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Spring at Weill Cornell Medicine is a season of transition and forward motion.
Over the coming weeks, our fourth-year medical students will learn where they will continue their training on Match Day, and in May they will walk across the stage at Carnegie Hall alongside our PA graduates to receive their diplomas. These moments mark the shift from preparation to practice, as students step fully into the responsibilities of their professional lives.
Our Medical College Commencement will take place on May 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and all faculty are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the Class of 2026. A formal invitation with RSVP details will be shared shortly. Commencement is a powerful reminder of the collective effort behind every graduate and the privilege we share in helping shape their path forward.
This season also marks an important launch for our educator community. On May 16-17, we will host the inaugural OneCornell Health Educators Conference, bringing together MD, PA, and veterinary faculty from across Cornell to learn together, share ideas, and strengthen our shared educational mission.
As our learners move from preparation to practice, and our educators come together across disciplines, spring reflects what medical education does best- build strong foundations and then let people launch. Thank you for all you do to make these moments possible.
- Dr. Joseph Safdieh, Senior Associate Dean for Education
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Congratulations to Dr. Rohan Jotwani who was selected as a member of the Class of 2026 Macy Faculty Scholars! The Macy Faculty Scholars Program is designed to identify and nurture the careers of promising educators in medicine and nursing.
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Dr. Justin Choi
Congratulations to Dr. Justin Choi whose project, “A Realist Evaluation of Longitudinal Interprofessional Identity (REAL-IPI)” was selected to receive the 2026 NEGEA Scholars Grant.
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Congratulations to Dr. Todd Cassese who was selected to receive the NEGEA Distinguished Educator Award! This prestigious award recognizes educators in the NEGEA region with a sustained and exemplary record of educational leadership, scholarly contribution, research excellence, and outstanding teaching, as well as a demonstrated and meaningful impact on the NEGEA community.
| | Welcome Aboard New Faculty Leaders | | |
Dr. Sandra Rolston Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Core Faculty in Clinical Skills Center
“I'm delighted to join the Clinical Skills Center to teach medical students and foster their development of bedside skills that are essential to patient care.”
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Dr. Lee Seligman Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Core Faculty in Clinical Skills Center
"I love that an excellent history and physical can fundamentally alter the course of a patient’s care; I’m so excited to work with students as they hone this critical skill."
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Dr. Nathaniel Hupert Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences and AOC Research Pathway Advisor
“There are really two joys in serving as an AOC Research Pathway Advisor at WCM: first, you get to read all the exciting research that our students are able to conduct; and second, you get to witness (and hopefully help guide) their evolution as scientific thinkers, a skill that will stay with them for their entire careers regardless of specialty or setting.”
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Please join us in congratulating to our new MSEC Leadership and thank you to our past leaders for all of their dedicated work.
Career Night
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At our annual Career Night in December, M1 and M2 students connected with faculty and residents to explore a wide range of residency specialties and career paths.
December Decandence (Dec Dec)
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Students celebrated the end of the semester at Dec Dec 2025, the annual medical school winter formal, organized by MSEC and partially sponsored by Med Ed and the Weill Cornell Alumni Association.
Lobby Day Participation
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Numerous WCM medical students, who are applying in ob/gyn, joined a citywide New York OB Society Meeting in January.
Music in Medicine
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Students from Music in Medicine performed at the joint Cornell/WCM board meeting reception in 1334 York in January.
Organ Procurement Runs
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Dr. Dana Gurvitch has been supporting students with going on organ procurement runs. Shoutout to Pooja Lalwani M1 and Jacob Roy M1 who both participated in a heart procurement run!
Student Leaders' Dinner
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Dr. Joseph Safdieh met with student leaders from the various Med Ed programs for a dinner in Griffis to discuss issues impacting the student body.
Valentine's Day
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The Office of Student Affairs hosted a valentine's day themed coffee hour where students were able to grab coffee, hot chocolate, snacks, and make cards.
Early Match Success for Class of 2026 Students
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In January’s SF Match in Ophthalmology, WCM students matched at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the Scheie Eye Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Wilmer StARR program at the Johns Hopkins University.
The Urology Match on Feb. 2 saw our students secure residency positions at the Cleveland Clinic, the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell (Smith Institute), and the University of Rochester Medical Center.
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"My experience as a PA student at Weill Cornell’s PA program has been eye-opening, formative, and deeply humbling. Over the past year, I’ve had opportunities to learn through simulated patient encounters, hands-on skills like suturing and splinting, and even how to approach complex trauma cases.
