News and Events

 Michal Laniado Schwartzman, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology 

 Antonio J. Paz, M.D., instructor of anesthesiology 

Wine Connoisseurs Raise a Glass to Help Support Maria Fareri Children's Hospital (page 3)
Boriana Parvez, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics

WMC Hyperbarics Program Receives Top Accreditation (page 4)
Kausik Kar, M.D., assistant professor of medicine

World-Class Cardiovascular Care Closer to Home (page 6)
Julio A. Panza, M.D., professor of medicine

What Affects Heart Disease (page 7)
Tanya Dutta, M.D., M.A., assistant professor medicine and radiology

A Heart, Helicopter, Holiday - and Restored Health (page 8)
Masashi Kai, M.D., assistant professor of surgery
Syed H.M. Naqvi, M.D., clinical assistant professor of medicine

Sophia's Journey (page 12)
Michael H. Gewitz, M.D., professor of pediatrics

An Unlikely Victim (page 14)
Cary L. Hirsch, M.D., adjunct assistant professor of medicine

What If We Only Ate Plants? (page 16)
Syed H.M. Naqvi, M.D., clinical assistant professor of medicine

Life - Before and After a New Heart (page 18)
David Spielvogel, M.D., professor of surgery
Alan Gass, M.D., associate professor of medicine
Chhaya Aggarwal, M.D., assistant professor medicine

Winter Weather Safety and Health (page 20)

How can we make sure sledding stays fun?
Darshan D. Patel, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, family and community medicine and emergency medicine

Is snow shoveling bad for your heart?
Martin B. Cohen, M.D., associate professor of medicine

What is your health advice for heart failure patients?
Alan Gass, M.D., associate professor of medicine

Darshan D. Patel. M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, family and community medicine and emergency medicine

Sheba Ebhote, School of Medicine Class of 2021

Marianna Jolly, vice chair of the Graduate Student Research Forum; LaToya McLean, chair of community building; Fatima Arif, secretary; Kristopher Thompson, M.S. candidate; Charles White, president; Dana Weinstein, chair of the Graduate Student Research Forum; Joshua Vazhappilly, vice president; and Berlini Narampanawe, treasurer. 

A $1.25 million grant will help support BioInc@NYMC, a 10,000-square-foot incubator at New York Medical College. Now in its fourth year, the incubator is a for-hire facility with office space for researchers.

Meet Dr. Edward Halperin, chancellor and chief executive officer of Touro’s New York Medical College — medical historian, pediatric radiation oncologist and idealist, who expects much more from his students than expertise in medicine.

Dr. Edward Halperin, besides being an expert in pediatric radiation oncology, is an eclectic scholar — conversant in many diverse areas of knowledge — with a penchant for delving into the historical background of all his topics of interest. As a doctor, he is fascinated by the history of Jewish hospitals and medical school entry in America and has studied it in depth. In a research paper entitled “The Rise and Fall of the American Jewish Hospital,” he highlights the phenomenon that no less than 113 so-called Jewish hospitals appeared and disappeared in America over the last 170 years. Today, there are few remaining.

NYMC Leadership: Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer

Millions of American seniors suffer the discomfort of chronic acid reflux. Now, new research suggests the condition might raise their odds for even more dangerous foes -- head and neck cancers.

The research can't prove cause-and-effect, and the odds of any one person with chronic heartburn developing one of these relatively rare cancers remains low, experts noted.

But the study of nearly 28,000 Americans over the age of 65 did show a heightened risk.

NYMC Faculty: Anthony A. Starpoli, M.D., adjunct assistant professor of medicine

New York Medical College in Valhalla has been awarded $586,314 for research into heart and vascular disease. The funding was awarded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. “Advances in scientific research hold tremendous potential to help the millions of people struggling with heart and metabolic problems,” said U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey, who announced the grant. “This funding will support New York Medical College’s cutting-edge research and innovation that may save lives.” 

“I am truly excited to embark on these studies,” said Dr. Michal Laniado Schwartzman, professor and chair of the college’s department of pharmacology. Schwartzman is involved in research that might lead to new treatments for such diseases as heart failure, stroke and diabetes.

NYMC Faculty: Michal Laniado Schwartzman, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology

Recent news reports revealed that policy analysts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were told by the Trump administration that the use of seven words and phrases would be prohibited. The words are: vulnerable, diversity, entitlement, transgender, fetus, evidence-based, and science-based. Shortly thereafter, another federal official told the media that this was "simply guidance" provided to people that write CDC budget proposals. 

The CDC is the leading national public health institute of the United States. It is a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services. At New York Medical College we have a long history of cooperation with the CDC and some of our faculty are former officials of the agency. 

