Feinstein Academy of Scholars Symposium and Elmezzi Graduate School Commencement draws top scientific minds: Peter J. Hotez, Robert S. Langer, others
2024年5月25日 - 2:46AM
ビジネスワイヤ(英語)
Two annual academic events celebrate and
spotlight the importance of translational biomedical research
Many of the nation’s leading physician-scientists came together
for two special events hosted by The Feinstein Institutes for
Medical Research. On May 22, the Feinstein Academy of Scholars
Symposium, an integrated network of researchers and scholars who
share a passion for revolutionizing translational research, hosted
its 7th annual symposium at The Oheka Castle, Huntington, NY. On
the following day, May 23, the 2024 Commencement Exercises for the
Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine were held at the
Feinstein Institutes in Manhasset, NY, where three PhD candidates
received their degrees.
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(Left to right) 2024 Elmezzi graduates
Drs. Bailey Roberts, Prashin Unadkat and Colleen Nofi. (Credit:
Feinstein Institutes)
“Over the course of these two impactful events, the Feinstein
Academy of Scholars Symposium and Elmezzi Graduate School of
Molecular Medicine Commencement, we are encouraged by what was
shared, and we hope all in attendance are inspired to learn,
collaborate, connect and advance medical research for many more
generations,” said Annette T. Lee, PhD, vice president and dean of
the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine and associate
professor at the Feinstein Institutes.
Meeting of minds at the Feinstein Academy of Scholars
Symposium
Members of the Academy include recipients of honorary doctoral
degrees from the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine,
Marsh and Match visiting lecturers, recipients of the Cerami, Ross
or Advancing Women in Science and Medicine (AWSM) prizes and
researchers from the Feinstein Institutes — part of Northwell
Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider.
This year’s featured keynote speakers included:
- Kristina M. Deligiannidis, MD, professor in the
Institute of Behavioral Science at the Feinstein Institutes and
director of women’s behavioral health and medical director of
reproductive psychiatry at Northwell’s Zucker Hillside Hospital,
spoke about her role in supporting the recent landmark Food and
Drug Administration's (FDA) approval of the first at-home pill to
treat postpartum depression.
- Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD, dean of the National School of
Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. In 2023, he
received the Anthony Cerami Award in Translational Medicine and in
2021 was awarded an Elmezzi Graduate School Honorary Degree. During
his address, Dr. Hotez spoke about roles and goals of global
vaccinations and the ongoing science versus anti-science
debate.
- Jeffrey V. Ravetch, MD, PhD, Theresa and Eugene M. Lang
Professor at The Rockefeller University. Dr. Ravetch’s research and
talk focused on the immune system’s molecular structure and how to
solve the medical mystery of how antibodies can activate and
inhibit the immune response. He was the 2017 Ross Prize in
Molecular Medicine recipient.
- Robert S. Langer, ScD, David H. Koch Institute
Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who is the
most cited engineer in history, holds more than 1400 patents for
his inventions, many of which have revolutionized the practice of
medicine. His talk addressed the role of overcoming skepticism in
order to launch new medical treatments needed to tackle global
health challenges.
- Michael J. Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell
Health, one of health care’s most influential voices, addressed
the critical role science plays in advancing medical
breakthroughs.
Celebrating the future of medical research
On May 23, three clinicians were conferred their PhD during the
Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine graduation. This
unique PhD program is for physicians (MDs) who wish to pursue
careers in biomedical research. During the program, Elmezzi
students conduct research in Feinstein Institutes laboratories to
advance medical research and pursue new therapeutic approaches and
diagnostic tools. The Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine
is supported in part by a generous endowment from The Thomas and
Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation.
“Physician-scientists play a leading role in fostering
innovation in science and medicine,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD,
president and CEO of Feinstein Institutes and Karches Family
Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. “Graduates of the Elmezzi
program are individually accomplished and uniquely trained, a high
standard which inspires the pursuit of a career focused on
developing new cures for disease.”
This year’s graduates include:
- Colleen Nofi, DO, MBA, MSc, who studied necrotizing
enterocolitis (NEC) – a common and serious intestinal disease among
premature babies. Focused on different mechanisms for inflammation,
this research indicates that it’s possible to manage inflammation
with a new peptide therapy. The findings may point the way to
improved care for other ailments, including sepsis.
- Prashin Unadkat, MD, research focuses on neuromodulation
based surgical treatments for Parkinson’s disease and major
depression. His work specifically focuses on preoperative imaging
biomarkers that can help to identify those patients most likely to
benefit from these treatment strategies.
- Bailey Roberts, MD, whose focus has been studying
osteosarcoma — a serious bone cancer that has a high mortality rate
in children and adolescents — has found specific markers or
predictors of what would make bone cancer metastasize.
Additional honors awarded
Two honorary degrees were bestowed at the Elmezzi commencement.
The first to MIT’s Dr. Langer, who has authored more than 1,500
articles; he’s also a founder of dozens of biotechnology companies,
including Moderna. Dr. Langer served as Chairman of the FDA’s
Science Board and has over 220 awards, including the United States
National Medal of Science and the United States National Medal of
Technology and Innovation.
Northwell’s Michael Dowling also received an honorary degree for
his guidance and leadership in tackling societal issues such as gun
violence, food insecurity, human trafficking and disparities of
care. As CEO of Northwell, New York’s largest private employer with
21 hospitals and more than 87,000 employees, Dowling has had a huge
impact in New York and across the U.S. in addressing crucial health
care concerns.
To find out more about the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular
Medicine and its programs, click here.
About The Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular
Medicine:
The Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine at Northwell
Health offers MDs an accelerated PhD three-year program emphasizing
translational research. Its mission is to provide academic training
for physicians to discover and understand the causes of human
diseases and to rapidly and effectively translate this information
into diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. The program started in
1994 and is supported in part by a generous endowment from The
Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation. To date, more than 50
physician-scientists have graduated from the prestigious program.
The Elmezzi School of Molecular Medicine is accredited by the WASC
Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). For more
information, click here.
About the Feinstein Institutes
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the
research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care
provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50
research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000
researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard
of medical innovation through its five institutes of behavioral
science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, and
molecular medicine. We make breakthroughs in genetics, oncology,
brain research, mental health, autoimmunity and are the global
scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine — a new field of
science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. For more
information about how we produce knowledge to cure disease, visit
http://feinstein.northwell.edu and follow us on LinkedIn.
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Matthew Libassi 631-793-5325 mlibassi@northwell.edu