-2024 academic year.

Dean Miller and Dr. Koestler will consult with the LCME Secretariat at the upcoming Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) annual meeting in Seattle. Stay tuned for more information on the SOM's responses to the LCME re-accreditation.

White Coat Ceremony Marks Milestone for Class of 2020

More than 900 guests witnessed the School of Medicine Class of 2020 don their white coats for the first time, marking an emotional and symbolic step on their journey to becoming physicians. Led by Master of Ceremony, Jennifer L. Koestler, M.D., senior associate dean for medical education and associate professor of pediatrics, the White Coat Ceremony, a rite of passage for medical students, took place on October 28 at the Performing Arts Center in Purchase, N.Y. Proud families and friends from across the country beamed as 213 first-year medical students, received words of encouragement and sage advice and were cloaked in their coats by "investors," distinguished members of the School's faculty who trust in the students' ability to carry on the noble tradition of the practice of medicine. View the White Coat Ceremony photo gallery  here. Read more...

NYMC Honored at Doctors of Distinction Awards Ceremony

Three members of the NYMC community were honored at the fourth annual Doctors of Distinction Awards ceremony on October 27. The event, co-sponsored by the Westchester County Business Journal and Citrin Cooperman, was held at the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center on the NYMC campus. Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer, gave the keynote address stressing the need for public funding and interest in biomedical research. 

From left: William H. Frishman, M.D., the Barbara and William Rosenthal Professor and Chairman of the Department of Medicine, and professor of pharmacology, was honored with the Cutting Edge Award for excellence in medical research. Lydia Bunker, School of Medicine Class of 2017, president of the Student Senate, received the Promise for the Future Award recognizing a medical student who excels in his or her studies and will bring compassionate care and a fresh perspective to the medical profession. Farah Ansari, M.D., a third-year resident in the NYMC Family Medicine Residency Program at Phelps Memorial Hospital was awarded the Physician in Training Award in recognition of a medical resident who is putting his or her rigorous studies into action in preparation for successfully pursuing a career in medicine.

Speed Dating for Research

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology held its first Speed Dating for Research session on October 13 in the Skyline dining room. The event was an opportunity for residents to speak to faculty members about research interests and/or develop a research question in a speed dating format -- a five-minute time slot to meet with a faculty member before rotating through the room to speak with nine other faculty members. It is the hope that these research projects will eventually be submitted as abstracts and for publication in a manuscript. "The goal of this session is to introduce you to faculty members and provide the support you need to complete your research project. This will also give you an opportunity to start a research project, or more than one, early in your residency, which is important if you are seeking a fellowship. It is also important for promotion in academia," Andre G. Broumas, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and deputy program director, told the group before signaling the start of the first "date." At the end of the session, residents had a good picture of the research opportunities available with faculty mentors. Camille A. Clare M.D. M.P.H., right, interim associate dean of diversity and inclusion, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of resident research, discussed her research interests in adolescent contraception, family planning, health disparities and patient safety, with Helen Yuan, M.D., left, a PGY-1 resident. View the Speed Dating for Research Forum photo gallery here.

The Homecoming of Charles Henry Miller, M.D. (NYHMC Class of 1863)

Regular visitors to the NYMC Health Sciences Library have likely noticed the expanding exhibit of paintings on the stairwell walls, adding a nobility and grace to this central vertical space. These recently donated works are the legacy of Charles Henry Miller, M.D., New York Homeopathic Medical College (NYHMC), Class of 1863. Dr. Miller was not the first student to attend graduate school to please his parents only to then pursue an alternative career. After receiving his Doctor of Medicine diploma from the hands of NYHMC president William Cullen Bryant, Miller used his medical degree only once -- as a medical doctor on board a ship bound for Europe where he intended to study art in the great museums. Even on board, most of his time was spent sketching weary crewmen instead of treating them. Read more...

StuHE Makes Strides Against Breast Cancer

The Student Healthcare Executives (StuHE) club in the School of Health Sciences and Practice led a team of NYMC students, faculty, family and friends at the 18th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Manhattanville College in Purchase, N.Y., on October 16. The group also held bake sales on campus to raise funds for the American Cancer Society's fight against breast cancer. Their ventures have raised more than $1,000 and rising in donations.

