Kristen Welch
Adult Medicine<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
Adult Medicine<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
<p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Toxoplasma gondii</span></em>, microsporidiosis, stage differentiation, polar tube structure and function</p>
<p><strong>Toxoplasmosis:</strong> <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> is a ubiquitous Apicomplexan protozoan parasite that infects humans, mammals and birds. Despite recent progress in understanding the biology of the rapidly replicating form (tachyzoite), very little is known about the cyst form (bradyzoite). The bradyzoite stage plays a critical role in maintenance of latent infection, the relapse of infections and the development of chronic neurologcial disease. Our research is focused on the identification of cyst wall (bradyzoite) proteins and how they function. </p>
<p><strong>Microsporidiosis:</strong> The phylum Microspora consists of organisms collectively known as microsporidia, that are "emerging" human and veterinary pathogens. A microsporidian-specific organelle, the polar tube, is involved in invasion. While the description of the polar tube as a unique microsporidian structure occurred over 100 years ago, the biochemical components of this structure and the mechanism of its formation during invasion remain to be definitively determined. The laboratory is focused on projects invovling the: (1) characterization of the structure and composition of the polar tube and spore wall, and (2) the identificiation of therapeutic targets for the treatment of microsporidiosis. </p>
Treatment and diagnosis of infectious diseases, with a focus on parasitology and global health.
Investigates the biology of Toxoplasma gondii and its ability to cause latent infections, with a focus on the composition and structure of the T. gondii tissue cyst.
<p>Mayoral J, Guevara RB, Rivera-Cuevas Y, Tu V, Tomita T, Romano JD, Gunther-Cummins L, Sidoli S, Coppens I, Carruthers VB, Weiss LM. Dense Granule Protein GRA64 interacts with host cell ESCRT proteins during <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> infection.mBio. 2022 Jun 22:e0144222. doi: 10.1128/mbio.01442-22.</p>
<p>Tomita T, Mukhopadhyay D, Han B, Yakubu R, Tu V, Mayoral J, Sugi T, Ma Y, Saeij JPJ, Weiss LM. <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> matrix antigen 1 is a secreted immunomodulatory effector. mBio. 2021 May 18;12(3):e00603-21. </p>
<p>Flores J, Takvorian PM, Weiss LM, Cali A, Gao N. Human microsporidian pathogen <em>Encephalitozoon intestinalis</em> impinges on enterocyte membrane trafficking and signaling. J Cell Sci. 2021 Feb 15:jcs.253757. doi: 10.1242/jcs.253757.</p>
<p>Mayoral J, Tomita T, Tu V, Aguilan JT, Sidoli S, Weiss LM. <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> PPM3C, a secreted protein phosphatase, affects parasitophorous vacuole effector export. PLoS Pathog. 2020 Dec 28;16(12):e1008771. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008771. </p>
<p>Mayoral J, Shamamian P Jr, Weiss LM. In Vitro Characterization of protein effector export in the bradyzoite stage of Toxoplasma gondii. mBio. 2020 Mar 10;11(2). pii: e00046-20. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00046-20. PMID: 32156805</p>
<p><span lang="EN">Tu V, Tomita T, Sugi T, Mayoral J, Han B, Yakubu RR, Williams T, Horta A, Ma Y, Weiss LM. The <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> cyst wall interactome. mBio. 2020 Feb 4;11(1). pii: e02699-19. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02699-19.PMID: 32019789</span></p>
<p>Tu V, Mayoral J, Yakubu RR, Tomita T, Sugi T, Han B, Williams T, Ma Y, Weiss LM.MAG2, a <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> bradyzoite stage-specific cyst matrix protein. mSphere. 2020 Feb 19;5(1). pii: e00100-20. doi:10.1128/mSphere.00100-20.PMID: 32075884</p>
<p><span lang="EN">Han B, Ma Y, Tu V, Tomita T, Mayoral J, Williams T, Horta A, Huang H, Weiss LM Microsporidia interact with host cell mitochondria via voltage-dependent anion channels using sporoplasm Surface Protein 1. mBio. 2019 Aug 20;10(4). pii: e01944-19. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01944-19. PMID: 31431557</span> <span lang="EN">PMC6703431</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN">Takvorian PM, Han B, Cali A, Rice WJ, Gunther L, Macaluso F, Weiss LM. An ultrastructural study of the extruded polar tube of<em> Anncaliia algerae</em> (Microsporidia). J Eukaryot Microbiol. 2019 Jul 22. doi: 10.1111/jeu.12751. PMID: 31332877</span></p>
<p><span lang="EN">Tomita T, Wang H, Wu P, Weiss LM.Stage-specific and selective delivery of caged azidosugars into the intracellular parasite <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> by using an esterase-ester pair technique. mSphere. 2019 May 29;4(3). pii: e00142-19. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00142-19. PMID: 31142619</span></p>
