News Archive 2013
Dr. Janey Peterson Receives Beeson Career Development Award in Aging Research
Dr. Janey Peterson, Assistant Professor of Clinical Epidemiology in the Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluative Sciences Research, was recently awarded the prestigious Paul B. Beeson Career Development Award in Aging Research from the National Institute on Aging and the American Federation for Aging.
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The Department of Medicine Celebrates its Voluntary Physicians at Griffis Faculty Club
On December 2, 2013, the DoM hosted a party at the Griffis Faculty Club to celebrate the department's voluntary physicians. Dr. Augustine M.K. Choi, Chairman of the Department of Medicine, welcomed the guests and gave remarks in which he thanked the voluntary staff for their invaluable efforts in support of all of the department's missions. Read More
Joseph J. Fins, M.D.,M.A.C.P., Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics, recently received the 37th Annual John S. Young Lectureship for which he spoke at Denver's Craig Hospital, a premier rehabilitation facility for patients with spinal cord and brain injuries. This prestigious lectureship highlights the Craig Hospital's tradition of not viewing those with traumatic spinal cord and brain injury as "lost causes." Read More
Department of Medicine (DoM) Hosts Employee Recognition Party at Griffis Faculty Club
Celebrating the first year of the newly launched Star Performer Employee Recognition Program, the DoM hosted a party at the Griffis Faculty Club on November 7. All Star Performers and Super Star Winners, who were announced over the past year, were honored in speeches given by members of the Results, Rewards & Recognition (RRR) Committee. Read More
Dr. Bykerk Presents New Research on Arthritis at ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
Dr. Vivian Bykerk, on staff at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and an Associate Professor of Medicine ( Department of Medicine) at Weill Cornell, presented advances in arthritis research at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology/Association of Rheumatology Health Professions.. Read More | Click for article on News-medical.net
Hepatitis C Warning Issued but there is Good News Too: Dr. de Jong Interviewed on NY1
Dr. Ype de Jong, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology), was interviewed on NY1 regarding recent public outreach about hepatitis C in New York. He also speaks about the rapidly evolving management of this serious disease that infects the liver through blood products, and which can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer. Read More
Dr. Roboz Leads New Trials for MDS: First-time Use of AQD Drug for MDS in a Clinical Trial
Dr. Gail Roboz, Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the Leukemia Program at NYP/WC, has been named lead investigator for a Sunesis Pharmaceuticals-funded clinical trial for the treatment of MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome). Read More
Dr. Béguelin Presents Abstract at ASH Meeting: One of Six Papers Selected from Six Thousand
Dr. Béguelin Presents Abstract at ASH Meeting: One of Six Papers Selected from Six Thousand It was more good news for the Melnick Lab, internationally recognized for its work on cancer and epigenetics, when Wendy Béguelin, Ph.D. learned that her project abstract had been selected for presentation at the plenary session of the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) being held this weekend in New Orleans, LA. The President of ASH, Janis L. Abkowitz, M.D., informed Dr. Béguelin, who is a Revson Fellow working on lymphoma research, that her paper was one of only six chosen from more than 6,000 reviewed by the ASH Program Committee. Full Story | Read Paper
Bridging Care Transitions: Findings from a Resident-staffed Program Published in Academic Medicine
Department of Medicine physicians (Drs. Jennifer Lee, Fran Ganz-Lord, Judy Tung and Tara Bishop) have published a pivotal paper on patient care transitions in Academic Medicine (November 2013). Based at an outpatient primary care practice, Weill Cornell Internal Medicine Associates (WCIMA), the study evaluated findings from a resident-staffed early post-discharge program. Read More
Star Performer & Other Outstanding Employees Honored in the DOM
The Employee Recognition Review Committee (R3) of the Department of Medicine (DOM) completed its bimonthly review of all nominees. Darren Birks, Medical Secretary (Division of Pulmonary Medicine & Critical Care), was named top "Star Performer" of this cycle. Darren was described as exemplifying "team player" in the office, and a patient stated: "He took the time to listen to my needs, was thoughtful in solving problems, and was able to advocate for me in setting up an appointment." Read More
NYP/WC Residency Program Graduate Receives "Service to America Award"