ACCOLADES
Michael J. Majsak, P.T., Ed.D., associate professor and chairman of the Department of Physical Therapy, was an invited speaker at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Education Leadership Conference held in Phoenix, October 7 - 9. As a contributor to the Third Annual Geneva R. Johnson Forum on Innovation in Physical Therapy Education, Dr. Majsak was asked to offer a response to the theme, "Formation of a Doctoring Professional: Are We Shying Away from Education that Really Matters in the Lives of our Graduates?" He presented "Walking Towards Our Vision: Are We Over Involved and Under Committed?," emphasizing the importance of doctoral physical therapy programs' commitment to preparing graduates who can fulfill the APTA vision of "Transforming Society by Optimizing Movement to Improve the Human Experience." Dr. Majsak proposed that this vision begins with creating a transformative educational experience for students that includes interprofessional education, activities in political activism and patient advocacy, and public health and community service opportunities that expose students to social determinants of health, in addition to the teaching of clinical skills.

Stuart A. Newman, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and anatomy, was an invited participant at the workshop "Gene Editing: Life and Law Beyond the Human" at the Baldy Center for Law and Social Policy at the University of Buffalo, October 21 - 22. He spoke on "The Inherent Fallibility of Genetic Engineering and the Dream of Human Perfection."
Luis F. Riquelme, Ph.D., associate professor of clinical speech-language pathology, recently presented two papers at the 30th World Congress of the International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics, held in Dublin, Ireland, August 21 - 25. He presented his research on changes in swallow physiology during pill swallowing in an oral presentation, "Pill Swallowing in Adults: The Search for Solutions." This ongoing project has been conducted in collaboration with graduate students in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology, members of the clinical team at Barrique SLP at New York Methodist Hospital and Sonja Molfenter, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders, at the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Dr. Riquelme's second presentation was based on his work on the Board of Directors of the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI). The group has been working towards unified terminology at the global level for texture-modified foods and thickened liquids.

Jennifer Ronecker, M.D., a PGY V resident in the Department of Neurosurgery, delivered a platform presentation, "Histological Subtypes of Medulloblastoma and its Correlation with Genetic Abnormalities," at the International Society of Pediatric Neurosurgery Annual Meeting, held in Kobe, Japan, October 23 - 27. Her scientific work was done under the supervision of Meena Jhanwar-Uniyal, Ph.D., research associate professor of neurosurgery.


Mitchell S. Cairo, M.D., professor of pediatrics, medicine, pathology, microbiology and immunology, and cell biology and anatomy, and his team at the Childhood and Adolescent Cancer and Blood Diseases Center, presented the following presentations at the 48th Annual Congress of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) held in Dublin, Ireland, October 19 - 22:

"Reduced Burden of Therapy in Intermediate Risk Mature B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (B-NHL): Preliminary Results of the Reduced Burden of Oncologic Therapy (REBOOT) Trial" Barth, M.J., Goldman, S.C., Oesterheld, J., Heym, K., Harrison, L., Nickerson, B., and Cairo, M.S.

"Phase I Results of Mitoxantrone in Combination with Clofarabine in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults with Refractory/Relapsed Acute Leukemia" Hochberg, J., Oesterheld, J., Militano, O., Klejmont, L., Harrison, L., Nickerson, B., and Cairo, M.S.

"Regulation of Cytokine Release and Anti-Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) Effects of Anti-CD20 CAR Modified Expanded Natural Killer Cells by ALT-803, an IL-15 Superagonist" Chu, Y., Lee, F., Hamby, C., Misarti, J., Hang, B., Ayello, J., Zhang, M., Zhu, H., Wong, H., Lee, D.A., and Cairo, M.S.

"Polatuzumab Vedotin (PV, anti-CD79B-VC-MMAE) Significantly Increased Apoptosis/Reduced Cell Proliferation and Improved Survival Against Burkitt Lymphoma (BL) and Primary Mediastinal Large B-cell Lymphoma (PMBL)" Awasthi, A., Ayello, J., van de Ven, C., Chakraborty, S., Barth, M.J., and Cairo, M.S.