<p>Tu V, Mayoral J, Sugi T, Tomita T, Han B, Ma YF, Weiss LM. Enrichment and proteomic characterization of the cyst wall from in vitro <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> cysts. mBio. 2019 Apr 30;10(2). pii: e00469-19. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00469-19. PMID: 31040239</p>
<p>Sugi T, Tu V, Ma Y, Tomita T, Weiss LM. <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> requires glycogen phosphorylase for balancing amylopectin storage and for efficient production of brain cysts. mBio. 2017 Aug 29;8(4). pii: e01289-17. doi: 10.1128/mBio.01289-17.PMID: 28851850 PMC5574715</p>
<p>Yakubu RR, Silmon de Monerri NC, Nieves E, Kim K, Weiss LM. Comparative Monomethylarginine proteomics suggests that protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) is a significant contributor to arginine monomethylation in <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em>. Mol Cell Proteomics. 2017 Apr;16(4):567-580. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M117.066951. Epub 2017 Jan 31.PMID: 28143887</p>
<p>Han B, Polonais V, Sugi T, Yakubu R, Takvorian PM, Cali A, Maier K, Long M, Levy M, Tanowitz HB, Pan G, Delbac F, Zhou Z, Weiss LM. The role of microsporidian polar tube protein 4 (PTP4) in host cell infection. PLoS Pathog. 2017 Apr 20;13(4):e1006341. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006341. eCollection 2017 Apr. PMID: 28426751</p>
<p>Sugi T, Ma YF, Tomita T, Murakoshi F, Eaton MS, Yakubu R, Han B, Tu V, Kato K, Kawazu S, Gupta N, Suvorova ES, White MW, Kim K, Weiss LM. Toxoplasma gondii cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase subunit 3 is involved in the switch from tachyzoite to bradyzoite development. mBio. 2016 May 31;7(3). pii: e00755-16. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00755-16. PMID: 27247232 PMCID: PMC4895117</p>
<p>El Bissati K, Suvorova ES, Xiao H, Lucas O, Upadhya R, Yan Fen Ma YF, Hogue Angeletti R, White MW, Weiss LM, Kim K <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) regulates centrosome dynamics during tachyzoite cell division. mBio. 2016 Feb 2;7(1):e02094-15. doi: 10.1128/mBio.02094-15. PMID: 26838719 PMCID: PMC4742710</p>
<p>Silmon de Monerri NC, Yakubu RR, Chen AL, Bradley PJ, Nieves E, Weiss LM, Kim K. The Ubiquitin proteome of <em>Toxoplasma gondi</em>i reveals roles for protein ubiquitination in cell-cycle transitions. Cell Host Microbe. 2015 Nov 11;18(5):621-33. doi: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.10.014. PMID: 26567513</p>
<p>Tomita T, Bzik DJ, Ma YF, Fox BA, Markillie LM, Taylor RC, Kim K, Weiss LM.The <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> cyst wall protein CST1 is critical for cyst wall integrity and promotes bradyzoite persistence. PLoS Pathog. 2013 Dec;9(12):e1003823. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003823. PMID:24385904</p>
<p>Morada M, Lee S, Gunther-Cummins L, Weiss LM, Widmer G, Tzipori S, Yarlett N. Continuous culture of <em>Cryptosporidium parvum</em> using hollow fiber technology. Int J Parasitol. 2015 Sep 2. pii: S0020-7519(15)00220-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2015.07.006. PMID: 26341006</p>
<p>Ma Y, Weiss LM, Huang H. Inducible suicide vector systems for <em>Trypanosoma cruzi</em>. Microbes Infect. 2015 Jun;17(6):440-50. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2015.04.003. Epub 2015 Apr 18. PMID: 25899945</p>
<p>Nardelli SC, Che FY, Silmon de Monerri NC, Xiao H, Nieves E, Madrid-Aliste C, Angel SO, Sullivan WJ Jr, Angeletti RH, Kim K, Weiss LM. The Histone Code of <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> Comprises Conserved and Unique Posttranslational Modifications. mBio. 2013 Dec 10;4(6). doi:pii: e00922-13. 10.1128/mBio.00922-13. PMID:24327343</p>
<p>Pombert JF,Selman M,Burki F,Bardell FT,Farinelli L,Solter LF,Whitman DW,Weiss LM, Corradi N, Keeling PJ. Gain and loss of multiple functionally related, horizontally transferred genes in the reduced genomes of two microsporidian parasites. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Jul 31;109(31):12638-43. Epub 2012 Jul 16. PMID:22802648</p>
<p>Ghosh K, Nieves E, Keeling P, CaliA, Weiss LM. A new vesicular compartment in <em>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</em>. Microbes Infect. 2012 Apr;14(4):324-8. PMID:22166342</p>
<p>Ghosh K, Nieves E, Keeling P, Pombert JF, CaliA, Weiss LM. A branching network of proteinaceous filaments within the parasitophorous vacuole of<em> Encephalitozoon cuniculi</em> and <em>Encephalitozoon hellem</em>. Infect Immun. 2011 Jan 10. PMID: 21220485</p>
<p>Bouzahzah B, Nagajyothi F, Ghosh K, Takvorian PM, CaliA, Tanowitz HB, Weiss LM. Interactions of <em>Encephalitozoon cuniculi</em> polar tube proteins. Infect Immun. 2010 Jun;78(6):2745-53. Epub 2010 Mar 22. PMID: 20308291</p>
<p>Alvarado JJ, Nemkal A, Sauder JM, Russell M, Akiyoshi DE, Shi W, Almo SC, Weiss LM. Structure of a microsporidian methionine aminopeptidase type 2 complexed with fumagillin and TNP-470. Mol Biochem Parasitol. 2009 Aug 4. PMID: 19660503</p>
<p><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>