Dr. Tara Palmore, a graduate of the NYP/WC residency training program in internal medicine, has received a 2013 "Service to America Award" (Science and Environmental Medal). A federal employee with the NIH, she was instrumental in stopping the spread of a deadly hospital-acquired infection leading to a groundbreaking model for the health care industry. Read More
Dr. Melnick and Team Publishes Pivotal Paper in Cell Reports: Stage Set for Clinical Trials Using Experimental New Drug for Lymphoma (DLBCL)
On the heels of numerous advancements by the Melnick Lab, the latest breakthrough involves an experimental new drug that is capable of completely eradicating human lymphoma in mice after five doses. Published in Cell Reports (August 2013), this finding sets the stage for clinical trials that would use an experimental drug for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Read More
Weill Cornell Community Clinic (WCCC) Welcomes Dr. Pamela Charney as Medical Director
Recognized for her ongoing service in community-based medicine, Dr. Charney has joined the WCCC as its new medical director. In this role, she will work extensively with the student clinical directors of this Weill Cornell student-based initiative that operates out of WCIMA and provides valuable patient care to individuals who are under- or uninsured. Dr. Charney is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell and an Attending Physician at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. She is also a Professor of Medicine in Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology. Read More
Study Recently Published in Cancer Discovery Reveals New Epigenetic Pathway That Allows Chemotherapy to Kill Cancer
Chemoresistant diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a devastating illness that affects thousands of people each year in the United Stats, but there is good news to report. Dr. Leandro Cerchietti and Dr. Peter Martin, both members of the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, published a paper in Cancer Discovery in September 2013 that sheds light on the mechanisms by which DLBCL becomes resistant to chemotherapy and how those changes might be reversed. Read More
Meet the PEAC Team
Drs. Oren A. Friedman and James M. Horowitz, Division of Pulmonary-Critical Care and Cardiology respectively, have recently published a paper in Endovascular Today (July 2013) on building a pulmonary embolism multidisciplinary team. Read More
Star Performer & Other Outstanding Employees Honored in the DOM
The Employee Recognition Review Committee (R3) of the Department of Medicine (DOM) completed its bimonthly review of all nominees. The program, which honors outstanding service by DOM employees, named Diana Pierre, Senior Medical Secretary, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, as the top "Star Performer" of this review cycle. Read More
Dr. Kahaleh and Team Establish New Technique for Diagnosing and Treating Conditions of the Biliary or Pancreatic Ductal System for Pregnant Women
In pregnant women, the diagnostic and therapeutic techniques used for gall stones, strictures, obstructions, or other conditions within the biliary or pancreatic ductal systems, has been problematical due to exposure to radiation for the mother and the fetus. Read More
Star Performer & Other Outstanding Employees Honored in the DOM
The Employee Recognition Review Committee (R3) of the Department of Medicine (DOM) completed its bimonthly review of all nominees. Honoring outstanding service by DOM employees, Christina Rosa, Patient Coordinator (Division of Cardiology), was named top "Star Performer" of this cycle. Read More
New State-of-the-Art Hypertension Center Opens at Weill Cornell
Dr. Mark S. Pecker, Professor of Clinical Medicine, and Dr. Samuel J. Mann, Professor of Clinical Medicine, were joined by Dr. Phyllis August, the Ralph A. Baer Professor of Medical Research, and other colleagues to celebrate the clinical expansion of a state-of-the-art hypertension unit located on 70th Street between York and First Avenue. Read More
Suthanthiran Team Achieves Yet Another Landmark Advancement for Kidney Transplantation
On the heels of a series of advancements by the Suthanthiran Lab, the team has published a landmark paper in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) showing that a urine biomarker test which they have devised in the lab, can not only diagnose, but predict, rejection of transplanted kidneys. Read More
Star Performer & Other Outstanding Employees Honored in the DOM
The Employee Recognition Review Committee (R3) of the Department of Medicine (DOM) completed its bimonthly review of all nominees. The program, honoring outstanding service by DOM employees, named Margie Daly, Residency Program Manager, Division of Education, as the top "Star Performer" of this cycle. Read More
Dr. Etingin Receives Maurice R. Greenberg Distinguished Service Award
On May 30, 2013, Dr. Orli Etingin received the prestigious Maurice R. Greenberg Distinguished Service Award at a celebration held at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. Established in 1980, the award recognizes exceptional and longstanding service demonstrated by a senior member of the medical staff. Read More
Intercampus Collaborative Research Grant for Dr. Sirotin
