Students with their families and faculty gathered in the John W. Nevins, M.D. ’44, Auditorium as the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences (GSBMS) began an exciting new tradition on October 1, with the inaugural Lab Coat Ceremony for Ph.D. candidates. The event witnessed first-, second-, and third-year Ph.D. candidates ceremoniously don their lab coats with their family, friends and mentors in attendance for the milestone. Read the full article and view the photo gallery.

NYMC's signature fundraising event will be an evening to celebrate members of the NYMC community and raise money for student scholarships on Wednesday, October 27, at Marina Del Rey in Throgs Neck, New York. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required for all guests and social distancing will be practiced. Read the full article on the 2021 Founder’s Dinner.

The NYMC Garden Club revitalized the Lisa Qian, M.D. '18, Memorial Garden, creating a new sitting area complete with a stone patio. Several club members worked over the course of five days to provide the new look to the garden, which was celebrated at a grand reopening on the sunny afternoon of September 26. Read the full article and view the photos gallery.

Five members of the NYMC community were among the recipients of the 2021 Doctors of Distinction Awards sponsored by Westfair Communications. This year’s recognition celebration was a virtual one on September 24, honoring medical professionals for their contributions to health care and medicine in Westchester and Fairfield Counties. Karen M. Murray, M.D. ’99, associate dean for SOM admissions and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and Lauren S. Bader, M.D. ’12, G.M.E. ’15, were honored with Caring for All Awards; Elaine Healy, M.D., clinical assistant professor of medicine, was recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award; Sudhir Vaidya, M.D., clinical associate professor of family and community medicine, received a No Land Too Far Award; and the Promise for the Future Award was presented to Mathias E. Palmer, M.D. ’21.

The Office of Student Mental Health and Wellness (SMHW) recently recognized Mental Illness Awareness Week during the week of October 4, offering daily informative and supportive messages to students. Mental Illness Awareness Week is dedicated to providing information on different types of mental health conditions and de-stigmatizing mental illness. The SMHW’s daily messages offered tips on how to take mental breaks and exercises for students to put their thoughts into writing as well as social media posts about mental illness and symptoms. Read more about the SMHW and the services they offer, as told by Robin Hershkowitz, LCSW-R, director of SMHW and assistant professor of psychiatry.

NYMC and the Touro College and University System (TCUS) will continue its symposium series on COVID-19 with a webinar on October 14 at 1:00 p.m. A panel of faculty experts will share the latest COVID-19 updates on brain fog, vaccinations for children, radiation therapy for COVID-19 pneumonia, the Molnupiavir oral capsule, the nursing situation in the U.S., and balancing individual rights to personal liberty and the community's right to maximize safety. Questions may be submitted to Covid19updates@touro.edu. Continuing Medical Education credits are available. Read more and register for the fifteenth COVID-19 symposium.

Doc’s Café in the Basis Sciences Building is now reopened with a hot and cold menu and with safety protocols in place. Masks are required except while eating sitting at a table and social distancing is required. A new online service is now available for those who wish to order their food in advance, pre-pay and pick it up in Doc’s Café. After scanning the QR code (on the left), select the items to be ordered, add any comments or changes, select a time to be picked up and submit payment. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. “We are pleased to welcome the NYMC community back to Doc’s Café and thank you for your patience while we developed a safe reopening plan,” said Vilma E. Bordonaro, M.B.A., chief of staff.

Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer, shared his thoughts on COVID-19 vaccine mandates and the parallel to George Washington’s order to inoculate the Continental Army against smallpox in an opinion piece, “Are vaccine mandates un-American? Ask the father of our country” published in The Hill on October 5, 2021.

Felipe C. Cabello, M.D., professor emeritus of pathology, microbiology and immunology, presented a virtual lecture to students of the Universidad Cayetano Heredia in Lima, Peru, in June, by invitation of the International Federation of Medical Students' Associations (Standing Committee on Public Health) and the International Veterinary Students' Association. He presented “Antimicrobial Resistance and One Health.”

Thomas Diflo, M.D., FACS, professor of surgery, was appointed chair of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality/Healthcare Safety and Quality Improvement Research (AHRQ/HSQR) study section.

Padmini Murthy, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., FRSPH CHES, professor of public health and global health director, who serves as secretary general of the Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA)/Global Health American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) was presented with an award of appreciation for delivering the Central Asia Regional Conference (CARC)/MWIA Guest Lecture on physician leadership in September in recognition of her grassroots efforts to promote women’s health. The theme of the conference focused on enhancing medical skills, eliminating noncommunicable diseases, empowering women, environmental safety and eliminating domestic violence.

From the Health Sciences Library: If you are working in a project but cannot find what you need in the library's collection, the interlibrary loan service may be your solution. It is fast and free for New York Medical College users. Read more about interlibrary loans and set up an account.

The 60 Minutes story, “Inside an American Containment Zone,” aired on CBS on March 15, 2021, featuring Sherlita Amler, M.D., M.S., clinical associate professor of pediatrics, adjunct professor of public health and senior fellow in the Center for Disaster Medicine, won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Coverage of Breaking News Story in a Newsmagazine, at the 42nd News and Documentary Emmys® on September 28, 2021.

The Founder's Dinner is our signature, annual fundraising event where academic, health care, business and community leaders, come together to celebrate NYMC's proud history and promising future and to honor distinguished community leaders for their impactful and transformative achievements. Funds raised from the 2021 Founder's Dinner will contribute to our success in educating the next generation of physicians and health care providers, and conducting life-saving biomedical research.

The Family Health Center has the regular vaccine dose and the high dose for seniors. Faculty and staff can contact the Family Health Center at (914) 828-0435 to make an appointment, although walk-ins are welcome. Students can contact Health Services at (914) 594-4234 to schedule an appointment.

The NYMC Free Community Food Pantry, located outside of the Alumni House at 20 Sunshine Cottage Road, is stocked with non-perishable food items and other items donated by the NYMC community.

Virtual yoga class led by certified yoga instructor Mary Butler-Fink.

Mondays | 5:30 p.m. | Zoom

Meeting ID: 489 054 8060; Password: YOGA

One tap mobile +19292056099 (for dial in)