<p>Weiss LM and Kim K (eds.) <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> the model Apicomplexan: Methods and Applications, Elsevier Press (Academic Press), 3rd edition, 2020.</p>
<p>Weiss LM and Reinke AW (eds.) Microsporidia: Current Advances in Biology, Springer, 2022.</p>
<p>Weiss LM and Becnel JJ (eds.) Microsporidia: Pathogens of Opportunity, Wiley-Blackwell, 2014.</p>
<p>Louis M. Weiss, MD, MPH, is Vice Chair, Academic Affairs and Research, Pathology, Co-Director, Einstein Global Health Center and Professor, Pathology and Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at Montefiore Einstein. His clinical expertise is in the treatment and diagnosis of infectious diseases, with a focus on parasitology and global health.</p><p>After obtaining his Bachelor of Arts in biology and chemistry from Lehigh University in 1978, Dr. Weiss earned his Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University in 1982. Following this, Dr. Weiss completed his internship and residency in medicine at the University of Chicago in 1985 and an infectious diseases fellowship at Einstein Montefiore in 1989.</p><p>Dr. Weiss investigates the biology of <em>Toxoplasma gondii</em> and its ability to cause latent infections, with a focus on the composition and structure of the <em>T. gondii</em> tissue cyst. He also investigates the biology of infection due to the microsporidia, with a focus on the composition of the polar tube and how it functions during microsporidian invasion of a host cell. His research has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, articles, books and chapters, and he has presented this research both nationally and internationally. Dr. Weiss has been a reviewer for scientific journals including <em>mBIO</em>, the <em>Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology</em>, the <em>American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, PLOS Pathogens</em>, the <em>Journal of Infectious Diseases</em> and <em>Experimental Parasitology</em>, and is an editor for <em>mBIO</em> and <em>Microbes and Infection</em>.</p><p>Dr. Weiss is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases. He is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Microbiology of the American Society of Microbiology. In 2000, Dr. Weiss was inducted into the Leo M. Davidoff Society for his outstanding teaching of medical students.</p>
<p>Jeffrey Weiss, MD is a senior clinician-executive who has taken on progressive leadership positions at Montefiore Health System. Dr. Weiss earned a bachelor of science in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University, a medical degree from Stony Brook School of Medicine, and the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Montefiore, where he was chief resident.</p>
<p>In 2007, Dr. Weiss was named Institutional Medical Director for Montefiore Health System. His role is to help optimize the performance of the Montefiore health delivery network by ensuring a smooth interface between its various components - the doctors, hospital, medical group, home health agency, nursing homes, and the CMO. Dr. Weiss's responsibilities included leadership of nationally recognized patient safety, quality and peer review programs, management of a medical staff with 3,500 employed and voluntary physicians, supervision of GME activities for 1,200 residents in the second largest house staff program in the country, all under the coordinated umbrella of the "Office of the Medical Director" (OMD). As part of a restructuring of organizational clinical leadership in 2012, Dr. Weiss was named Vice President for Medical Affairs. In this role, he has retained many of his previous responsibilities, and is now leading a team of five newly appointed hospital medical directors in driving physician alignment and creating a horizontally integrated approach to quality and clinical performance across the system.</p>
<p>Dr. Weiss is an active clinician, teacher and researcher. He lectures nationally on topics including leadership, physician alignment, and patient safety in several forums, including as a faculty member for the AAMC and National Patient Safety Foundation.</p>
Adult Medicine<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Childhood cancer research laboratory</strong></span></p>
<p>Our laboratory is focused on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. In such patients with typically incurable cancer, we are striving to identify new approaches to and types of treatment. We have multiple ongoing projects:</p>
<p><strong>+ Identification of biologic drivers of ultra-high-risk neuroblastoma</strong>. Neuroblastoma is one of the most common and deadly childhood cancers. Despite intensive research, there are limited therapeutic strategies for patients with <em>de novo </em>chemotherapy resistance that leads to particularly poor outcomes. We have been studying neuroblastoma since 2009 and are identifying additional biologic drivers of highly lethal tumors.</p>
