A New Fellowship Program at Mount Sinai Will Help Shape the Next Generation of Health Care Leaders

The Graduate Medical Education (GME) program at the Icahn School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences have announced the launch of the Health Care Administration, Leadership, and Management Fellowship for early career stage physicians.

This ACGME-accredited fellowship program is designed to offer physicians a comprehensive experience combining the academic rigor of the school’s Masters of Health Administration (MHA) program with hands-on training in Graduate Medical Education. This collaboration will provide fellows with a well-rounded education encompassing leadership development, health care administration, quality improvement, and patient safety, among other critical areas.

“I want to grow as a leader in the next three to five years. I see myself as a physician executive who can help make decisions on how to make health care better and create new health care delivery models that are equitable.” — Shantheri Shenoy, MBBS

“The fellowship is unique because it brings together excellent classroom-based learning and unique rotations across the Mount Sinai Health System, which makes for a physician who is poised to lead,” said Brijen Shah, MD, Fellowship Director, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, and Professor, Medicine (Gastroenterology) at Icahn Mount Sinai. “This program provides a unique chance to get a peek behind the curtain of how health care is delivered and to advance and be part of diverse teams to solve health care problems.”

Shantheri Shenoy, MBBS

The MHA program provides the academic and curricular side of the fellowship requirements, while GME provides experience on the clinical side through rotations in various departments within the Health System.

The fellow will gain practical insights into the operational aspects of managing a health care organization while collaborating with a diverse team of health care professionals. Additionally, the fellow will have access to a network of faculty members, accomplished alumni, and industry experts, who will provide mentorship and guidance. Upon completing the program, the fellow will receive a Masters in Health Administration degree.

The inaugural fellow is Shantheri Shenoy, MBBS, who started the fellowship in September and will be in the program for two years. Dr. Shenoy is the Associate Division Chief of Hospital Medicine at Mount Sinai West and Assistant Professor, Medicine (Hospital Medicine, Nephrology) at Icahn Mount Sinai. She completed her internal medicine internship and residency at Maimonides Medical Center followed by a fellowship in nephrology at New York Medical College – Westchester Medical Center. Dr. Shenoy completed the Greater New York Hospital Association Clinical Quality Fellowship Program in 2019. She has planned and implemented several projects on high-value care and patient safety, and she has presented them at national and international conferences.

“I want to grow as a leader in the next three to five years. I see myself as a physician executive who can help make decisions on how to make health care better and create new health care delivery models that are equitable” she said. “Addressing the social determinants of health and patient safety are focus areas for me.”

Dr. Shenoy said the fellowship offers valuable experience. “I’ve been meeting leaders in my hospital and throughout the Health System,” she said. “My experience was at the hospital level, so this is giving me a good sense of the health care industry overall. The courses are easy to accommodate with my schedule. The fellowship gives me a hands-on experience for what I’m learning in my courses. You get to see what you have learned in theory.”

The fellowship is the result of the Graduate School’s partnering with GME on this first-of-its kind, ACGME-accredited program, according to Brian Nickerson, PhD, JD, who is the MHA Program Director and Senior Associate Dean for Master’s Programs. “It is a truly unique collaboration reflecting Mount Sinai’s commitment to building leadership for tackling today’s complex health care issues,” he said.

“This fellowship will serve as a stepping stone for aspiring physician leaders who seek to make a significant impact in the health care industry,” he added. “By fostering a deeper understanding of health care management principles and fostering strong clinical acumen, fellows will be uniquely positioned to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in health care delivery.”

 

To learn more about the Health Care Administration, Leadership, and Management Fellowship for early career stage physicians, contact Fellowship Director Brijen Shah, MD, Fellowship Director, or Brian Nickerson, PhD, MHA Program Director.

Why a PhD in Biomedical Sciences? Student Ashley Richardson, MSBS, Shares How Mount Sinai Inspired Her to Study Immunology and Microbiology

Among the first-year matriculating PhD students who participated in the 2023 Lab Coat Ceremony at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai was Ashley Richardson, MSBS. In the following Q & A, Ms. Richardson, who is a graduate of the Master of Science in Biomedical Science program, discusses her experiences and aspirations, and why she chose to continue her education at Mount Sinai.

