School of Medicine Faculty Honored During Third Annual Dean’s Faculty Awards

“The Annual Dean’s Faculty Awards Ceremony is one of the SOM’s most important events in celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of our faculty who are the heart and soul of our institution. This year’s awardees, recognized for their exemplary teaching, research and service contributions and achievements, are remarkable individuals and academicians. I’m humbled and grateful to be able to recognize our faculty in this way,“ said Kathryn Spanknebel, M.D., senior associate dean of faculty and academic affairs, who emceed the event. Read the full article on the Dean's Faculty Awards Ceremony.

Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D., Assists Ukrainians Through Virtual Mind-Body Trauma Relief Program 

Two weeks after Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Patricia L. Gerbarg, M.D., assistant clinical professor in psychiatry, her husband, Richard P. Brown, M.D., associate professor in clinical psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and former faculty member at NYMC, and their team offered their first online mind-body trauma relief program in the war-stricken country. Dr. Gerbarg and Dr. Brown are the co-founders of the Breath-Body-Mind Foundation.  Psychologists, veterans, schoolteachers, emergency services professionals and refugees registered for their course to help themselves and the Ukrainian community survive the stress and trauma that come from war and losing loved ones. The courses have drawn anywhere from a few dozen to 700 students. Since they began a year ago, thousands have learned from their trauma relief teachings and 250 Ukrainians, mostly mental health professionals, became certified Breath-Body-Mind trauma relief teachers. Read the full story on the mind-body trauma relief program.

Days of Giving Raises $480,000 for Student Scholarships

The NYMC Community rose to the occasion for the sixth annual Days of Giving on March and 29 and raised $480,000 for student scholarships. The good will of 45 ambassadors and 327 gifts from 315 donors hailing from 27 states, along with matching gifts from a generous group of donors will impact the lives of students in the School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences and Practice and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. “This year’s Days of Giving campaign was a tremendous fundraising success with increased participation from faculty, staff, alumni and students. The unprecedented number of student callers helped solidify our efforts as alumni happily chatted with young medical students and reminisced about their time at NYMC,” said Bess J. Chazhur, M.S., chief development officer and executive director of alumni relations. “We are deeply grateful to all those who participated in this special 48-hour campaign.” Donations for Days of Giving may still be made to support student scholarships.

Unique and Innovative Career Paths for Physicians Subject of Annual NYMedTalks Conference

Unique career paths and innovative physician roles were the focus of this year’s NYMedTalks conference that took place on March 30. An annual event since 1986, the interdisciplinary conference is organized by first-year medical students of the SOM Student Senate to expose fellow students to topics beyond the traditional academic curriculum. Read the full story on the NYMedTalks conference.

NYMC and TU Hosts Webinar Series: “Ninety Minutes: The Medical Magazine of the Web”

NYMC and TU presented, “Ninety Minutes: The Medical Magazine of the Web,” on March 28, featuring a panel of faculty experts who discussed trending medical topics. The event, hosted by Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer of NYMC, was followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Alan Kadish, M.D. president of NYMC and TU. Jamie A. Mullally, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, centered her talk  on weight loss medication; Vikas Grover, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, associate professor of speech language pathology, and Tami Hendriksz, D.O., pediatrician, professor of pediatrics and dean and chief academic officer at Tour University California College of Osteopathic Medicine, presented a panel on delayed speech in children; David Wellman, M.D., assistant professor of orthopedic surgery,  discussed causes, prevention and treatment of hip fractures in the elderly; and  Michael J. Trepal, D.P.M., FACFAS, vice president for academic affairs, dean and chief academic officer at New York College of Pediatric Medicine focused on the causes and treatment of plantar fasciitis. View the “Ninety Minutes: The Medical Magazine of the Web”webinar.

Bench-to-Bedside Seminar Series Focuses on Oral Microbial Communities in Health and Disease

The NYMC community tuned into the Bench to Bedside Series, “Oral Microbial Communities in Health and Disease,” featuring guest speaker, Richard J. Lamont, Ph.D., endowed professor in the School of Dentistry, Chair of the Department of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, and director of the Center for Microbiomics, Inflammation and Pathogenicity at University of Louisville. The hybrid seminar on March 29, presented by the Office of the Vice President of Research, explored signaling between periodontal pathogens and how inter-species communications regulate the virulence potential of P. gingivalis in ways that can be used towards developing novel therapeutics to suppress its pathogenetic potential. View the video from the Bench-to-Bedside seminar.

CDM Presents Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Course 

Police officers, EMTs and paramedics from throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City converged upon the CDM on March 22 to participate in the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians Tactical Emergency Casualty Care course. The 16-hour course teaches EMS practitioners and other pre-hospital providers how to respond to and care for patients in a civilian tactical environment such as active shooter, active threat and aggressive behavior incidents.  

NYMC, TU and OU Kosher Host Webinar “Medicine Meets Passover”

NYMC, TU and OU Kosher came together to host a groundbreaking webinar, "Medicine meets Passover: what clinicians and rabbis need to know." The event on March 21, attracted 350 participants from across the globe, including the United States, Canada, Israel, Germany, Australia and Belgium. The audience comprised a wide range of clinicians, including mental health counselors, physicians, Pas, nurses, social workers, Rabbis and even the curious. Read the full article on “Medicine Meets Passover” and view the webinar.

Alumni Resume Local Gatherings

Alumni and members of the NYMC community gathered at two recent local events to learn about the great things happening at NYMC. Debra and Jonathan Gavras, M.D. ’86, welcomed friends of NYMC for a brunch in their Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, home on March 5. Patricia White, M.D., a member of the Board of Advisors, and her husband, Daniel Flatley, hosted an intimate parlor event at their home in in New Vernon, New Jersey, on March 22. The occasions were an opportunity to reconnect with NYMC alumni and friends and encourage communication and engagement with the College.  

Marina K. Holz, Ph.D., dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, professor of cell biology and anatomy, interim chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and director of WISE, presented a talk at the session, “Intentional leadership and BMB education” at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in Seattle on March 25–28. 

Bruno S. Villazhinay Matute, M.P.H. ’22, senior administrator in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, was appointed to the Westchester County LGBTQ Advisory Board by Westchester County Executive George Latimer. 

Padmini Murthy, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., FAMWA, FRSPH, professor of health policy and management in the Department of Public Health and director of global health, was recognized as a Women Leaders to Look Up to in 2023 by UBGroup Asia in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8.