NYMC Leadership: Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer

Middletown Medical has added Dr. Jay V. Doshi to its team of healthcare providers. Dr. Doshi is the first Cardiologist to join Middletown Medical’s team who specializes in cardiac electrophysiology, which focuses on the electrical activity in the heart to diagnose and treat abnormal heart rhythms.

“For patients with heart concerns, especially those experiencing abnormal heart rhythms, Dr. Doshi has demonstrated exceptional capability and compassion delivering results,” said Melissa Wolff, Middletown Medical’s marketing director and physician recruiter. “His expertise in electrophysiology, an area of cardiology that continues to evolve with newer technologies, allows Middletown Medical to offer even more to its patients.”

NYMC Faculty: Jay V. Doshi, M.D., instructor of medicine

About $85 million in state grants and tax credits has been awarded to 113 development projects in the mid-Hudson Valley region. In Westchester, 23 projects will receive more than $10 million total this year. Major private and public capital projects to receive funding in the county this year include the following: BioInc@NYMC, New York Medical College’s biotech focused incubator, will receive $1.25 million through the state’s Innovation Hot Spot Support Program, which provides operating grants for designated “Innovation Hot Spots” that promote entrepreneurial activities.

In the early ’90s, Ronald Jacobson, M.D. noticed an interesting trend after working on Christmas day for several years in a row. “I was always getting calls about a child having a seizure after having gotten a videogame,” recalls Dr. Jacobson, Chief of Pediatric Neurology at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. He quickly coined a term for the unique trend, “Christmas Day Seizures.”

NYMC Faculty: Ronald I. Jacobson, M.D., clinical associate professor of pediatrics and neurology

Most parents are well versed in the dangers of toy-choking hazards facing toddlers, but according to Darshan Patel, MD, Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, parents of young children should be mindful of a few lesser-known holiday hazards.

NYMC Faculty: Darshan D. Patel. M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, family and community medicine and emergency medicine

With the assistance of Chia-Ching Chen, a professor of epidemiology and community health at New York Medical College and an expert on program planning and evaluation, they are currently translating some qualitative data gleaned from the ongoing, day-to-day social workers’ interactions with the residents into workable, consistent, quantitative data. 

NYMC Faculty: Chia-Ching Chen, M.A., M.S., Ed.D., C.H.E.S., professor of epidemiology and community health

Dr. Robert Josephberg, chief of retina and vitreous at Westchester Medical Center was recently inducted into the Retina Hall of Fame for his expertise and contributions to the field.  

The retina is the portion of the eye on which light is focused. The light is then transformed into signals that the brain can interpret. The retina has been compared with film in a still or movie camera or the photosensitive electronic plate in a television camera. Vitreous fills the inside of the eye.

The Retina Hall of Fame honors those have devoted their professional lives to innovation, research and clinical care. 

NYMC Faculty: Robert G. Josephberg, M.D., clinical associate professor of ophthalmology

"Advances in scientific research hold tremendous potential to help the millions of people struggling with heart and metabolic problems," Lowey said. "This funding will support New York Medical College's cutting-edge research and innovation that may save lives. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to bring these essential resources to the Lower Hudson Valley."

"I am truly excited to embark on these studies," said Dr. Michal Laniado Schwartzman, professor and chairman of the Department of Pharmacology at New York Medical College School of Medicine. "This new discovery opens a new front in this area of research as it identifies a novel and unique therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases including heart failure, stroke and diabetes."

NYMC Faculty: Michal Laniado Schwartzman, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology

“Advances in scientific research hold tremendous potential to help the millions of people struggling with heart and metabolic problems,” said Congresswoman Lowey. “This funding will support New York Medical College’s cutting-edge research and innovation that may save lives. As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue working to bring these essential resources to the Lower Hudson Valley.”“I am truly excited to embark on these studies,” said Dr. Michal Laniado Schwartzman, Professor and Chair of the Department of Pharmacology at New York Medical College School of Medicine. “This new discovery opens a new front in this area of research as it identifies a novel and unique therapeutic target for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases including heart failure, stroke and diabetes.”

NYMC Faculty: Michal Laniado Schwartzman, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Pharmacology

Kids and their smartphones aren't easily parted, but if you want your children to get a good night's sleep and to stay at a healthy weight, limiting bedtime screen time appears key, new research suggests.Parent surveys revealed that using a smartphone or watching TV at bedtime was tied to a greater body mass index (BMI). BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.And using any technology at bedtime -- cellphones, TVs, laptops, iPads and video games -- was linked to getting about an hour less sleep, poorer sleep and, not surprisingly, morning fatigue.

NYMC Faculty: Peter L. Richel, M.D., clinical assistant professor of pediatrics