News and Events

Dr. Gary Wormser, founder of the Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center at New York Medical College, said the most worrisome tick-borne contagion he sees is babesiosis, which can cause malaria-like symptoms and require hospitalization. A few of his patients have died from it; several required intensive care.

NYMC Faculty: Gary P. Wormser, M.D., professor of medicine, chief of Division of Infectious Diseases and vice chairman of Department of Medicine

I wasn’t suffering alone. Almost 30 million Americans are diagnosed with sinusitis each year, which accounts for around 12% of the adult population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S. – with 50 million suffering from them – and cost Americans $18 billion a year in co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses for doctor visits and allergy medication, plus over-the-counter drugs. “Most people regard sinusitis as a relatively trivial illness and don’t understand when people suffer as much as they do,” said Wellington Tichenor, an associate professor of medicine at New York Medical College.

Faculty Member: Wellington S. Tichenor, M.D., clinical associate professor of medicine

Although any type of extreme exercise can lead to the condition, the popularity of Spinning is what concerns Dr. Maureen Brogan, associate professor of medicine at New York Medical College, nephrologist at Westchester Medical Center and the lead author of the study. "I mean, Spinning, you burn 600 calories in an hour, and you lose up to a liter an hour of sweat," Brogan said. "Six hundred calories is like running six miles. So if you're not conditioned, you wouldn't just run six miles."

NYMC Faculty: Maureen E. Brogan, M.D., associate professor of medicine

Dr. Ronnie Myers has been appointed dean of Touro College of Dental Medicine in Valhalla. Dr. Myers has previous experience as a dean for Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. Myers has also been a consultant to the Commission of Dental Accreditation, a member and chair of the New York State Board of Dentistry, and chair member of the American Dental Education Association section on clinic administration. The new dean plans to develop “a unique educational and clinical program that incorporates many aspects of primary health care into the oral health care environment,” among other plans. Myers succeeds Dr. Jay Goldsmith, who has been named dean emeritus. 

TCDM Leadership: Ronnie Myers, D.D.S., dean of the Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College

NYC Health + Hospitals named Fay Rim, MD, senior assistant vice president for palliative care, effective July 31. Here are three things to know about Dr. Rim. 1. In her new role at NYC Health + Hospitals, Dr. Rim will have responsibility over "designing and implementing strategies to support a population-based approach to meeting palliative care needs throughout" the organization, according to the public health system. 2. Dr. Rim has worked for NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan for roughly six years. Most recently, she served as chief of pain medicine and palliative care and program director of the hospital's Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine Fellowship. 3. At present, she is assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Valhalla, N.Y.-based New York Medical College.

Dr. Gary Wormser, founder of the Lyme Disease Diagnostic Center at New York Medical College, said the most worrisome tick-borne contagion he sees is babesiosis, which can cause malaria-like symptoms and require hospitalization. A few of his patients have died from it; several required intensive care. Before 2001, babesiosis was not found in Westchester, N.Y. But Westchester Medical Center has diagnosed at least 21 cases in the past year. A study of babesiosis in Wisconsin found a 26-fold increase in the number of cases between 2001 to 2003, and 2012 to 2015.

Faculty Member: Gary P. Wormser, M.D., professor of medicine, chief of Division of Infectious Diseases and vice chairman of Department of Medicine