What brought you to Icahn Mount Sinai as a master’s student?

I thought Mount Sinai’s program was really unique because you had the opportunity to do a lot of research and also get clinical experience. At that time, I was deciding between two paths. I knew that I really loved research but I also considered going to medical school. I love that this program allowed me to explore both options. When I was here, I found it to be an amazing program. I had great mentors and the community was great, which inspired me to stay longer.

What were some of your achievements as a master’s student?

I was able to participate in EHOP (East Harlem Outreach Partnership), a student-run clinic at Mount Sinai and, as the Women’s Health Referrals Manager, I got very involved with the organization and the local community. I also worked in a research lab under Dr. Dusan Bogunovic and wrote my thesis paper on genetic susceptibility to Zika Virus infection.

What attracted you to this area of study?

I was attracted to immunology and microbiology because I had a really fabulous professor at the University of Villanova when I was completing my undergraduate degree. He taught us how to analyze research papers, how to truly understand the research that was happening, and how to critique them. At Mount Sinai, I’ve had great mentors who have further increased my interest in these areas.

Why a PhD in Biomedical Sciences?

I’m interested in knowing more about why some individuals respond differently to viral infections. Some people get seriously ill, while others only experience a minor infection. I’m curious about understanding the genetics that can lead to these differences. I hope to further my confidence and ability to lead research projects. I want to keep going forth to understand genetics. My previous skills are mostly in immunology, so I’m aiming to combine this with new knowledge about genetics.

Lab Coat Ceremony for PhD and MD/PhD Students Marks the Start of New Journeys in Research and Training

Amid cheers and applause, first-year PhD students and third-year MD/PhD students received crisp white lab coats to mark the start of their journeys into academic research and training during a recent ceremony held by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The lab coats symbolize the professionalism and authority that trainees will develop and nurture during their time at Mount Sinai.

“Our PhD programs in biomedical sciences, neuroscience, and clinical research provide rigorous collaborative training that prepares our students to spearhead the next generation of scientific and medical breakthroughs,” said Marta Filizola, PhD, Dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and the Sharon & Frederick A. Klingenstein-Nathan G. Kase, MD Professor as she welcomed the students, faculty, and guests.

Marta Filizola, PhD

Today’s biomedical and clinical research efforts, she said, must help “solve complex problems and find solutions grounded in data and their rigorous statistical analysis. We are branching out into new realms of research that leverage artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in medicine to improve patient health and quality of life. Our students are a crucial part of this growth.” Dr. Filizola is also Professor of Pharmacological Sciences, Neuroscience, and Artificial Intelligence and Human Health.

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, Dean for Academic Affairs at Icahn Mount Sinai, and Chief Scientific Officer for the Mount Sinai Health System told the students: “We want you to aim high…Don’t settle on a project because it’s easy and doable. Instead, take a chance by studying something that in its own small way will change the world.”

Why a PhD in Biomedical Sciences? Click here to read how student Mount Sinai lnspired student Ashley Richardson to study immunology and microbiology.

Dr. Nestler said, “I’ve given a lot of thought over the years to what constitutes the essential ingredients for such an undertaking. First, is novelty. Dr. Albert Einstein once said, ‘If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.’” He also mentioned relevance of the work, technical innovation, creativity, collaboration, perseverance—and “having an available and generous principal investigator and other members of your lab who can also help with brainstorming, troubleshooting, and collaborative experiments [and who] should also support your goals of thinking big, having big expectations for yourself, and publishing your work as high-impact papers in respected, peer-reviewed journals.” Dr. Nestler is also Director of The Friedman Brain Institute and Nash Family Professor of Neuroscience at Icahn Mount Sinai.

Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD

Genomic scientist Brynn Levy, M.Sc.(Med), PhD, FACMG, who received his PhD degree in clinical cytogenetics from Mount Sinai in 1999 and is world-renowned in the clinical utility of genomic technologies in reproductive medicine, gave an insightful speech about his own educational journey and experiences.