<p>We compare tumor features from patients with early death from tumor progression compared to those with a maintained complete response. We assess unique histo-morphologic and proteomic features and computationally integrate these data with genomic and transcriptomic datasets to develop a combined predictor of primary refractory disease. Patients with this entity require non-standard and/or intensified treatment. Oncogenic drivers are being characterized in the lab which will facilitate strategies for novel pharmacologic intervention.</p>
<p><strong>+ Characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells</strong>. We are studying pathways and interactions that results in uncontrolled cell proliferation early in neuroblastoma development with an ultimate goal of identifying new targets and approaches for pharmacologic intervention.</p>
<p><strong>+ Evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma</strong>. With expected outcomes lagging behind those of more common childhood cancers, children with neuroblastoma require new approaches to treatment. Our lab works with multiple international clinical and research consortium groups to perform preclinical studies that substantiate human clinical trials. </p>
<p><strong>+ Detection of circulating tumor DNA in osteosarcoma</strong>. With no reliable non-invasive approach for disease monitoring during and after treatment, we are applying cutting edge next-generation sequencing approaches to identify solid tumors with a blood-based “liquid” biopsies. This will allow clinicians to assess tumor responsiveness to chemotherapy and predict likelihood of recurrence.</p>
<p><strong>+ Assessment of accelerated aging using miRNA-seq in survivors of childhood cancer</strong>. Chemotherapy has many untoward effects on healthy cells and leads to many signs of accelerated aging in children treated for cancer. Using a known microRNA “aging” signature discovered at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, we are studying what causes this phenotype in childhood cancer, with a goal of offering improved intervention to minimize long-term toxicity of treatment.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Physician Summary</span></strong></p>
<p>Daniel A. Weiser, MD, is board-certified in pediatric hematology/oncology with clinical expertise in neuroblastoma and other tumors of the adrenal glands, kidneys, liver, and gonads. He is the medical director of the intra-abdominal solid tumor program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore and brings together a highly specialized multi-disciplinary care team to provide comprehensive treatment for diverse pediatric malignancies. In addition, Dr. Weiser directs a childhood cancer research laboratory that focuses on the identification of new targeted agents for cancer therapy, especially in the treatment of rare and aggressive malignancies such as neuroblastoma. His research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise for improving management of all patients with solid tumors.</p>
<p>Dr. Weiser participates in the efforts of a number of professional organizations including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Advances in Neuroblastoma Research Association (ANRA), National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He has received numerous awards including the Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award from ASCO and the Conquer Cancer Foundation, and a prestigious K12 from the National Cancer Institute for the training of the next generation of physician-scientists in pediatric cancer. Dr. Weiser is actively involved in teaching and mentorship of trainees, and takes great pride in providing advanced and compassionate care to his patients and their families.</p>
<p><strong>Clinical Expertise</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Neuroblastoma (adrenal tumors)</li>
<li>Wilms tumor (renal tumors)</li>
<li>Hepatoblastoma (liver tumors)</li>
<li>Germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors)</li>
<li>Thyroid and other rare tumors</li>
<li>Experimental therapeutics</li>
<li>Cancer genetics and biomarkers</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Board Certifications</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Pediatrics</li>
<li>Pediatric Hematology/Oncology</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Professional Education</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>M.D. – Stony Brook University, NY</li>
<li>Residency – Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian, Columbia University, NY</li>
<li>Chief Residency – Children’s Hospital of NY-Presbyterian, Columbia University, NY</li>
<li>Fellowship – The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA</li>
</ul>
DR. Weiser's clinical focuses are neuroblastoma and adrenal tumors, Wilms tumor and other kidney (renal) tumors, hepatoblastoma, and other liver tumors, germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors), Thyroid and other rare tumors, experimental therapeutics, and cancer genetics and biomarkers.
