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This Month In Pediatrics
July 2026
Part 2
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Featured on Instagram Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia Researchers Awarded $17.25M to Study Profound Autism
This research collaboration between Columbia Medicine and Weill Cornell Medicine was recently featured on Instagram. The team received a $17.25 million grant from the Aligning Research to Impact Autism (ARIA) initiative to advance research on profound autism and support the development of new therapies. Read more here!
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New Jump Start Healthy Hearts Program
A new Pediatric Preventive Cardiology Program, led by Drs. Lisa Hudgins and Amar Ingravera, offers specialized care for children, adolescents, and young adults (up to age 21) at risk for early cardiovascular disease. The program focuses on early identification and management of conditions such as lipid disorders, hypertension, obesity, and concerning family histories—helping prevent serious heart conditions later in life. Learn more about the program here!
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Dr. Deborah Levine has been appointed Associate Director of Research Operations. In this role, she will oversee institutional review boards (IRBs), data analytics, resident and medical student research education, the research assistant program, and faculty meeting reporting.
Dr. Levine holds dual academic appointments as Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Her research focuses on infectious diseases in neonates and injury prevention, and she has authored numerous abstracts and peer-reviewed publications in these areas. In addition to her research contributions, she is an active lecturer, mentor, and peer reviewer.
To learn more about the Emergency Department leadership promotion, click here.
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| | Dr. Lisa Goto has been selected as a recipient of the NewYork-Presbyterian Innovation Grant and awarded $10,800. As grant recipient #52, this recognition supports her innovative work and commitment to advancing new ideas that enhance patient care and clinical practice. | | | |
| | Dr. Asim Shahid has been selected as a recipient of the NewYork-Presbyterian Innovation Grant. This recognition supports his continued commitment to innovation in pediatric care. The grant will support his attendance at the international SEEG course in Montreal, enhancing expertise in the evaluation and management of surgically treatable pediatric epilepsy and helping advance care to align with leading institutions across the country. | | | |
| | Pediatric Fellows' Research in Progress takes place on the first Thursday of each month. Third and second-year fellows present their ongoing academic scholarship work. Stay tuned for next month's presenters! | | | | |
500,000 Voices Spoke Up to Protect Federal Grants
Thank you to everyone who lent their voice to the half a million comments about the Office of Management and Budget proposed new rule, “Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance” that would require political review of federal grant funding. This is a testament to the power of community engagement and the overarching unpopularity of this proposed rule.
But our work is not done.
Email your members of Congress. It takes just a few minutes if you click this link at Stand Up for Science. Customize the email template to share your personal perspective about the impact these changes would have on research. Consider including information to address questions like:
- How might this impact federal funding you already have and manage?
- Would this new rule disrupt any current research projects?
- Will there be greater administrative burdens that will make projects more expensive or more cumbersome?
- How will this affect the workforce?
So, what happens next?
Now that the public comment period has closed, the Office of Management and Budget is legally required to address each unique concern raised and justify its stance.
There are 3 potential paths forward:
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Delays or Backs Down: After reviewing the public record, the OMB could revise or withdraw the rule's most damaging sections. If officials cannot fully address all comments by early September, they will be forced to postpone or rescind the proposal.
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Legal Challenges in Court: Once the rule is finalized, opponents can file lawsuits. Lawyers will use the submitted public comments as evidence to demonstrate harm and attempt to block the rule, though court outcomes are never guaranteed.
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Congressional Action: Congress could intervene directly to pass legislation to override the OMB's changes, restoring merit-based peer review and standard protocols that protect scientific discovery.
And one final thing to consider, over three million people voted for the outcome of Love Island. Imagine if we could get that kind of turnout to support science.
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| | Dr. Bernhard Kuhn has been accepted into the AMSPDC 2026 Division Directors Academy, a distinguished professional development program for emerging leaders. As part of the academy, he will participate in a three-day, in-person session focused on leadership, strategy, and advancing academic medicine. | | | |
| | Dr. Juan Pascual was awarded the Cornerstone Award in recognition of his extraordinary contributions to advancing the scientific understanding of GLUT1 Deficiency. His pioneering research has helped shape the field and continues to drive progress in improving care and treatment for affected patients. | | | | Click here to view publications by faculty members published in the last 30 days! | | |
| | Featured on our department Instagram, Dr. Sallie Permar shared a video on the MediKids Act introduced by Senator Andy Kim, highlighting the importance of expanding access to healthcare for children across the United States. Watch here! | | | |
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Call for Applications for Clinical Mentor for the Longitudinal Clinical Skills Program
Interested in shaping the next generation of physicians? The Office of Medical Education is recruiting Clinical Mentors for the PCP-EPOM program, where faculty work closely with first-year medical students on clinical skills, communication, ethics, and professional development. Faculty who commit to the full August–December 2026 program are eligible for a $1,250 stipend. Click here for more information and how to apply.
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Join the Faculty Wellness Committee!
We’re inviting faculty members to get involved with the Faculty Wellness Committee. This group plans events throughout the year that promote connection, collaboration, and fun, gathers faculty feedback and ideas, and works closely with department leadership to support wellness initiatives and opportunities.
If you’re interested in joining, they meet every other month on Thursdays at noon. Please reach out to Dr. Susan Bostwick for more information.
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Are you interested in sharing your expertise or telling your story? We invite you to contribute to our department blog. You can submit post ideas to Ilina Das Ewen. Whether you have an idea, bullet points, an outline, or a fully written blog post, reach out to Ilina. She can help you draft or edit a blog post. Your personal stories and insights are valuable.
Check out our latest blog posts!
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Department of Pediatrics Strategic Plan
Our Goal is to develop a department-wide strategic plan that aligns with the WCM CARE Strategic Plan while identifying transformational opportunities in Clinical Care, Research, Education, AI & Data Science, Workforce Development, and Operational Excellence, with AI serving as a cross-cutting enabler across all missions.
We have scheduled a series of meetings:
August 12 - Leadership Strategic Planning Session (Academic Mission)
September 9 - Faculty and Staff Workshop (Academic Mission)
September 14 - Faculty and Staff Workshop (Clinical Mission)
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2026 Third Avenue Fair
The Third Avenue Fair takes place each September between 68th and 86th Streets, and provides a great opportunity for departments, centers & institutes to offer valuable information to community residents and visitors while also promoting the services they provide. More than 200 faculty, staff and employees have participated in prior years lining both sides of the street!
Date: September 19, 2026
Time: 9:30am-4:00pm
Location: 68th and 86th Streets
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Schedule your Professional Headshot
External Affairs has established "headshot days" to fill the business need for standardized institutional headshots, particularly for clinical faculty profiles.
Employees in need of headshots may sign up for a 10-minute time slot through Microsoft Bookings (login required).
Stay tuned for upcoming headshot days here!
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Dr. Melissa Rose is recognized for her outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to excellence. She has quickly mastered new concepts, successfully led Ambulatory QPS, and consistently supports colleagues across departments. Her collaboration, professionalism, and positive impact makes her an invaluable member of the team.
Dr. Nonyerem Fomin is recognized for her compassionate care, kindness, and dedication to her team. Her approachable nature, willingness to listen, and commitment to providing excellent patient care make her a valued and respected colleague.
Drs. Shipra Kaicker, Natalie Uy and Zoltan Antal were among the top pediatric physicians with stellar Google review ratings this month!
Share your appreciation for colleagues by submitting a shout-out for inclusion in the department newsletter here!
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