Academic Honors & Events

Exploring New Avenues — The New York Academy of Sciences’ Sackler Institute for Nutrition Science has selected Dr. Jeanette Beasley to receive its first-ever research award for her proposal to study the effects of sugar intake on the development and prevention of major non-communicable diseases, or diseases that are not infectious or transmissible. The research award provides support to researchers exploring areas of nutrition science that have critical knowledge gaps; its ultimate goal is to aid the creation of solutions to large-scale health issues such as obesity and diabetes. Dr. Beasley is one of three researchers who will receive $50,000 to pursue innovative research on an under-explored topic. Dr. Beasley is assistant professor of epidemiology & population health.

Historic Appointment — In July, Dr. Jo Hannafin, class of 1985, was installed as the first woman president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM). The society is a world leader in sports medicine education, research, communication and fellowship, whose members include national and international orthopaedic sports medicine leaders and specialists. AOSSM members work to improve the identification, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries. In addition to being board certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, Dr. Hannafin is a clinician-scientist renowned for her basic and translational research in sports medicine. She earned both her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees at Einstein, through the College of Medicine’s Medical Scientist Training Program.

Laudable Leadership — Dr. Heather Smith has been elected to the board of directors of the American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation, a prestigious non-profit organization that works to advance public health and medical scholarship by raising donations for physician-directed initiatives. Dr. Smith has been involved with the AMA Foundation since medical school, when she won its Excellence in Medicine Leadership Award. An obstetrician-gynecologist who conducts research on health equity, particularly concerning women and adolescents in underserved populations, she will contribute her expertise toward advancing the mission of the AMA Foundation by ensuring that the organization successfully raises and administers funds for high-impact public health programs. Dr. Smith is assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

NO Help for Wounds — Dr. George Han has received the Resident of Distinction Award for research completed in the field of dermatology. Supported by Beiersdorf Inc., in conjunction with the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference, this prestigious accolade recognizes residents who have conducted particularly outstanding research. Dr. Han was selected for his work regarding nitric oxide (NO), in which he and colleagues found that the NO’s antimicrobial properties aided in wound healing. Dr. Han presented his research at the Winter Clinical Dermatology Conference, held earlier this year. He is a resident in internal medicine (dermatology) at Montefiore Medical Center.

Sweet Rewards — Dr. Meredith Hawkins has received the 2012 Junior Physician-Investigator Award from the American Federation for Medical Research (AFMR).  The award recognizes young investigators that incorporate teaching and clinical medicine programs with outstanding scientific research. In addition to her investigations into nutritional regulation of the chronic inflammation in adipose tissue and the associated features of metabolic syndrome, she founded and directs Einstein’s Global Diabetes Initiative. Dr. Hawkins is professor of medicine in the Diabetes Research and Training Center.

For Ph.D, By Ph.D — Dr. Kartik Chandran has been invited to give a presentation on his work, titled “Uncovering the Ebola Virus-Host Cell Interface: Identifying Essential Cellular Receptors for Viral Entry,”at the 10th annual Horizons in Molecular Biology International Ph.D. Student Symposium, to be held in Göttingen, Germany. The prestigious symposium, which takes place in September, is organized for Ph.D. students by Ph.D. students, and highlights the hottest topics in the field of molecular biology, as well as specific research conducted by both young and established scientists. Dr. Chandran is associate professor of microbiology & immunology.

Supporting Innovation — Dr. Richard Kitsis was 1 of 10 recipients selected to receive an inaugural 2012 Harrington Scholar-Innovator grant, awarded by the Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals Case Medical Center, in Cleveland, OH. The competitive grants, given to physician-scientists to accelerate the translation of promising drug discoveries into treatments for patients, will support Dr. Kitsis’ creation of a first-in-class drug to reduce heart cell damage from acute myocardial infarction. Dr. Kitsis is professor of medicine and of cell biology,director of the Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute and the Dr. Gerald and Myra Dorros Chair in Cardiovascular Disease.

National Award — Dr. Nichola Davis received the 2012 National Medical Association (NMA) Council on the Concerns of Women Physicians Award. The award, given annually, honors female physicians working to eliminate healthcare disparities, and address women's health and professional issues through research, community service, and activism. Dr. Davis’ work focuses on obesity among women in low-income African-American and Latino communities and understanding the impact of obesity-related national policies on inner-city communities. She was presented with the award at the annual Muriel Petioni Awards Luncheon during the 2012 NMA national convention. Dr. Davis is associate professor of clinical medicine and of clinical epidemiology & population health.

Peer Recognition — Dr. Jason Adelman, director of patient safety at Montefiore, received the 2012 Physician of the Year from the New York State Society of Physician Assistants at the group’s annual gala in October. Dr. Adelman has been director of patient safety since 2003. He is board-certified in internal medicine and received his NPSF-AHA Fellowship in Patient Safety Leadership. He also is assistant professor of medicine at Einstein.

Physics Fellow — Dr. Syun-Ru Yeh was recently elected a fellow of the American Physical Society. Dr. Yeh's election recognizes her fundamental contributions to the understanding of protein structure, function and folding and the technological advances that have opened new windows of opportunity for the study of rapid biological reactions. Dr. Yeh is professor of physiology & biophysics.