Date: September 7, 2023
To: Montefiore Einstein Community
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Yaron Tomer, MD, as the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein), effective October 2nd, 2023. Following a comprehensive national search, Dr. Tomer stood out as the clear choice to lead the College of Medicine amongst a group of highly accomplished and distinguished candidates.
As Dean, Dr. Tomer will lead this research-intensive medical school comprised of more than 1,900 full-time faculty to further advance its research, education, diversity, community engagement, and philanthropic missions, while closely partnering with colleagues across Montefiore Health System to deliver compassionate, science-driven care. Dr. Tomer will ensure Einstein continues its national leadership in biomedical research support, while offering one of the nation's largest programs for medical education.
Dr. Tomer is currently the Anita and Jack Saltz Chair in Diabetes Research, Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at Einstein and Montefiore, leading over 700 full-time faculty members. As Chair, he oversaw a significant growth in clinical operations and the establishment of new centers including a new Department of Medicine practice in Westchester, the Fleischer Institute for Diabetes and Metabolism, the Institute for Lupus Care and Research, a new Weight Management Center, and more. Dr. Tomer's emphasis on innovation yielded a significant growth in research with recruitment of new faculty and an increase in NIH funding to $66M in 2022 (ranked #27 by Blue Ridge). He is especially committed to fostering the careers of junior faculty; currently, the Department of Medicine has 18 K-awardees. Dr. Tomer also launched the Department of Medicine's bold strategic plan for Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), recruiting an inaugural Associate Chair for DEI to oversee the implementation of this strategic plan. During the COVID-19 pandemic Dr. Tomer successfully led the Department's response to this unprecedented crisis.
Prior to joining Montefiore Einstein as Chair of the Department of Medicine in 2016, Dr. Tomer served as Vice Chair for Research; Division Chief of Endocrinology; and the Lillian and Henry M. Stratton Professor of Molecular Medicine, all at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York. As Division Chief, Dr. Tomer oversaw an extensive expansion of the clinical and research operations in endocrinology, including a major expansion of the Mount Sinai Diabetes Center; a new pituitary clinical and research center; the only adrenal center in New York City; and a new program for medical management of obesity. He recruited national and international leaders in endocrinology to the Metabolism Institute resulting in a sevenfold increase in NIH funding.
Dr. Tomer is a world-renowned researcher with a robust, NIH-funded laboratory. His research team is studying the immunogenetic, epigenetic, and environmental mechanisms causing thyroid autoimmunity, and type 1 diabetes. His research has recently led to the discovery of several compounds that have the potential to be developed as antigen specific therapies for autoimmune thyroiditis and type 1 diabetes. Dr. Tomer has published over 200 manuscripts and book chapters and has 4 patent disclosures. He served on the editorial boards of the journals Endocrinology, JCEM, and Thyroid, among others. Dr. Tomer is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He is the recipient of several awards recognizing his research accomplishments. Indeed, the American Thyroid Association will be presenting Dr. Tomer with the 2023 Sidney H. Ingbar Distinguished Lectureship Award during its 2023 annual meeting and centennial celebration, in recognition of his major contributions to thyroid-related research over many years.
Born and raised in Israel, Dr. Tomer received his MD degree from the Sackler School of Medicine, his medical residency at Sheba Medical Center, Israel, and his endocrinology training at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Tomer on his appointment, and in thanking the Search Committee for their dedication and efforts throughout this important search.
Philip O. Ozuah, MD, PhD
President and CEO
Montefiore Einstein
Ruth L. Gottesman, EdD
Chair, Board of Trustees
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
