Allan W. Wolkoff
<p><span>Dr. Allan Wolkoff's interest in research was sparked when he worked in a biochemistry lab to help pay college bills. He began his medical studies at Dartmouth Medical College and transferred to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine where he obtained his M.D. degree. With the exception of a two year period when he was Clinical Associate in Gastroenterology-Hepatology in the Digestive Disease Branch, National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Disease, he has remained at Albert Einstein. His early mentor, Irwin M. Arias, M.D. of the National Institutes of Health said of Wolkoff’s work, “He built an exemplary global reputation in hepatology research, education, training and scholarship. A major participant in the creation of the Marion Bessin Liver Research Center at Albert Einstein, Dr. Wolkoff has taken advantage of the strong, interactive basic science departments and is a leader in bridging understanding of hepatocyte biology with the pathogenesis of acquired and inheritable liver diseases.” </span></p>
<p><span>Dr. Wolkoff is a pioneer in the combining of disciplines that inform basic understanding of hepatocyte function and relation to disease and is recognized worldwide for providing new windows into physiology and pathophysiology. </span><span>He has had articles published in over 100 peer-reviewed publications, given many invited lectures and has had continuous NIH-supported research. In addition, he has served on advisory committees of several NIH-supported liver research centers. In 2006, he was presented the AASLD Distinguished Service Award. In 2012, he received the <span>highly prestigious 2012 Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from the American Liver Foundation.</span></span></p>
Diseases of the liver and biliary tract including chronic liver disease, fatty liver disease, hepatitis, inheritable disorders of the liver, drug toxicity, and unexplained jaundice.<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
Research interests include the mechanism by which the liver removes drugs and other compounds from the circulation and how its dysfunction may lead to drug toxicity.<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
<p>Allan W. Wolkoff, MD, is Chief, Hepatology, Herman Lopata Chair in Liver Disease Research and Professor, Medicine and Developmental & Molecular Biology at Montefiore Einstein. His clinical focus centers on diseases of the liver and biliary tract, including chronic liver disease, fatty liver disease, hepatitis, inheritable disorders of the liver, drug toxicity and unexplained jaundice.</p><p>Dr. Wolkoff began his medical studies at Dartmouth Medical College and transferred to Einstein, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine in 1972. He completed an internship at Bronx Municipal Hospital Center in 1973 before becoming an Assistant Resident in Medicine until 1974. Following this, Dr. Wolkoff became a Clinical Associate in Gastroenterology-Hepatology at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) until 1976.</p><p>A pioneer in combining disciplines that inform basic understanding of hepatocyte function and relation to disease, Dr. Wolkoff is recognized worldwide for providing new windows into physiology and pathophysiology. His research interests include the mechanism by which the liver removes drugs and other compounds from circulation and how its dysfunction may lead to drug toxicity. He has had articles published in over 100 peer-reviewed publications, given many invited lectures and has had continuous NIH-supported research.</p><p>Dr. Wolkoff has served on advisory committees of several NIH-supported liver research centers. In 2006, he was presented with the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Distinguished Service Award. In 2012, he received the highly prestigious Distinguished Scientific Achievement Award from the American Liver Foundation. He was named Physician of the Year by the Greater New York Division of the American Liver Foundation in 2015 and won the National Leadership Award from the American Liver Foundation in 2022.</p>
Daniel A. Weiser
<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>
Jacqueline Weingarten-Arams
Nutrition
Pulmonary hypertension
Sepsis
<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>
Victoria Vapnyar
Henry M. Ushay
Pediatric critical care medicine with a special emphasis on respiratory failure; shock resuscitation; cardiac intensive care; intensive care of pediatric oncology patients; extracorporeal support for children with respiratory and cardiovascular failure
Leadership and direction of the 16-bed Pediatric Critical Care Unit of The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore; improving medication safety; respiratory physiology; advances in the management of respiratory failure in children; shock; medical ethics
<p>Dr. Ushay is Professor of Clinical Pediatrics in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. </p><p>After obtaining a PhD in Chemistry from Columbia University, Dr. Ushay received his MD from UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School and completed a Pediatrics residency in the Montefiore-Jacobi-Einstein program. After serving as Chief Resident and a Fellow in Pediatric Pulmonology at Montefiore, he completed a Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship at New York Hospital/Cornell Medical Center in 1993. He was a faculty member at NewYork-Presbyterian and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospitals from 1993 to 2005, and he served as Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellowship Program Director and Medical Director of the Pediatric Observation Unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. </p><p>In 2005 Dr. Ushay became Director of the Pediatric Critical Care Unit in The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. Dr. Ushay is involved in increasing pediatric ICU surge capacity through the New York City Pediatric Disaster Coalition, serving on its Central Leadership Council and teaching the Pediatric Fundamental Critical Care Support Course. Through the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Dr. Ushay works on employing medical countermeasures safely for children in the event of chemical, biological or radiological disaster. Sponsored by Surgeons of Hope and Children’s HeartLink, Dr. Ushay has worked as a cardiac intensivist in Cambodia, Africa, China and Nicaragua. </p>
Clara Y. Tow
<p>Dr. Tow is a transplant hepatologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She serves as the Clinical Site Director of Hepatology at the Weiler Division of MMC, Associate Program Director of the Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases Fellowship Program, and the Co-Director of the AECOM Gastroenterology & Hepatology Systems Course.</p>
<p>Dr. Tow holds a B.A. in Biological Sciences from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude for her work in developmental research. While attending Weill Cornell Medical College, she developed her passion for transplant medicine and was awarded Alpha Omega Alpha and Honors in Research for her characterization of mitochondrial injury during ischemia-reperfusion injury. Dr. Tow completed her internship and residency in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian Hospital - Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she served as an education resident, and fellowship in Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Montefiore Medical Center. Subsequently she pursued her advanced fellowship training in Transplant Hepatology at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Columbia University Medical Center.</p>