“The first piece of advice I have for you is: be an active participant in your profession, and get involved. As you begin to entrench yourself in your profession, try to be more than just a sideline observer,” he told the students. Also, “It’s important to enjoy what you do” and to “treat every day as a learning experience. Identify great mentors and embrace them, as great mentors teach you more than just medicine and science.”

Dr. Levy is Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), Medical Director of the Clinical Cytogenetics Laboratory at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and Co-Director of the Laboratory of Personalized Genomic Medicine at CUIMC.

Dr. Levy said that he was fortunate to have “two amazing mentors”—the late Kurt Hirshhorn, MD, at Mount Sinai, and the late Dorothy Warburton, PhD, at Columbia, each a trailblazing researcher in the cytogenetics field.

Dr. Hirshhorn was a legendary pediatrician, medical geneticist, and cytogeneticist known for groundbreaking research during his 50-year career at Mount Sinai, which included establishing one of the first laboratories in the nation for clinical chromosome studies. Among his many honors, he was a member of the National Academy of Medicine. “Kurt led by example,” said Dr. Levy. “Over and above his phenomenal accomplishments and knowledge, he taught me how to have confidence in myself. He never micromanaged me, and instead, he gave me autonomy…He taught me the meaning of paying it forward, possessing the insight of the importance of investing in the next generation.”

Brynn Levy, M.Sc.(Med), PhD, FACMG

Dr. Levy concluded: “As you all embark on the exciting new pathway that you’ve chosen for yourselves, I hope you invest in yourselves. Get involved in your field and engage with your community and colleagues. Be curious and treat every day as a lesson in medicine, science, as well as life. Know your limitations, and see those around you as a resource to continuously improve who you are and what you do. In doing so, I trust that every day will be fulfilling, and you will no doubt make an indelible impact on many patients’ lives and on society as a whole.”

With great fanfare, each student was presented with a lab coat, an effort sponsored annually by the Mount Sinai Alumni Association. Standing together and wearing their lab coats, they recited the PhD Oath in unison. “With my Doctor of Philosophy, I willingly pledge to uphold the highest levels of integrity, professionalism, scholarship, and honor,” they said, as they read a set of guiding principles that would start them on their journeys to rewarding and enjoyable careers.

A slideshow of snapshots from the Lab Coat Ceremony

After a Summer on Capitol Hill, a Mount Sinai Medical Student Draws Attention to the Need for Changes to Medicare and Medicaid to Help Vulnerable Populations

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, MD, (R-LA), left, and Mount Sinai medical student Sunjay Letchuman

With the annual Medicare open enrollment period approaching, Mount Sinai medical student Sunjay Letchuman (class of 2026) and U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, MD, (R-LA) have come together to shine a light on a vulnerable population of Americans who are poor, elderly, and sometimes disabled. This group of more than 12 million Americans is so called “dually eligible” because they qualify for insurance through both Medicare and Medicaid.

Having two forms of insurance might seem to be better than one. But data reveal that dually eligible individuals experience worse health outcomes when compared to similar populations, even after controlling for confounding variables. These poor health outcomes result, in part, from the lack of payment coordination between Medicare and Medicaid.

“Medicare pays for most hospital services while Medicaid pays for long-term care services, such as nursing home care,” says Mr. Letchuman. “Without payment coordination between the two insurers, Medicaid does not know that a dually eligible patient is hospitalized unless subsequent long-term care is needed. As such, Medicaid has no financial incentive to prevent the hospitalization in the first place in light of Medicare’s responsibility to pay. This is just one illustration of how poor coordination is not serving these patients, who experience longer hospitalizations and higher costs.”

This summer, Mr. Letchuman, raised in Louisiana, had the unique opportunity to research this policy issue while serving as a Health Fellow for Dr. Cassidy. While working together, Dr. Cassidy suggested they co-author an article to draw attention to the problem. The result: a Viewpoint essay published in JAMA September 15 titled, “A Prescription for Americans Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.”

“It was a pleasure to co-author this piece with my health fellow, medical colleague, and Shreveport, Louisiana, native Sunjay Letchuman,” says Dr. Cassidy. “Dually eligible patients have poor outcomes, despite society devoting significant resources to pay for their care. Sunjay spent his time as a health fellow learning this issue and, as importantly, using this understanding to help develop solutions. He is a health scholar serving patients, profession, and country by other means. This editorial is a manifestation and furtherance of this service.”