"Ruxolitinib, a JAK1/JAK2 Inhibitor, Significantly Prolongs Survival in Both a Primary Mediastinal B-cell Lymphoma (PMBL) and Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) Xenograft NSG Mouse Model: A Potential Targeted Adjuvant Therapy" Lee, S., Yin, C., Shah, T., Ayello, J., Morris, E., van de Ven, C., and Cairo, M.S.

The Department of Pharmacology was well-represented at the American Heart Association Council on Hypertension 2016 meeting held in Orlando, September 14 - 17.

From left: Michal L. Schwartzman, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology, served as a poster judge and chaired a session on "The Vasculature in Health and Disease" in which her former graduate student, Victor Garcia, Ph.D. '15, presented "The 20-HETE Receptor: a New Player in Hypertension." Also from Dr. Schwartzman's laboratory postdoctoral fellow, Rebecca Hutcheson, Ph.D., presented a poster, "Vascular Smooth Muscle-specific Overexpression of Cyp4a12-20-HETE Synthases Causes Hypertension and Vascular Remodeling" and graduate student, Ankit Gilani, presented a poster, "Proximal Tubular-Specific Overexpression of the Cyp4a12-20-HETE Synthase Promotes Hypertension."
 
From left: Nader G. Abraham, Ph.D., Dr. H.C., professor of medicine and pharmacology, gave an oral presentation, "Hmox1 Activation Reprograms White Fat to Beige Adipose Tissue through Recruitment of Cyp2C44-derived EET, pAMPK-PGC1α that Enhances Mitochondrial Msn2 and Opa1. Also from Dr. Abraham's laboratory: Lars Bellner, Ph.D., instructor of pharmacology, presented a poster, "EET-mediated Recruitment of PGC-1α, Restores Mitochondrial Function, LV Function, and Ameliorates Development of Cardiovascular Disease in Db Mice That is Reversed by Lentiviral- PGC-1α (Sh)"; Shailendra Singh, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow, presented a poster, "Activation of PGC1α by EET Stimulates Insulin Sensitivity, Normalizes Blood Pressure and Increases Mitochondrial Oxphos in Obese Mice"; and David Bamshad, School of Medicine Class of 2019, who was the first medical student to present at the Council, presented a poster, "Obesity-induced Hypertension Exacerbated through Upregulation of Renal Naci Cotransporter, Reversed by Increased PGC1α-HO-1 Gene Expression to Restore Mitochondrial Function." Two overseas investigators presented collaborative data with Dr. Abraham: not pictured, Jian Cao, M.D., of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China, gave an oral presentation, "PGC-1α is a Critical Activator of HO-1 that Protects against Cardiomyopathy in Diabetic Mice through Recruitment of Mitochondrial Fusion Proteins and Function" and presented a poster, "Diabetic Cardiomyopathy is Reversed by Increased Mitochondrial Bioenergetics due to PGC-1α Activation by EET Treatment of Obese Mice" while Maayan Walden, a graduate student from Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv Israel presented a poster, "Restriction Attenuates Diabetic Cardiomyopathy through the Recruitment of the Antioxidant System."    

Nicholas R. Ferreri, Ph.D., professor of pharmacology, served as a poster judge and presented a talk, "TNF Production Derived From the Thick 122 Ascending Limb Modulates the Renal Adaptive Response to High NaCl Intake."

From left: Wenhui Wang, M.D., professor of pharmacology, attended the meeting along with his postdoctoral fellow, Xiaotong Su, who presented a poster, "Disruption of Cyp2c44 Increases Sodium Chloride Cotransporter Expression and Activity in the Distal Convoluted Tubule."

From left: The laboratory of Petra Rocic, Ph.D., associate professor of pharmacology, was represented by her two Ph.D. students: Amanda Soler, who gave an oral presentation, "Comparison of Effects of Reux en Y 40 Gastric Bypass and Intra-abdominal Lipectomy on Cardiovascular Function in the Metabolic Syndrome," and Gregory Joseph, right, who presented "20-HETE-mediated Neutrophil Adhesion Impairs Coronary Collateral Growth in Metabolic Syndrome."

