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Inside General Internal Medicine
January & February 2025
News & insights from across the division of General Internal Medicine - send your latest research and faculty/staff updates to proudtobegim@med.cornell.edu.
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Dr. Arnab Ghosh Invited to Federal Government Administration Symposium on Health Equity
As part of the Cornell Initiative on Aging and Adaptation to Extreme Heat, Dr. Arnab Ghosh and his research team were invited to the Administration for Strategic Planning and Evaluation’s Special Symposium on Health Equity to discuss their work on Climate Justice. Read more in the Cornell Initiative on Aging and Adaptation to Extreme Heat Annual Report.
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Patient Perceptions of Provider Can Influence Outcomes
Benjamin Grant, a fourth-year Weill Cornell Medicine student, has new research showing the relationship between a patient and their provider can significantly influence the quality of care outcomes. This is particularly evident when considering provider race concordance, which is the alignment of a patient’s race with that of their healthcare provider. Research into this topic sheds light on the intersection of race, healthcare and patient satisfaction, offering an understanding of how these factors influence health outcomes.
Benjamin has been with the General Internal Medicine (GIM) division since his first year through the Anita Mesi GIM Summer Internship and is the lead researcher of the study.
Read more
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Staff Members Recognized for their Dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion | |
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As they near the end of their term on Weill Cornell Medicine’s Staff Equity and Inclusion Council (SEIC), Vanessa Dudley and Princess Osma, both research staff members, are making a lasting impact on our division’s commitment to promoting equity and inclusion in the Weill Cornell Medicine community.
Vanessa, a research program manager on division chief Dr. Monika Safford’s research team, was named SEIC Champion of the Month for January 2025. Since joining Weill Cornell Medicine in 2004, Vanessa has worked to improve patient coordination and research management processes.
For the past two years, Vanessa and Princess, an assistant research coordinator on Dr. Parag Goyal’s team and SEIC Champion of the Month for January 2024, have organized events around World Mental Health Day, National Poverty in America Awareness Month, and International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, among others.
Read more
GIMers are encouraged to join the Staff Equity and Inclusion Council. Applications are due March 7. Please submit your application here.
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Combatting Misinformation: A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine Report | |
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Dr. David Scales, a committee member in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, contributed to a new report on enhancing access to reliable scientific information to bridge the gaps in knowledge on topics people care about, thereby reducing misinformation around science. While misinformation is often seen as the result of malicious intent, it can actually stem from both deliberate and accidental sources and can originate from a variety of places.
Read more
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We'd like to announce the retirement of Dr. Harold Chin and Esther Wei, N.P., who have both provided outstanding clinical services in General Internal Medicine for over 30 years. Their dedication and commitment to patient care have been exemplary. Please join us in celebrating their remarkable careers and wishing them all the best. | | |
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We are excited to share that Emily Morales and Daniel Garcia were selected as STAR Performers for December 2024 and Clarence Perez-Mejia was selected as STAR Performer for November 2024.
To nominate your colleagues, please use the online nomination form.
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Dr. Tashara M. Leak Receives Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) | | |
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Dr. Tashara M. Leak, Associate Professor of Nutrition Research in Medicine in the division of General Internal Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, an Associate Professor of Nutritional Sciences in the College of Human Ecology (CHE), and Associate Dean for CHE in New York City received PECASE award on her research. She designs culturally relevant interventions, in partnership with community stakeholders, that aim to improve diet, health and well-being of adolescents in urban communities. Her research informs public health programming and policy.
She is Co-Director of the Action Research Collaborative, housed in the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, and two of her studies include the Advanced Cooking Education program and Black Girls for Wellness.
Read more
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Michael Barrington Dixon Graduated from The E2RA Course: Education and Excellence for Research Administrators | | |
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Congratulations to Michael Barrington Dixon, Financial Analyst, who graduated from the E2RA course in 2024! E2RA is a program from WCM Education & Training in Research Administration.
A big shoutout to Michael for his extensive knowledge in managing research grants, from applications to closeout!