Mount Sinai medical student Sunjay Letchuman with a patient

In their JAMA article, the pair conclude that the federal government should establish guidelines requiring care to be coordinated between Medicare and Medicaid at the state level. Dr. Cassidy is part of a bipartisan group of six senators working to get this done. The issue is of particular relevance to New York as the state is home to a high number of dually eligible Americans, as is the case in the two authors’ home state.

“Addressing the needs of dually eligible Americans is more than just a policy interest of mine; it’s a commitment to serve my home state of Louisiana where more than 250,000 dually eligible Americans live and deserve better coordinated care and improved health outcomes,” says Dr. Letchuman.

This was not Mr. Letchuman’s first deep dive into a health policy issue. Over the summer, he also co-authored an article in the New England Journal of Medicine about whether nonprofit hospitals deserve their tax exemptions—an issue he worked on as a health fellow for the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means.

“In exchange for not paying taxes, nonprofit hospitals are required to provide substantial community benefit and charity care. Not all nonprofit hospitals fulfill this commitment, and local communities pay the price,” he says.

Mr. Letchuman studied the business of health care as an undergraduate, which has helped prepare him for a career in both medicine and health policy. This made him a perfect candidate for the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s FlexMed program, which encourages college sophomores in any major to apply and provides students with the flexibility to pursue their academic passions during college. Mount Sinai was the first medical school to create an admissions pathway that provides such early assurance.

“The FlexMed program allowed me to pursue my health policy dreams early in college,” he says. “I am confident that Mount Sinai’s education and support, then and now, are shaping me into a more effective physician and policymaker.”

With Each White Coat Ceremony, a Renewed Commitment to Advancing Diversity

The class of 2027 was seated at the Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday, September 12, waiting to be coated in the White Coat Ceremony, which marks the start of their medical education. Dennis Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, came up on stage and addressed the audience. He spoke about his own time in medical school.

Dennis Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, stressing the importance of a diverse student body at the White Coat Ceremony.

“Back then, medicine lacked so many of the tools we rely upon today,” Dr. Charney said. There was no sophisticated imaging equipment, nor things like DNA sequencing, but the medical field did its best to heal patients. “The world was a different place in 1973,” Dr. Charney said.

Medical science has made many breakthroughs—with Mount Sinai having played a significant role—and it faces exciting new chapters ahead. Some of these, Dr. Charney said, include integration of artificial intelligence and advanced genomics, allowing for better targeted interventions, and perhaps even for once-hard-to-treat cancers to become manageable chronic diseases. That is why the Health System has launched the Mount Sinai Million Health Discoveries Program—to usher in a new era of personalized medicine, he added.

And while science improves, so too must the field for those who work in it, and for whom it serves. Dr. Charney then pulled up a picture of himself in his class at Penn State College of Medicine. “Of 82 students, we had just 12 women and only four people of color,” Dr. Charney said. Then he showed a picture of the 120 students who comprised the cohort present in the hall. “The world has clearly changed for the better—your class is more than 50 percent women and 30 percent people of color,” he noted.

Of this year’s entering class, 53 percent are women, and 28 percent are from backgrounds considered underrepresented in medicine, including racial and economic groups. In comparison with the class that graduated 50 years ago, while race and ethnicity data was not collected back then, the class of 1977 at Icahn Mount Sinai had 24 percent women out of 91 students.

“In spite of the recent Supreme Court decision on college admissions, future classes here at Icahn Mount Sinai will continue to be highly diverse,” Dr. Charney said. “Icahn Mount Sinai will not stand down from our strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. And we will do this legally, under the law.”

The message of diversity resonated with the incoming students. “From my experience, having a diverse body is the only way to go forward as a school, as it then provides a diversity of opinion,” said Nathan Ji, Class of 2027.

“It’s very important to have representations of patients who look like them, from the physicians who treat them,” said Rico Pesce, Class of 2027. “I’m super proud to be part of a school that places importance on this.”