As clinical rotations begin, I'm excited to get out of the classroom, learn directly from patients and clinicians, and keep growing into the PA I’ve been working toward. I feel so grateful to be in NYC at Weill Cornell, surrounded by incredible educators and diverse patient populations that push me to be a better student and future provider every single day."
— Elisabeth Lee PA-S2
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"After completing my undergraduate education at West Point, mentorship and leadership were values that shaped my training, and I hoped to find the same principles reflected in my medical education. During my clerkship year at WCM, I was struck by how many attendings took genuine interest in supporting students while leading busy clinical teams. On one rotation, after the first patient death I encountered, an attending took the time to check in with me personally after rounds. That moment reflected not only a commitment to teaching medicine, but to caring for the people learning it. Experiences like these have allowed me to explore my future career with confidence while feeling supported.
I feel fortunate to train in an environment investing in students remains a priority even amid the demands of clinical care.” — Liam Sasser, M3
— Liam Sasser M3
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“My journey at Weill Cornell Medicine has been shaped by a culture that pairs academic rigor with deep respect for humanity. From learning in high-acuity clinical settings to being mentored by physicians who lead with both excellence and compassion, I’ve felt consistently challenged and supported. WCM has taught me that strong medicine is built not only on knowledge and innovation, but on humility, collaboration, and a genuine commitment to patients and one another.”
— Breiana Campbell M3
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“Coming from a small town in Massachusetts, moving to New York City to train as a PA at Weill Cornell Medicine has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding, and the breadth of clinical exposure in my first year has exceeded my expectations. Through the LEAP program and my involvement on the Medical School Executive Committee, I’ve had early opportunities to work closely with medical students and other healthcare professionals, which has shaped how I approach collaboration and teamwork. The faculty are deeply committed to teaching and mentorship, and even halfway through the program, it’s clear how much WCM has helped me grow into a more capable, compassionate, and confident future PA.”
— Jessica Allan PA-S2
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“My journey through Weill Cornell Medicine has been one of both discovery and delivery. In Phase I of our curriculum, discovery meant mastering the scientific concepts that underpin the art of medicine. I remember my pre-clinical years as a time of curiosity and humility — as I learned the molecular choreography of disease and the physiology of healing. As I entered clinical clerkships, human connection on the wards transformed scientific discovery into empathetic delivery — taking what I had learned and translating it into patient care. As I explored my clinical interests in orthopedics, urology, and anesthesia, I witnessed how knowledge, skill, and empathy come together in real time. The operating room especially resonated with me: a space where medical innovation meets bedside compassion, and where teamwork transforms patient vulnerability into trust.
Equally transformative has been the mentorship I’ve received at Weill Cornell. Faculty and residents have taken time to teach, challenge, and guide me, often modeling the very blend of scientific rigor and empathy that defines excellent physicians. Their influence has shaped not just my understanding of medicine, but the kind of doctor I hope to become.
As I conclude my clerkship year and look forward to residency, I can see how far I’ve come — from eager curiosity to a clearer sense of purpose. Weill Cornell has given me the tools to discover, the opportunities to deliver, and the inspiration to continue growing at the intersection of both.”
— Robert N. Uzzo M3
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OneCornell Health Educators Conference
Registration and call for abstracts are now open for the OneCornell Health Educators Conference! This first-of-its-kind hybrid conference brings together educators from across the health professions to explore clinical reasoning, from foundational concepts to innovative approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment. It will also examine strategies for creating, communicating, and effectively using adaptive feedback. Find more information here. Registration is complimentary for Cornell faculty, staff, and students.
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WCM EDge
Our EDge community has grown to over 300 educators that are dedicated to advancing excellence in teaching, mentorship, innovation, and scholarship at WCM. If you are an EDge member, please save the date for the following events, and reach out to Lindsay Capozzi with any questions.
- EDge Mixer: March 12, 2026, 5:30-7pm, Griffis Faculty Club
- EDge Impact: May 18, 2026, 5:30-7:30pm, Griffis Faculty Club
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Dr. Harold Varmus Lecture
In December Dr. Harold Varmus led a special session titled, “Prospects for the Control of Cancer” to the MD Class of 2029. Dr. Varmus shared a Nobel Prize for the discovery of oncogenes, has served as Director of NIH, President of MSKCC, and Director of the National Cancer Institute. More recently he has been Chair of the World Health Organization’s Science Council since its founding in 2021.
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BME Students Collaboration
WCM hosted 10 Cornell Biomedical Engineering (BME) undergraduates for 2 weeks in which they shadowed clinicians, attended seminars, and participated in experiential learning with the overall goal of gaining insight into the role of biomedical engineers in an academic medical center.
