Current Students and Scholars K12 Scholars 2023 Ruby Greywoode, M.D. Mentor(s): Thomas Ullman, M.D. Laurie Keefer, Ph.D. Shadi Nahvi, M.D., M.S. Thesis: Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Black and Latino Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Benjamin T. Himes, Ph.D. Mentor(s): Xingxing Zang, Ph.D. Chandan Guha, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. Thesis: Functional Reprogramming of Monocytes by Glioblastoma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles. Emily Miller, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor(s): Kartik Chandran, Ph.D. Liise-anne Pirofski, M.D. Jonathan Lai, Ph.D. Johanna Daily, M.D. Thesis: Engineering Immunity for Broad Protection Against Betacoronaviruses. Caroline E. Mullis, M.D., M.S. Mentor(s): Marla Keller, M.D. Thesis: Delivery2PrEP designed to increase PrEP use in postpartum women. Chava Pollak, Ph.D., R.N., FNP-BC Mentor(s): Helena M. Blumen, Ph.D. Joe Verghese, M.B.B.S. Thesis: The relationship between loneliness, and functional and cognitive decline in aging. Marianne C. Reddan, Ph.D., M.A. Mentor(s): Hector R. Perez, M.D. Thesis: Diversifying fMRI models to better predict and explain the influence of socioeconomic deprivation (SED) on pain. Cara Stephenson-Hunter, Ph.D. Mentor(s): Earle Chambers, Ph.D., M.P.H. Cristina Gonzalez, M.D., M.Ed. Thesis: Exploring the Gap: Understanding Physician Factors Affecting Recruitment and Engagement of Men of Color in the Diabetes Prevention Program. Lili Zhang, M.D. Mentor(s): Carlos J. Rodriguez, M.D., M.P.H. Earle C. Chambers, Ph.D., M.P.H. Thesis: Heart Failure in Women with Breast Cancer in Multiracial/ethnic Populations. Clinical Research Training Program Students Class of 2024 Luke Andrea, M.D., B.S. Fellow, Dept. MED / Critical Care Mentor(s): Ari Moskowitz, M.D. Michelle Gong, M.D. Research Proposal: Procedures During Cardiac arrest [ProDuCa]. Edward Bader, B.Sc., M.B.Ch.B. Student, PCI Mentor(s): Emad Eskandar, M.D. Nathan Killian, Ph.D. Research Proposal: Deep Brain Stimulation of the Medial Forebrain Bundle for Cognitive Dysfunction After Intracerebral Haemorrhage. James Barnett, B.S. Student, M.D., M.S. Mentor(s): Thomas J Ow, M.D., M.S. Research Proposal: Clinical and biological disparities across racial and ethnic groups among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated in the Montefiore Health System. Ashley Berlot, B.S. Student, M.D., M.S. Mentor(s): Anna Bortnick, M.D., Ph.D., M.S. Research Proposal: Association of Markers of Mineral Metabolism with Blood Pressure and Arterial, Stiffness: (MESA). Association of Markers of Mineral Metabolism with Progression of Coronary Artery Calcification, Cardiovascular Events, and Mortality: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Katherine Chemakin, B.S. Student, M.D., M.S. Mentor(s): Katie Weichman, M.D. Research Proposal: Mastectomy Incision Choice in Ptotic Patients Undergoing Immediate Implant Based Reconstruction: A Comparison of Wise and Oblique elliptical pattern. Natalie Delpratt, M.Sc., B.S. Student, PCI Mentor(s): Helena Blumen, Ph.D., M.S. Joe Verghese, M.B.B.S., M.S. Research Proposal: Interrelationship between functional and structural brain changes in pre-clinical dementia stages and modifiable risk factors of brain, gait, and cognitive decline in aging. Salih Demirhan, M.D. Fellow, Dept. PEDS / Infectious Disease Mentor(s): Betsy Herold, M.D. Mark Foca, M.D. Research Proposal: Retrospective study of the safety and efficacy of valganciclovir prophylaxis for CMV in pediatric solid organ transplantation recipients and the potential need for newer antivirals. Molly Fisher, D.O., B.S. Assistant Professor, Dept. MED / Nephrology Mentor(s): Michael Ross, M.D. Matthew Abramowitz, M.D., M.S. Research Proposal: KI incidence and severity in ART-treated PWH to people without HIV. Deanna Hano, M.D., B.S. Fellow, PEDS-Hospital Medicine Mentor(s): Karen Warman, M.D., M.S. Patricia Hametz, M.D. Research Proposal: Identifying children admitted for croup who require additional inpatient interventions and time to Intervention. Teresa Hoang-Wu, M.D., B.S. Fellow, PED-Hospital Medicine Mentor(s): Betsy Herold, M.D. Kiran Thakur, M.D. Alyssa Silver, M.D. Research Proposal: Risk Factors Associated with Increased Morbidity in Acute Encephalitis: A Multicenter Retrospective Pediatric Cohort Study. Gayatri Nangia, B.A. Student, M.D., M.S. Mentor(s): Joanna Starrels, M.D., M.S. Research Proposal: The association between medical cannabis content and pain severity in a diverse cohort of patients with chronic pain: the role of use frequency and type of pain. Jessica Perfetto, M.D., B.A. Fellow, PED-Rheumatology Mentor(s): Dawn Wahezi, M.D., M.S. Research