Click to read more about some of the students from the Class of 2027 and the journey they have taken.

Nathan Ji

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?

I first came to hear of Icahn Mount Sinai through friends at Johns Hopkins, where I went for undergrad, who had gotten in through Mount Sinai’s unique FlexMed program. As someone still far removed from the medical school application process back then, I casually asked them why they had elected to commit to Mount Sinai. Their responses varied, of course, but one central theme stuck out: the commitment of the medical school to serving the community.

I remained curious but mildly doubtful of the claim, until I ended up visiting the medical school during Second Visit Weekend this past spring. It was then that I realized the distinct difference between an “East Harlem medical campus” and a “medical campus located in East Harlem.” Icahn Mount Sinai embodied the spirit of the former.

From the several medical student-run community clinics to anti-racism initiatives led by faculty physicians, it was clear that Mount Sinai cared about the community. There is still much more work to be done, of course, but Mount Sinai’s self-awareness of its responsibilities to the people in its vicinity is seldom found among its peers.

It is no coincidence that such a socially conscious school would have such a positive impact on mental health and wellness among its student body. I may not have the same support system from home, but, no matter what background you come from, there will be support for you here, I guarantee it.

What made you decide to enter medicine?

Growing up, I always thought I would become a scientist. Such was the ambitions of a lonely boy growing up in China, whose parents were thousands of kilometers away working in exciting research laboratories to change the world. I never saw myself as being sociable enough to be the “physician-type,” given my introverted personality and upbringing as an only child and perpetual new kid in school.

But that all began to change in 2015 when I returned to China with my parents for the first time since we had left when I was still a child. A sudden trip in the middle of October was no leisurely vacation; we arrived just after midnight at the ICU where my grandfather lay on his deathbed. It was there that I saw the uniquely humanistic challenges that medical professionals dealt with on a regular basis.

We, the family, consulted with the attending physicians on the ethics of pulling the plug to lay my grandfather to rest. All the while around us in the dead of night lay several other elderly patients, each with their own families and individual stories. I realized then that physicians weren’t just sociable professionals who leveraged knowledge of science to help people. Above all, they were care providers who embarked on distinctive humanistic journeys with each of their patients.

The rest, as they say, was history. Sure, there were still seven more years of high school, research internships, undergraduate classes, volunteering and exposure to medical settings, shadowing physicians, tutoring students in underprivileged backgrounds, and a million more exciting adventures along the way. But as I embark on my first medical school classes this fall, I distinctively remember that dark desolate night in Shanghai, as the spark that lit my passion for medicine.

What’s an interesting fact about you?

During orientation I would ask my classmates to guess how many schools I have attended before Icahn Mount Sinai. Most guessed four or five, as is the common pathway—elementary, middle, high schools, and university. Others guessed between six and eight. Yet all would be surprised at my eventual answer of eleven.

I lived in Shanghai, where I was born, for a whopping four months, before I was sent to live with my grandparents in Tianjin, near Beijing. Thus, I had no memories of being with my parents until we reunited when I immigrated to the United States and arrived in Chicago at the age of eight. Two years later, we would move to Salt Lake City, and then to Tampa six years after that. And then I would go to Johns Hopkins University just two years afterward.

Looking back, what really stood out about my unique upbringing is the diversity of culture that I experienced. There were so many ways of living, so many unique compositions of heritage among the people who I called my friends and neighbors throughout the various locations. That is why I want to pursue medicine in a melting pot like New York, where I can encounter people, patients, and colleagues from all walks of life.

Michael Lemonick

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?

I was initially drawn to Mount Sinai as it is one of the most veteran-friendly medical schools in the nation. I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served eight years on active duty as a surface warfare officer, and Mount Sinai’s institutional partnership program with the military allowed me to apply directly to medical school while still serving on active duty.

In fact, I actually completed my application while deployed on an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer during the height of the pandemic. Without Mount Sinai’s veteran-friendly policies, I am not sure that I ever would have been able to realize my dream of becoming a doctor, and for that I feel enormously indebted to Mount Sinai. I am also drawn to Mount Sinai’s emphasis on equitable care and leadership in addition to its standards of scientific excellence.