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Hospital Medicine Retreat: Celebrating Clinical Excellence and Shaping the Future
Hospitalists gathered to highlight clinical excellence and services from hospital medicine. The retreat consisted of group conversations, discussing ways to foster community, connection, and a positive culture “to be undeniably the best place for academic hospitalists to work” and identifying priority areas for 2025.
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Hospital Medicine Staff & Hospitalists | |
Meyer Cancer Center & Unite for HER Partnership Event: Breast Program Survivorship Retreat
Drs. Laura Pinheiro and Shoshana Rosenberg hosted an event focused on breast and ovarian cancer survivorship. Last summer, Drs. Rosenberg, Pinheiro, and Vered Stearns received a community partnership-building grant from the Cornell Center for Health Equity. This grant aims to establish a partnership between the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center (MCC) Breast Program and Unite for HER, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and empowering individuals diagnosed with breast and ovarian cancer.
| Weill Cornell Medicine Clinicians, Faculty, and
Unite for HER Co-Founders | |
Invited Talks and Presentations | |
Enhancing NSTEMI Diagnosis with High Sensitivity Troponin Algorithms
Dr. Brett Fischer gave the Department of Medicine Grand Rounds at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens on Weill Cornell Medicine's likelihood ratio-based high-sensitivity cardiac troponin algorithm for diagnosing NSTEMI, detailing its development, including the reanalysis of existing published data. By applying the algorithm to example patient cases, he demonstrated the benefits of using likelihood ratios over predictive values for diagnostic test interpretation and patient-centered decision-making. The presentation was attended by approximately 100 people.
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Exploring Healthcare Interoperability and TEFCA Framework
Dr. Travis Gossey discussed healthcare interoperability, best practices for data sharing, and the new national interoperability framework (TEFCA) at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society New York and Healthcare Executive's Club. Leveraging his experience with health information exchanges, he guides systems in adopting the TEFCA framework. With his extensive background in integrating various health information exchange platforms, Dr. Gossey assists systems in transitioning to the more comprehensive TEFCA framework.
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Cordelia Lee: Research Data Analyst
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Smitha M. Dvorak: Ambulatory Practices Administrator
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Monica Burgess Pierre-Louis: Hospital Medicine Clinical Operations Administrator
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Vanessa Dudley: Research Program Manager
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Samantha Hazell: Research Administrative Specialist
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Jason Jenkins: Finance and Grants Specialist
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Quality Improvement Academy (QIA) Celebrating 10th Anniversary | |
The QIA is excited to announce its 10th anniversary! The program is mid-way through the selection process for the Class of 2026. Project applications have been received from seven departments from four of our campuses including NYP Queens. Notification letters will be sent out by April. | |
On MedPage Today: Re-Creating the Patient Records Wheel, Once Again
Dr. Fred Pelzman discusses the importance of improving patient care through better management of healthcare resources. Dr. Pelzman also explores the role of technology and artificial intelligence in enhancing primary care, suggesting that with the right support, these tools can empower physicians and improve patient outcomes.
Read more
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On NYP Health Matters Podcast: What Are the Health Risks of Ultra-processed Foods?
Integrative health specialist Dr. Michelle Loy breaks down the differences between whole, processed, and ultra-processed foods. She discusses the health risks associated with ultra-processed foods, such as increased risks of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health issues. Dr. Loy provides practical tips for identifying ultra-processed foods in grocery stores and offers budget-friendly strategies for incorporating more whole foods into diets, such as meal prepping, using frozen vegetables and making homemade sauces.
Full podcast here
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On Cornell University ILR School News: CAROW Examines How Unions Can Help Direct Care Workers
“More and more people want to age in place, and we need a sustainable workforce to be able to support them,” said Dr. Madeline Sterling. Her research team is looking at the factors that impact direct care workers and that will allow them to keep doing this work while being well compensated with a high degree of job satisfaction.
Read more
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On NYP Health Matters: A Conversation on Mentors, Culture and Community
In honor of Black History Month, Drs. Erica Phillips and Gwendolyne Jack (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism) were featured in a discussion about the significance of mentorship, the impact of cultural heritage, and their dedication to community engagement. They emphasized the importance of having diverse mentors who provide different perspectives and support. Both physicians are committed to helping the next generation and creating a lasting legacy through their work in the community.