Dr. Weiser’s research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise in the treatment of all solid tumors. Dr. Weiser’s laboratory focuses on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. He has multiple ongoing projects, such as identification of biologic drivers of neuroblastoma at ultra-high risk for treatment failure, characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells, and evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma, among others.
<p>Daniel A. Weiser, MD, is a Medical Director of the Intra-abdominal Solid Tumor Program in the Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology department at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. He is also Associate Professor in the Pediatrics and Genetics departments at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. His clinical focuses are neuroblastoma and adrenal tumors, Wilms tumor and other kidney (renal) tumors, hepatoblastoma and other liver tumors, germ cell tumors (including testicular and ovarian tumors), Thyroid and other rare tumors, experimental therapeutics, and cancer genetics and biomarkers. Dr. Weiser is actively involved in teaching and mentorship of trainees and takes great pride in his active participation in patient care.</p><p>Dr. Weiser received his Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology in 1995 at Haverford College, PA. In 2004, he received his Doctor of Medicine at Stony Brook University School of Medicine, NY. He is currently earning his Master of Science in Translational Research at the University of Pennsylvania. He began a residency in Pediatrics at the New York-Presbyterian, Columbia University in 2007. Dr. Weiser then completed a three-year fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. </p><p>Dr. Weiser’s research goals are to understand the role of certain genes in the risk, development, and treatment of cancer. The approaches taken and agents studied hold promise in the treatment of all solid tumors. Dr. Weiser’s laboratory focuses on childhood cancer research with a goal of elucidating the underlying biology of the most aggressive malignancies. He has multiple ongoing projects, such as identification of biologic drivers of neuroblastoma at ultra-high risk for treatment failure, characterization of neuroblastoma development from neural crest cells, and evaluation of novel combinatorial targeted therapeutic approaches in neuroblastoma, among others. His research has been published in many reviewed journals. </p><p>Dr. Weiser participates in the efforts of a number of professional organizations including the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He has received many awards including the Brigid Leventhal Special Merit Award through ASCO, and he has been awarded a prestigious K12 from the NCI for the training of the next generation of physician-scientists in pediatric cancer.</p><p>He is board certified in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and General Pediatrics.</p>
<p>Jacqueline Weingarten-Arams, MD, is an attending physician and Professor, Pediatrics at Montefiore Einstein. Dr. Weingarten-Arams’ pediatric critical care expertise focuses on cardiac critical care, acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, nutrition in critical illness and energy expenditure, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (quality CPR) and extracorporeal life support (ECMO).</p><p>After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University in 1982, Dr. Weingarten-Arams earned her Doctor of Medicine at the same institution in 1986. She then completed her pediatric residency at Columbia University in 1990, where she was Chief Resident in her final year. Following this, Dr. Weingarten-Arams completed a fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine at New York Hospital Cornell University Medical College in 1996.</p><p>Dr. Weingarten-Arams research focus includes the use of deliberate simulated practice in improving outcomes in pediatric critical illness, pediatric resuscitation and pediatric airway management. Her other projects involve chronic critical illness, bioethics in pediatric critical care and oxidative injury in respiratory failure. She has been principal investigator and co-investigator on several research projects, and her work has been shared through numerous peer-reviewed publications and invited presentations.</p><p>Dr. Weingarten-Arams is a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Pediatrics. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Chest Physicians. She is also a member of several professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Weingarten-Arams has been named in Castle Connolly’s “Top Doctors: New York Metro Area” for multiple years. In 2006, she was inducted into the Leo M. Davidoff Society and in 2019, Dr. Weingarten-Arams won the William Obrinsky Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education.</p>
<p>Pediatrician, Montefiore Medical Group 2300 Westchester Avenue Bronx, NY 10462 718-829-1900</p>
Pediatric Medicine<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal><quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