What made you decide to enter medicine?

As a child, I had the opportunity to witness physicians treat my family and literally save their lives: my mother and both of my grandmothers suffered from breast cancer, while my father and paternal grandfather both suffered from prostate cancer. My sister is a type 1 diabetic who, with the help of spectacular physicians, has worked hard since her diagnosis at six years old to manage her disease.

As an athlete, I suffered broken bones and other sports-related injuries throughout my childhood, teenage, and college years, and each time I was met by competent, confident, and compassionate physicians who were always able to quell my anxieties.

Inspired by those who treated my family members and me in times of need, I knew that I always wanted to become a dependable physician; one who can deliver excellent care while imbuing patients with the confidence and strength to overcome their ailments. With this experience, and with my love of science, a career in medicine always seemed an obvious choice for me.

What’s an interesting fact about you?

I am a 2015 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, and I subsequently served on active duty for eight years. From 2018-2021, I was stationed in Rota, Spain, onboard a destroyer, where I served as the lead navigator on three of five deployments. I was the first navigator to make a port call in the Faroe Islands of Denmark, and I was part of a group of ships to navigate along the north coast of Russia in the Barents Sea for the first time since the Cold War.

As an athlete, I played on the varsity soccer team at the Naval Academy. I am still passionate about soccer and athletics in general, especially from the perspective of using sports as a vehicle for developing leadership, toughness, and the will to win.

I am an aspiring writer and am currently working on a memoir of my time at sea in the Navy. Finally, I lived in France for two years as an ensign in the Navy, where I completed a bilingual master’s degree in international affairs at the Paris Institute of Political Studies. I work to maintain my level of French and enjoy learning about various aspects of French culture, including its cuisine, art, and history.

Boluwatito Oladeinde

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?

Its unique position on the borders of the richest and poorest ZIP codes in New York City would expose me to a variety of patient cases and interactions.

I also appreciate that it is in the northeast United States, where I have my adopted family and friends, which would be integral for me to get through the mental and physical rigors of medical school. New York City was also appealing to me as I am interested in fashion and art—what better place to experience and participate in this than in NYC?

What made you decide to enter medicine?

My choice stems from my childhood experiences growing up in Nigeria, and as an uninsured adult in the United States. My father constantly struggled with his health growing up, and between the ages of 12 and 14, he underwent four separate neurosurgery procedures in India and in the United States. This was scary because, as a family, we never knew how these surgeries were going to pan out. This was the first thing that prompted my desire for a career in medicine.

Over the course of my 18 years in Nigeria, I also witnessed the poor health care system in the country and suffered a loss due to an avoidable occurrence in the system. This further strengthened my desire to provide quality health care to my home country, and other disadvantaged communities around me.

What’s an interesting fact about you?

I was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and migrated by myself to the United States at the age of 18 for college at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Looking back, it is astounding how I have successfully navigated being in a new country, culture, and system without the presence of my immediate family, who all live in Nigeria. My parents made the trip to the United States for my White Coat Ceremony and were very proud of me for being the first person in my family to go to college and medical school.

Rico Pesce

What drew you to Icahn Mount Sinai?

After the military, I did my undergraduate studies at Columbia University. There, I met a person doing post-baccalaureate studies, who did the Institutional Partnership program with Mount Sinai. When he started at Mount Sinai, he introduced me to its culture and the school.

The school’s mission and focus on developing cutting-edge technologies aligned well with my personal goals. Furthermore, every person I had talked to had nothing but positive things to say. I also love being in New York City, and Mount Sinai is certainly one of the most welcoming institutions I’ve come across.

What made you decide to enter medicine?

My interest in medicine began in high school, where for a biology class, we went to a cadaver lab. I became fascinated with the anatomy and science of the human body. Later on, I became a certified nurse assistant and worked in a dementia facility, and decided to go to school in a community college to further my career. However, I wasn’t thriving academically, left community college, and joined the military.

I became a special operations combat medic for the 75th Ranger Regiment. I ended up staying in the military for seven years, where I had been platoon medic, senior medic, battalion clinic manager, and completed five deployments in Afghanistan.