IN THE NEWS

New York Medical College Leadership News

The Business Journal - 11/1/2016 
Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer 
William H. Frishman, M.D., the Barbara and William Rosenthal professor and chairman of the Department of Medicine, and professor of pharmacology 
Lydia Bunker, School of Medicine Class of 2017, President of the Student Senate 
Farah Ansari, M.D., third-year resident in the NYMC Family Medicine Residency Program at Phelps Memorial Hospital

Heart Walk Draws Crowd To Support Heart, Stroke & Pediatric Research
Hospital Newspaper - 10/23/2016
D. Douglas Miller, M.D., C.M., M.B.A., Dean, School of Medicine

New York Medical College News

Yorktown Daily Voice - 10/26/2016 
Sidharth Anand participated in the GSBMS STAR program under the mentorship of Raj K. Tiwari, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology

Faculty News

The Hudson Independent - November 2016 
Paul Lleva, M.D., clinical assistant professor of neurology

Reader's Digest - November 2016
Patricia C. Pollio, M.D., clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology

Reader's Digest - 11/2/2016 
Beth Schorr-Lesnick, M.D., clinical assistant professor of medicine

Jeffrey L. Brown, M.D., clinical professor of pediatrics

Torah Musings - 10/26/2016
Ira J. Bedzow, M.A., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine and director of Biomedical Ethics and Humanities Program

Why It's Your Job to Get a Flu Shot - and Call in Sick if You Do Get the Flu
The Conversation - 10/23/2016
Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, D.O., M.P.H., DABFM, FAAFP, distinguished lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health

Astorino Launches "Safe Sleep" Campaign to Help Prevent Infant Deaths Westchestgov.com - 10/18/2016
Sherlita Amler, M.D., M.S., FAAP, clinical associate professor of pediatrics and distinguished lecturer in the Department of Epidemiology and Community Health
Jennifer F. Canter, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of clinical pediatrics


New York Medical College is not responsible for the content or accuracy of what may be reported in print or online media.
EVENTS

Monday, November 7
Mathew Francis Olstein, M.D., Dedication Ceremony 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 9
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology Grand Rounds
8:00 a.m.
Department of Surgery Grand Rounds 8:30 a.m.
Department of Medicine: Division of Internal Medicine Grand Rounds
12:00 p.m.
SOM Alumni Association Open House
3:00 p.m.

Click here to add an event to the NYMC calendar.
 
HIGHLIGHTS

Mathew Francis Olstein, M.D., Dedication Ceremony

Monday, November 7
2:00 p.m. 
NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan 1901 First Avenue
Room 1B35
New York, NY 10029



Please join NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan and New York Medical College at a dedication ceremony and reception to remember the life and spirit of Mathew Francis Olstein, M.D., 1894-1918, Senior House Officer, Metropolitan Hospital

Click here for more info.



Department of Pediatrics and Children's Health and Research Foundation, Inc.

Sixth Annual Assistant Professor Pediatric Research Symposium

Wednesday, November 16
Westchester Medical Center
Taylor Care Conference Center

8:00 a.m.
Grand Rounds Oral Presentation

9:00 a.m.
General Poster Session 

Chaired by:
Mitchell S. Cairo, M.D., 
Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and Cell Biology and Anatomy

Click here for more info.


 
School of Health Sciences and Practice

Alumni Leadership Council and StuHE Present 

Public Health Care Mentor Session
 

Wednesday, November 16
6:00 p.m.
MEC Lobby

Mentoring and networking with experts from Behavioral/Community Health, County Department of Health Environmental, Global Health, Hospital Systems, Pharmaceutical and Recruiters.

Click here for more info.


 
Music and Medicine

The Genius of Mozart



Thursday, November 17
12:30 p.m.
MEC Nevins Auditorium

Stephen Moshman, M.D.
Professor of Clinical Medicine, NYMC School of Medicine; Conductor and Music Director, Albert Einstein Symphony Orchestra 

Featuring Manhattan School of Music students:
 Jennifer Ahn, violin 
Sarah Kuo, violin 
Tal McGee, viola
Nicholas Burkel, cello 

Coach
David Geber
Dean of Instrumental Performance and String Faculty, Manhattan School of Music
 
Click here for more info.


 
School of Medicine 

Alumni Association Raffle

 

You have the unique opportunity to Win a Week in the Hamptons. Only 200 tickets being sold for $100 each .

Raffle Drawing:
December 14, 2016

Click here for more info.



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