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GME Career Advancement Forum
The Office of Medical Education co-hosted the inaugural WCM GME Leadership Career Development Forum in February, which featured a presentation to residency directors, associate program directors, and fellowship directors, which was led by Dr. Jane Salmon, Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs.
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Med Ed Grand Rounds
Since the launch of our Med Ed Winter Newsletter, we’ve heard from three additional speakers, including:
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Dr. Dipu Patel, University of Pittsburgh: “Rewiring Medical Education: Designing Intelligent Systems for the AI-Ready Clinician”
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Dr. Laurah Turner, University of Cincinnati: “Applied Intelligence: Integrating AI Technologies into Medical Education”
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Dr. Sarah K. Wood, Harvard Macy Institute: “Learning, Leading, & Adapting: A Career Playbook for Medical Educators”
| | View the recordings of our Grand Rounds here and register for our March Grand Rounds here. | | |
Welcome to our Class of 2028 students, and those returning to the clerkship curriculum!
New Faculty Clinical Faculty Leaders
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Theresa Scott to the role of Pediatrics Clerkship Director. Dr. Scott has served as the Associate Clerkship Director since 2023, and she takes on this role following the long and successful tenure of the outgoing clerkship director, Dr. TJ Jirasevijinda. Dr. Jirasevijinda will maintain a leadership role in the Pediatrics clerkship as the associate clerkship director.
Longitudinal Clinical Skills Program (LCSP)
LCSP is a new component of the HID-1 and HID-2 courses, developed by the PCP Unit Leaders, Dr. Carly Borinsky and Dr. Kimberly Bloom-Feshbach, that builds foundational competencies in clinical reasoning, physical examination, documentation, communication, and professional development. Learning takes place across multiple settings, including small‑group classrooms, the Clinical Skills Center, and at the bedside. Students are mentored by dedicated faculty throughout the year with longitudinal assessment to help enhance students' clinical skills prior to embarking on clerkships.
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“How-to-Treat” Pharmacology Modules
“How-to-Treat” Pharmacology modules are a new component of the HID-1 and HID-2 courses. These interactive modules were developed by Dr. Bert Kellner (Pharmacology Co-unit Leader, EPOM-A), in collaboration with other WCM faculty and eCornell. Modules include: How-to-Treat Hypertension, Asthma, Congestive Heart Failure, Major Depressive Disorder (with Dr. Richard Friedman), Parkinson Disease (with Drs. Ooi and Sarva), and Bacterial Pneumonia, with several more modules slated for release in coming months.
New Competency-Based Clerkship Grading System
The new system, which has been in development for over two years, was released to our clerkships in January. One important goal of this new system is to be able to describe student achievement through their strengths in the medical core competencies, not just in a traditional, singular grade - thereby better representing the different ways our students can demonstrate clinical excellence.
Affiliate Site Safety Webinar
A virtual webinar was held for all MD and PA students at Weill Cornell Medicine in January to share information emergency and safety information at our main campus and affiliate sites, and how to seek support following an emergent or traumatic event in the patient care environment. Please go to https://emergency.weill.cornell.edu/student to access emergency contacts, response guides, mental health support, as well as information on how to sign up to WCM Emergency Alerts.
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Congratulations to Annie McVeigh M2 who received the Best Presentation Award, Breast Session, at Plastic Surgery The Meeting 2025.
Congratulations to Won Jun Kim, MD-PhD student, who was selected as a recipient of the Weintraub Graduate Student Award!
Congratulations to medical students Andrew Yang and Daniel Barbakoff, and senior author and mentor Dr. Kaushal Shah,
whose team's manuscript, "The Trainee Perspective on Stressors during the Sub-Internship Process Short Running Title: Sub-Internship Trainee Perspective," was accepted for publication in The Clinical Teacher.
Congratulations to M2s Vince Ly, Kellen Vu and Jae Gardella, whose scientific abstracts have been accepted for oral presentation at the 2026 American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) Annual Meeting. The students conducted this work under the mentorship of Dr. Jana Ivanidze, Associate Professor of Radiology and Director of Brain PET at WCM. All three projects build directly on work previously presented at the WCM Medical Student Research Day.
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Vince Ly: “Effects of Meningioma on Blood-Brain-Barrier Permeability in Subjacent Brain Parenchyma” - accepted for oral presentation at ASNR and selected for ASNR Member-in-Training Award, as well as selected as semi-finalist for the Cornelius G. Dyke Award.