I have treated patients at their most vulnerable—even their last moments on earth—and there is not a more meaningful way to spend my time in this world than to be part of a team to help improve and prolong people’s human experience. Once I saw the impact on my patients’ lives as a medic, it drew me to want to learn more about medicine and be able to provide care in a definitive way. I then decided it was time to separate from the military to pursue my goal of becoming a physician.

Throughout my education and experience providing care on the front lines of the pandemic, I realized that the responsibilities of a physician went well beyond the one-on-one contact with patients. Physicians have such immense responsibility to their patients, and to society at a larger scale, and I have updated the vision for my future to include medical device innovation. It has been a long journey, but I am proud to continue down the path of being in medicine and advancing the field.

What’s an interesting fact about you?

I am a proud member of the gay community and my fiancé, Zach Thomas, is a third-year medical student at a nearby university. It is amazing to have a significant other who is also studying medicine because he understands what I am going through, and we can share our passion for medicine for many years to come.

New Grant Helps Preventive Medicine Residents Forge Deeper Ties With Vulnerable Groups

Residents took a community health tour to meet local community leaders and visit the East Harlem Neighborhood Action Center, the East Harlem Asthma Center of Excellence, and the NYCHA Jefferson Houses. From left: Riana Jumamil, MD; Kierstin Luber, DO; Megha Srivastava, MD; and Betty Kolod, MD, Associate Residency Program Director.

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai General Preventive Medicine Residency Program has won a prestigious federal grant designed to reduce social inequities in health care through enhanced resident training and expanded public health intervention.

Under terms of the four-year award, the program’s six residents take an intensive summer course in health equity. Residents learn about health literacy, communication, and data analysis skills to address health disparities. They will apply these skills during a longitudinal population health rotation at several Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) throughout New York City, which specialize in homelessness, HIV, and other issues.

The $285,000-a-year grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration strengthens the General Preventive Medicine Residency Program’s longstanding focus on health equity.

Kristin Oliver, MD, MHS

“We’re excited for a deeper level of community engagement with these health centers and hope some residents continue their careers at FQHCs,” said Kristin Oliver, MD, MHS, General Preventive Medicine Residency Program Director and Associate Professor, Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Pediatrics, and Medical Education.

All of the program’s residents train in a broad range of topics including population health, quality improvement, lifestyle medicine, cancer prevention and tobacco cessation. Mount Sinai’s program is known for encouraging residents to customize their education according to individual passions. Each resident chooses a particular focus, such research or advocacy.

Recent program graduates include a resident who focused on primary care services for LGBTQ patients and worked with infectious disease doctors at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in the Bronx to establish an HIV infection prevention program at the Center. Another graduate focused on research to address underrepresentation of the Black, Indigenous and People of Color community in cancer clinical trials.

Residents rotate through the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, working on issues such as COVID-19 response, measles outbreaks, and reducing pregnancy-associated mortality among Black women.  Shifting public policy is also a focus of the residency program. All residents learn to write op-eds or give oral testimony as part of their training.

“Our specialty is so broad, which is what makes our residency so fun and fabulous,” said Dr. Oliver. “Each resident has a different passion, and we help identify mentors and bring their skills to the next level to make a big impact. Everyone brings in something different, then we all gain from it.”

Laura Sirbu, MD, the program’s co-chief resident, is studying how “upstream” factors such as barriers to health care access can be addressed to allow people in nearby communities to live healthier lives.

Dr. Sirbu said she is excited about the grant and that she is enjoying the training. “It’s great to secure extra support,” she said. “Mount Sinai’s program strength is its support of residents to go down different paths, allowing them to choose from a variety of project types and research topics.”

Residents can apply to the program, which is being renamed the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Public Health and General Preventive Medicine Residency Program, after completing one year of a clinical residency or after completing a full clinical residency.

During the two-year program, residents earn a Master’s Degree in Public Health. The program has longstanding ties with East Harlem’s nonprofit groups, which enable the program to build relationships and make a bigger impact.

“It’s not just one patient at a time, it’s the entire community,” said Dr. Oliver.

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