<p>Dr. Tow has been at Montefiore/Einstein since 2018, where she specializes on the complications of advanced liver diseases, liver cancer, and liver transplant. She believes every patient is an integral part of the Montefiore family and that patient knowledge is power. Her goal is to provide patients and their families the best medical care that is embedded in kindness, dignity, and respect. </p>
Dr. Tow specializes in the treatment of complications of advanced liver diseases, liver cancer, and liver transplant. She believes every patient is an integral part of the Montefiore Einstein family and that patient knowledge is power. Her goal is to provide patients and their families with the best medical care embedded in kindness, dignity, and respect.<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
Dr. Tow’s research focuses on social determinants of health and outcomes related to liver transplantation and the care of advanced liver disease. She has spoken at invited lectures nationally and internationally, and her work has been published in many peer-reviewed journals, books, chapters, review articles, and abstracts.<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
<p>Clara Y. Tow, MD, is Clinical Site Director, Hepatology, Associate Program Director, Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases Fellowship Program, Co-Course Director, Gastroenterology & Hepatology Systems Course and Assistant Professor, Medicine at Montefiore Einstein. Dr. Tow specializes in the treatment of complications of advanced liver diseases, liver cancer and liver transplant. She believes every patient is an integral part of the Montefiore Einstein family and that patient knowledge is power. Her goal is to provide patients and their families with the best medical care embedded in kindness, dignity and respect.</p><p>After obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in biological sciences from Cornell University College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Tow earned her Doctor of Medicine from Weill Cornell Medical College. She then completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center. Following this, she completed a gastroenterology and liver diseases fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center before pursuing her advanced fellowship training in transplant hepatology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.</p><p>Dr. Tow’s research focuses on social determinants of health and outcomes related to liver transplantation and the care of advanced liver disease. She has spoken at invited lectures nationally and internationally, and her work has been published in many peer-reviewed journals, books, chapters, review articles and abstracts.</p><p>Dr. Tow is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in transplant hepatology, gastroenterology and internal medicine. She is a member of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL). She is also a member of the Empire Liver Foundation and a Medical Advisor for the American Liver Foundation. In 2014, Dr. Tow won the Erica C. Jones & Naina Sinha-Gregory Prize in Medicine.</p>
Aaron Zev Tokayer
<p>Dr. Tokayer received his B.A. in from Yeshiva College and his M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. He completed an internship and residency at the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center and GI and Hepatology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medical Center. He received an MHS degree in Clinical Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Dr. Tokayer then joined the Montefiore GI Faculty in 1992. He has been involved in the spectrum of clinical patient care, endoscopic interventions and teaching in the GI fellowship program. His areas of interest include clinical practice, patient care and education, endoscopic procedures and interventions, functional GI and motility disorders. He is Director of the GI Motility Lab where studies such as Esophageal Manometry, Esophageal Acid Monitoring and Impedance Testing, Ano-rectal Manometry and Defecatory Testing, Hydrogen Breath Testing for Bacterial overgrowth and Carbohydrate Maldigestion , and studies of gastric and intestinal transit. He works closely with colleagues of the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine as well as the Department of Surgery in diagnosing and treating GI motility disorders.</p>
Alecia M. Thompson
Dr. Thompson-Branch's research has focused on the role of cytokines in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and use of ultrasound to diagnose necrotizing enterocolitis.
<p>With an emphasis on general pediatrics and neonatology, Dr. Thompson completed her residency at NYU Medical Center in 2007 and fellowship at Yale-New Haven Hospital in 2010. During her fellowship, Dr. Thompson also audited the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, with an interest in performing clinical research. Her research has focused on the role of cytokines in bronchopulmonary dysplasia and use of ultrasound to diagnose necrotizing enterocolitis. She plans to conduct research on the use of near-infrared spectroscopy to delineate central nervous system pathology in preterm infants and predict short-term neurologic outcomes.</p>
Tihomir Stefanec
<p>I am interested in Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine. My current interest is Critical Care Medicine. </p>
Multidisciplinary Critical Care Medicine (Medical, Surgical, Neurologic, Cardiothoracic).<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
Role of the endothelium and its progenitors in the pathogenesis of disease.<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
<p>Tihomir Stefanec, MD, is Attending Physician, Critical Care Medicine, Assistant Professor, Medicine and Neurology at Montefiore Einstein. His clinical focus is multidisciplinary critical care medicine including medical, surgical, neurologic and cardiothoracic critical care.</p><p>After earning his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Zagreb Medical School in Zagreb, Croatia in 1992, Dr. Stefanec completed an internal medicine internship and residency at Long Island College Hospital in 1997. He then completed a critical care medicine fellowship at Saint Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center in 1999. Following this, Dr. Stefanec completed a pulmonary medicine fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2001.</p><p>Dr. Stefanec’s past research focuses on the role of the endothelium and its progenitors in the pathogenesis of disease. His work has been published in peer-reviewed original publications, reviews, editorials and abstracts, and he has presented nationally.</p><p>Dr. Stefanec is board certified in Internal Medicine, Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine, as well as in Neurocritical Care by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. He has been a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians since 2003, and is a member of the American Thoracic Society, the American College of Chest Physicians and the European Respiratory Society.</p>