Nicole Sirotin, MD (co-PI, WCMC) and Sera Young, PhD (PI, Cornell University, College of Human Ecology, Division of Nutritional Sciences) were granted an intercampus collaborative research grant. The project characterizes food insecurity in HIV-infected and -uninfected lactating women. Specifically, it is evaluating the relationship between food insecurity and maternal B12 and foliate levels, maternal depression and infant feeding practices. Read More
Co-Chief Resident Brian Eiss and Dr. Tung Present New Model at APDIM Spring Meeting
Dr. Brian Eiss, Co-Chief Resident, Department of Medicine, and Dr. Judy Tung, Director of WCIMA and Acting Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine, presented a workshop (attended by over 50 people) at the Association of Program Directors of Internal Medicine (APDIM) Spring Meeting in Orlando. The session was held in conjunction with clinician educators from University of Chicago and the novel model presented addressed the activity of handing patients off (from graduating senior residents to incoming interns) in the resident outpatient practice. Read More
Dr. John P. Leonard, Richard T. Silver Distinguished Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Vice Chair for Clinical Research in the Department of Medicine, was named Chair of the Lymphoma Committee (NIH-Sponsored Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology). He will guide the national agenda for lymphoma research regarding Phase II and Phase III NIH-funded clinical trials. Directing a team of clinical and translational researchers from U.S. academic and community medical centers, efforts are focused on creating and implementing new standards of treatment and fostering novel therapeutics. Read More
An internationally-recognized leader in the field of hepatitis C, Dr. Ira M. Jacobson (Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology) has been at the forefront of hepatitis C for more than 20 years. His research has included numerous advances regarding therapies, often involving interferon. As of 2013, he and his team have uncovered another groundbreaking discovery - published in The New England Journal of Medicine, April 13, 2013 -- showing that the new sofosbuvir therapy offers an alternative to standard therapy with interferon for the treatment of two subtypes of hepatitis C. "We have dreamed for years of being able to eliminate interferon from our hepatitis C regimens and this study is one of several that are finally bringing us very close to realizing that goal," says Dr. Jacobson. Read More | Click for article in The New England Journal of Medicine
Employee Recognition Program Honors First "Star Performer" & Other Outstanding Employees
The Employee Recognition Review Committee (R3) of the Department of Medicine (DOM) completed its first bimonthly review of all nominees. The program, which honors outstanding service by DOM employees, named Nadine Miranda, Senior Patient Coordinator, Iris Cantor Women's Center, as the top "Star Performer" of this first review cycle. Read More
Dr. Lewis Cantley Receives $3 Million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences
For excellence in cancer research, Dr. Lewis Cantley, the Margaret and Herman Sokol Professor in Oncology Research and Professor of Cancer Biology in Medicine, received an Inaugural $3 Million Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. The award was given to Dr. Cantley for his landmark discovery of the signaling pathway phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Read the New York Times Article
On the Heels of Breakthrough Test for Kidney Transplant Patients the First International Nephrology Conference is Held in Qatar
As guest speaker, Dr. Manikkam Suthanthiran recently attended the "first ever" Nephrology Conference held in Qatar. The event was covered in The Peninsula, a Qatar newspaper featuring local news with a global vision. Dr. Suthanthiran was quoted in the article on a recent groundbreaking “non-invasive” test for kidney transplant patients that he and his team developed in their laboratory. Read More | Click for Landmark Paper in Transplantation (Suthanthiran Lab)
DOM Awards $50,000 Seed Grants to Three Recipients
The ad hoc committee for the Department of Medicine Seed Grant for Innovative Research reviewed numerous outstanding applications for 2012. The three recipients are Dr. Jennifer Downs, Dr. Duane Hassane, and Dr. Yariv Houvras. Each recipient will receive a one-year seed grant in the amount of $50,000. Click for research project titles and the exciting research underway in the fields of HIV, acute myeloid leukemia, and genetics. Full Story
Dr. Leonard Highlighted in Westchester Magazine as a Cancer Buster
Dr. John P. Leonard, a hematologist and oncologist and an internationally recognized expert in lymphoma, shared his knowledge--as well as a hopeful vision for the future--in the January 2013 issue of Westchester Magazine, which listed its Top 8 Game Changers in Westchester. Read Full Story. Click here for Game Changers 2013 List.
Click here for The Cancer Buster (Dr. Leonard) Article.