Inside Einstein December 2011

Academic Honors & Events

Hail to the Chief — On Tuesday, December 13, 2011, the UJA-Federation of New York honored Montefiore Medical Center president and chief executive officer Dr. Steven Safyer (Class of 1982) for his medical leadership and achievements during the organization’s annual reception at the Grand Hall of the Tishman Learning Center at Montefiore. Dr. Safyer also is professor of medicine and of epidemiology & population health at Einstein.

Relentless Mission — Dr. Solomon Moshé has continued his worldwide efforts to promote public and professional education on epilepsy and to find strategies aimed at improving the acceptability, treatment and prevention of the disease. Most recently Dr. Moshé travelled to Tblisi, Georgia, to be part of the international symposium “Scaling Up Epilepsy Care in Georgia”; was part of the “Launching of the Strategic  Plan of Action on Epilepsy” in Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and participated in the Epilepsy Walk held in Sri Lanka as part of the festivities for the inauguration of the Sri Lankan League Against Epilepsy. He was one of three members of the Scientific Advisory and Organizing Committee of the 29th International Epilepsy Congress held in Rome; was the honorary chair and keynote speaker at the First Advanced International Course of Clinical Epileptology in Changdu, China; and was the invited keynote lecturer at the biennial Philippines Epilepsy Congress in Laoag. Dr. Moshé is the Charles Frost Chair in Neurosurgery and Neurology; director of the divisions of pediatric neurology, of  neurology and of clinical neurophysiology; and professor of neurology, of pediatrics and of neuroscience.

Excellent Service — Dr. Robert Marion was presented the Service to the Organization Award by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD). As an outgoing member of the AUCD board of directors, Dr. Marion was recognized for his service and commitment to the association. He is the Ruth L. Gottesman Chair in Developmental Pediatrics and director of the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center. He also is professor of pediatrics and of obstetrics & gynecology and women’s health at Einstein, and chief of both genetics and child development in the department of pediatrics at Montefiore Medical Center.

Global Perspective — Dr. Ruth Macklin presented “Ethics in Global Health: Crosscutting Themes” at the Global Health Conference, co-sponsored by the Consortium of Universities for Global Health, the Global Health Education Consortium and the Canadian Society for International Health, in Montreal. Dr. Macklin is professor of epidemiology & population health and the Dr. Shoshanah Trachtenberg Frackman Faculty Scholar in Biomedical Ethics.

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. 

Critical Leadership — Dr. Vlad Kvetan led the " Symposium on Critical Care Controversies" in conjunction with the Greater New York Hospital Association, the United Hospital Fund’s Critical Care Leadership Network and Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Kvetan is professor of medicine and of anesthesiology, and associate professor of surgery.

Election Coverage — Dr. Benjamin Kligler was elected chair of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, a national organization of 51 schools working together to advance clinical care, research and education in the area of integrative medicine. Dr. Kligler is associate professor of clinical family and social medicine.

Medical Sleuth — Dr. Sarita Shah was among the alumni of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine touted as “Disease Detectives” in the medical school’s alumni newsletter, in recognition of their training at the U.S. Center for Disease Control’s prestigious Epidemic Intelligence Service. Dr. Shah, who studies extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, or XDR-TB, is associate professor of medicine at Einstein.

TB Insights — Dr. Jacqueline Achkar was co-editor of a multiauthor supplement to the Journal of Infectious Diseases, "Tuberculosis Diagnostics: Challenges, Logistics and New Developments." Dr. Achkar is assistant professor of medicine.

Diabetes Solution — First published in 1997, Dr. Richard K. Bernstein’s national bestseller Dr. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars has been revised and updated for a special fourth edition, released last month. The book, well  regarded for its groundbreaking approach to diabetes care, allowing patients to take control of their disease to live long and healthy lives, is currently featured on the D. Samuel Gottesman Library’s new book list and e-board. Dr. Bernstein is a consultant in the Arthur S. Abramson Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. 

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