Proposal: Comparison of disease severity and outcomes between African and North American patients with juvenile dermatomyositis. Megan Pirtle, B.A. Student, PCI Mentor(s): Kosaku Shinoda, Ph.D. Beth N. McLellan, M.D. Research Proposal: Targeting the IL-17 Pathway for the Treatment of Radiation Dermatitis. Chava Pollak, Ph.D. B.S.N. Research Fellow, MED-Geriatrics Mentor(s): Joe Verghese, M.B.B.S., M.S. Helena Blumen, Ph.D., M.S. Research Proposal: The relationship between loneliness, and functional and cognitive decline in aging. Kristen Ronca, M.D., M.A., B.S. Fellow, PED-Hematology/Oncology Mentor(s): Kevin Fiori, M.D., M.S. Dean Hosgood, Ph.D. Research Proposal: Prevalence of self-reported social needs in patients with oncologic diagnoses in the Bronx, NY. Kavita Vani, M.D., B.A. Assistant Professor, OBGYN Mentor(s): Peter Bernstein, M.D., M.P.H. Research Proposal: The feasibility and impact of an innovative care coordination intervention to foster patient engagement in postpartum and primary care. Class of 2025 Farzana Begum (PCI) Graduate School, PhD Student Thesis: To understand what causes Multiple Myeloma patients who receive CAR-T therapy to relapse. Overall aim is to optimize technology for enhancing the expansion and killing activity of T cells in vivo – both CAR-Ts or endogenous T cells engaged with a bispecific antibody – to help achieve complete and long-lasting elimination of myeloma tumors. J. Nick Charla Medical School, Medical Student Thesis: Psychological Assessment of Scoliosis Patients Undergoing Surgical Management (PASS). Florinda Islamovic PEDS - General, Fellow Mentor(s): Marina Reznik, M.D., M.S. Thesis: Association Between Social Determinants of Health and Escalation of Care in Children Admitted for Status Asthmaticus. Jovan Milosavljevic MED - Endocrinology, Fellow Mentor(s): Shivani Agarwal, M.D., M.P.H. Thesis: Integrating Continuous Glucose Monitoring into Primary Care. Hallie Nelson Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fellow Mentor(s): Jessica M. Atrio, M.D., M.Sc. Thesis: Immediate Postpartum LARC, why are they discontinued? Mariel Pullman Neurology, Fellow Mentor(s): Carol A. Derby, Ph.D. Thesis: Predicting clinical subgroups based on olfaction in family members of patients with genetic Parkinson disease. Esteban Uceda Arias Stella (PCI) Graduate School, PhD Student Thesis: The Role of the 3’ Untranslated Region in Regulating Oncogenic MYC Expression in Osteosarcoma. Hendrik Sy MED - Infectious Disease Mentor(s): Albert I. Ko Johanna P. Daily, M.D., M.S. Thesis: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Dengue in Valle del Cauca, Colombia, as a Determinant of Effectiveness of Active Dengue Surveillance. PCI Students Edward Bader, B.Sc. Mentor(s): Emad Eskandar, M.D. Nathan Killian, Ph.D. Thesis: Deep Brain Stimulation of the Medial Forebrain Bundle for Cognitive Dysfunction After Intracerebral Haemorrhage. Farzana Begum Mentor(s): Maria Marianovich, Ph.D. Ulrich G. Steidl, M.D., Ph.D. Thesis: Regulation of immune function in the leukemic microenvironment by sympathetic nerves and reactive oxygen species Natalie Delpratt, M.Sc. B.S. Mentor(s): Helena Blumen, Ph.D., M.S. Joe Verghese, M.B.B.S., M.S., FRCPI Thesis: The Impact of Parental Longevity on Brain Health and the Influence of Physical Function and Genetics. Alexander Ferrena, M.A. Mentor(s): Deyou Zheng, Ph.D. Bang Hoang, M.D. Thesis: Molecular and Clinical Implications of Skp2 inhibition in Osteosarcoma. Shira Glushakow-Smith, B.S. Mentor(s): Kira Gritsman, M.D., Ph.D. Amit Verma, M.B.B.S. Thesis: Targeting Epigenetic Resistance Mechanisms to PI3 Kinase Inhibition in Leukemic Stem Cells. Nazia Jamil, B.S. Mentor(s): Dean Hosgood, Ph.D. Hayley McDaid, Ph.D. Thesis: Senolytics Adjuvants to Circumvent Acquired Resistance and Improve Patient Survival in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Tram Nguyen, B.S. Mentor(s): Vilma Gabbay, M.D. Benjamin Ely, Ph.D. Thesis: Biobehavioral Correlates of Adolescent Depression and Cannabis Use. Marc Christopher Pulanco, M.S. Mentor(s): Xingxing Zang, Ph.D. Mark Schoenberg, M.D. Thesis: New Immune Checkpoint B7x in Bladder Cancer: Mechanism and Immunotherapy. Esteban Uceda Arias Stella Mentor(s): Daniel A. Weiser, M.D. David M. Loeb, M.D., Ph.D. Thesis: The Role of the 3’ Untranslated Region in Regulating Oncogenic MYC Expression in Osteosarcoma. Veronica Veksler, B.S. Mentor(s): Joan Berman, Ph.D. Susan Morgello, M.D. Thesis: The Role of CD14+CD16+ Monocytes in HIV-associated Neurocognitive Impairment in the Context of Viral Suppression. Rachel Weil, B.A. Mentor(s): David Lobe, M.D., Ph.D. Alice Lee, M.D. Thesis: The Impact of RNA Helicase DDX3 on the Tumor Microenvironment.