Read more
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On Cornell Chronicle: Demonstrates Hand-Held Ultrasound at Weill Bugando in Tanzania
Dr. Tanping Wong, and an internist at Weill Cornell Medicine, spent two weeks at Weill Bugando in December. Dr. Wong's goal was to demonstrate the use of a hand-held bedside ultrasound device and to observe its current applications. While the intensive care unit has a cart-based device, the regular wards lack such equipment.
In an exam room, she guided the ultrasound device over the abdomen of a medical student acting as a patient, while other students watched. The visit not only gave her the opportunity to learn from her Tanzanian colleagues how to better use physical exams and patient histories as diagnostic tools, but "it also helped her to become a better teacher" she said.
Read more
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Save the date! Cornell Center for Health Equity Annual Symposium is March 24th. Join the symposium, themed "Advancing Health Equity Together" to showcase your scholarly work in health equity.
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Register for the Health Equity Seminar Series on March 7th! The seminar is on "The Role of Medicine during The Holocaust and its Contemporary Relevance: Sustaining our Moral Compass."
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Join us on March 12th in Uris Auditorium to celebrate National Patient Safety Week at Medicine Grand Rounds presented by Quality Improvement Academy (QIA) in honor of Dr. Harvey Klein, former Chair and pioneer in establishing the efforts in quality and safety. Dr. Andrew Auerbach, Professor of Medicine in the division of Hospital Medicine at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine will be joining.
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Mark your calendars for Quality Improvement Academy's (QIA) Class of 2025 graduation which begins with Grand Rounds at 8 am on May 21st Our graduating faculty from the Department of Medicine who will be presenting their projects are Dr. Cecilia E. W. Nicol (Division of General Internal Medicine), Dr. Anna Alperovich (Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology) and Dr. Emily Coskun (Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care).
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Show support on May 21st from 5 pm to 7 pm at Griffis Faculty Club, marking QIA Class of 2025 graduation with the rest of the class during the annual Weill Cornell Medicine - QIPS Poster Symposium. Abstracts for the poster symposium are being accepted until March 28th! Click here to submit.
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Save the date! 8th Annual Primary Care and Hospital Medicine Innovations Symposium is now on June 12th at Weill Greenberg, 2nd Floor Conference Rooms.
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Dr. Parag Goyal was awarded a 5-year $3.4M grant from the National Institute on Aging to support a double-blinded placebo-controlled clinical trial that will test whether deprescribing beta-blockers improves clinical outcomes in older adults with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF). | |
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Justin J. Choi, Sanne Schreurs, Peggy B. Leung, John C. Penner, Dario Torre, Andy Hickner, Allison Piazza, Steven J. Durning, Pim W. Teunissen, Lauren A. Maggio. Variability and gaps in teamwork assessment tools for health care teams in health professions education: A Scoping Review.
Gonzalez CJ, Lau JD, Rajan M, Jabri A, Phillips E. Predictors of Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 in a Diverse Urban Population. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Jan 27.
Singh N, Jonas C, Pinheiro LC, Lau JD, Cui J, Long L, Banerjee S, Durant RW, Sterling MR, Shikany JM, Safford MM, Levitan EB, Goyal P. Examining Healthy Lifestyles as a Mediator of the Association Between Socially Determined Vulnerabilities and Incident Heart Failure. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2025 Jan 16
Ganti A, Tucker S, Takyi A, Nahid M, Bickhart A, Katz-Feigenbaum D, Phillips E. Patterns of Weight Change Trajectories and Treatment Response in an Integrated Adult Primary Care Weight Management Practice. Obes Sci Pract. 2025 Jan 13
Grant, B., Soroka, O., Baquero, E. et al. Patient Perceptions of Provider Race Concordance and Quality of Chronic Illness Care. J GEN INTERN MED (2025).
Explore the latest publications from our GIM faculty.
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