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Kellen Vu: “Diagnostic Value of [18F]-Fluciclovine PET for Differentiating Tumor Progression from Treatment-Related Changes in IDH-Mutant Glioma” - accepted for oral presentation at ASNR and selected for ASNR Member-in-Training Award.
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Jae Gardella: “Non-invasive PET guided Assessment of Amyloid-beta Clearance in a Clinical Real-World Cohort of Patients with Alzheimer Disease undergoing Amyloid-Targeted Therapy” - accepted for oral presentation at ASNR.
All 3 abstracts are direct continuations of work Vince, Kellen and Jae presented at the most recent WCM Medical Student Research Day. Moreover, Vince and Kellen have also received merit-based trainee travel awards. Vince additionally is a semi-finalist for the ASNR Cornelius Dyke Memorial Award for best scientific presentation, an outstanding accomplishment especially at this early career stage!
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Congratulations to Drs. Sydney Katz, Laura Greisman, Justin Choi, Kirsten Homma, and Samara Levin who will present their workshop titled, “Overseeing the Last Mile: Supervising Discharge Management Using the “SAFE-DC” Communication Tool” at the NEGEA Conference in March and at the Society for General Internal Medicine in May. Additionally, the team’s manuscript, "Discharge as a Supervised Management Moment: The SAFE-DC Communication Tool” was recently accepted as a scholarly perspective to Academic Medicine!
Congratulations to Drs. Peggy Leung and Andrea Card whose proposal was awarded the “Creative Teaching Award: Taking Learning Outside the Classroom” on behalf of the Office of the Vice-Provost for Academic Innovation and the Center for Teaching Innovation.
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Burroughs Wellcome Weill Cornell Physician-Scientist Program
This program seeks to train MD-only trainees and physicians of all clinical disciplines for full time careers in laboratory investigation. To achieve this goal, it will help trainees develop explicitly structured career development programs that are customized to their specific clinical discipline and scientific interests using the collective resources of the Tri-Institutional Community. This training strategy is built around three core concepts - start early, stay focused, and stay connected - that aim to overcome key barriers identified by the NIH Physician-Scientist Working Group.
Applications are due April 24. Find more information here.
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Kicking Off Clinical Training: PA Class of 2027 at Clinical Orientation
The MSHS for Physician Assistants Program Class of 2027 began the next phase of their professional journey during this year’s clinical orientation. This milestone marks the beginning of an exciting transition from classroom-based learning to hands‑on clinical practice across a wide range of healthcare settings.
During orientation, students were introduced to the expectations, responsibilities, and opportunities that come with clinical rotations. Faculty, preceptors, and program leadership offered guidance and encouragement as students prepared to apply their foundational knowledge to real-world patient care. The orientation highlighted key clinical competencies, professional conduct, and the support systems available to ensure each student’s success throughout the year.
With enthusiasm and determination, the Class of 2027 is stepping confidently into their clinical training experience—ready to grow, learn, and continue shaping their identity as future healthcare providers. The WCM PA Program celebrates this achievement and looks forward to witnessing their continued progress and accomplishments.
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AOC Updates
The AOC scholarly period 1 began on February 9. Faculty, please look for an invitation to participate as a work in progress facilitator. The period will conclude with a poster session May 29. Please mark your calendars and attend.
Honors in Research
We received 38 submissions for Honors in Research, the highest number in recent memory! This is a tribute to the energy and research commitment of our students and support of our faculty mentors, who volunteer to facilitate our students research education and talent. The Honors committee is in process of reviewing these submissions to make a recommendation to the Senior Associate Dean. Students awarded Honors will have this designation added to their diplomas,
ECR Applications
Applications for Extended Curriculum Research (ECR) are now open. Final deadline is May 1. Interested students can reach out to Dr. Philip Katz (with copy to Irena Kotlicka) for more information.
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Emily Romanov
Senior Administrative Specialist
“English is my second language. I grew up speaking only Russian at home!”
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1:1 meetings can be booked (even after graduation) using this link to discuss the financial aid/accounting process and debt free initiative.
The Office of Academic Affairs just published a residency specialty data dashboard reviewing match outcomes for WCM MD students for the past 4 years, including the types of electives students completed and average Step 2 score. Check it out here!
The Office of Medical Education is working closely with ITS to improve the WiFi infrastructure in Lasdon. Details to follow shortly.
| | Important Dates/Deadlines | | | Friday, March 20 | Match Day | | Wednesday, May 13 | Convocation | | Thursday, May 14 | Commencement | | |
Contact Lindsay Capozzi at lca4007@med.cornell.edu to highlight your awards, events, updates, etc. in the
next Med Ed Newsletter.
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