<p class="MsoNormal">Karen Warman, MD, MSc, provides general pediatric care for children from infancy through adolescence and teaches medical students and residents.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Dr. Warman is the founder and director of the Pediatric Preventive Asthma Care Program at Montefiore’s Comprehensive Family Care Center. Regionally, she serves on the New York City Asthma Partnership (NYCAP) Steering Committee and co-chairs NYCAP’s Environment Group, which focuses on attaining habitable housing for children with asthma to reduce asthma morbidity. She also serves as a consultant for the American Lung Association-Northeast and the NYC Department of Health. In the latter capacity, she trains school nurses in New York City to manage asthma in the schools.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Dr. Warman has taken a leadership role in several asthma programs. These include: serving as site leader for a Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sponsored, multi-state replication of the National Cooperative Inner-City Asthma Study (NCICAS); conducting the Physician Asthma Care Education (PACE) training program; and creating, implementing and evaluating the Asthma Passport Program.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Dr. Warman graduated from SUNY Upstate Medical School and completed her residency at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, which is now part of New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.</p>
<p>Dr. Wahezi attended medical school at the University of Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She completed her residency training in Pediatrics at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore, where she stayed on as the inaugural fellow in Pediatric Rheumatology. She subsequently joined the faculty in the Department of Pediatrics at Montefiore and completed a Master’s Degree in clinical research through the Einstein-Montefiore Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Program. Dr. Wahezi is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and serves as the Program Director of the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program. </p>
<p>Dr. Wahezi has a special interest in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and was awarded the Cure JM Foundation Early Investigator Award for her research in premature atherosclerosis. She has additionally established a pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Cohort and participates in a dedicated, multi-disciplinary pediatric Lupus Nephritis Clinic. Dr. Wahezi is currently engaged in several research projects within the domains of JDM and SLE, contributing to over 40 peer reviewed manuscripts, reviews and scientific abstracts.</p>
<p>Dr. Wahezi is an active member of both the JDM subcommittee and SLE subcommittee within the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) and has participated in numerous observational and comparative effectiveness research protocols through this research consortium. </p>
<span style="color:#4d4d4d;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, source-code-pro, Menlo, Monaco, Consolas, 'Courier New', monospace;font-size:16px;background-color:#ffffff;">Pediatric Rheumatology</span>
Dr. Wahezi has a particular research interest in juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and was awarded the Cure JM Foundation Early Investigator Award for her research in premature atherosclerosis.
<p></p>Dawn Wahezi, MD, MS, is Chief of the Division of Pediatric Rheumatology and Director of the Pediatric Rheumatology Fellowship Program at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. She is also Associate Professor of Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine.<br /><br />Dr. Wahezi received her Bachelor of Science from Loyola College and earned her Doctor of Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. She obtained a Master of Science in Clinical Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and did her residency and fellowship training at CHAM.<br /><br />Dr. Wahezi’s clinical and research interests include juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). At CHAM, she established an interdisciplinary clinic and comprehensive patient registry for children with JDM and SLE.. Dr. Wahezi is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Rheumatology Advisory Board and the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA).<p></p>
Dr. Viswanathan received her Medical training at Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences in Bangalore, India. She then completed her Pediatric Residency at Miami Children?s Hospital and her fellowship at The Children?s Hospital at Montefiore. She has presented her research at national meetings and has received the Best Research Award at Pediatric Research Day Children?s Hospital at Montefiore 2011.
<p><strong>Education</strong></p>
<p>Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University<br />Residency: New York Presbyterian Hospital</p>
<p><strong>Professional Activity</strong></p>
<p>Resident advising, medical student supervision, CQI, HIV CQI and care coordination resident teaching, inpatient medicine/resident supervision.</p>
Family Medicine