PHOTO BY THOMAS HABR ON UPSPLASH - NYU Langone Health

New(s)UPDATEJoin Us to HelpOur StudentsTravel (HOST)Alumni hosted students in15 states last yearTHANK YOU TO OUR2017 HOSTSMarc D. Anker ’76Stephen N. Bell ’66Charles D. Birnbach ’92Allison W. DePersia ’12IN 2017, NYU School of Medicine relaunched the “Help OurJeffrey S. Garrett ’81Students Travel” (HOST) program to help students offsetsome of the financial burden and stress of interviewing fortheir residency placements. Already, alumni in 15 states haveparticipated—providing housing and an insider’s view of theirown medical specialty, of the profession in general, and oftheir city of residence and its resources.Meghan L. Jardon ’16Daniel C. Kessler ’01Michael G. Kowalski ’83Hillary A. Kruger ’90Douglas M. Levin ’69Carlos A. Lopez ’99Gwendolyn L. Lopez-Cohen ’02Call for VolunteersBreanna L. Lustre ’12We’re actively seeking alumni to host students traveling fortheir residency interviews between October 2018 and January2019. The HOST program provides a wonderful opportunityto build connections between students and alumni that canlast a lifetime.Jesse McDermeit ’16Grace Y. Ma ’92Lynn E. Morgenlander ’82Joseph R. Plaksin ’16Steven L. Sabol ’73Judith B. Schartenberg ’77Ameer K. Sharifzadeh ’17Interested in hosting students?Call: 212-263-5390Email: alumnirelations@nyumc.orgVisit: bit.ly/volunteerhostPeter A. Smith ’84R. James Toussaint ’08Edward Tuohy IV ’95Amber L. Wheeler ’07Patty Yoon, parentOPENINGSNew Practices in the Sunshine StateNYU Langone Health brings cardiology and primary care to FloridaIN AN EFFORT to exportseamless access to the highquality care offered at NYULangone Health in NewYork City, the health systemrecently opened two locationsin Florida. At NYU LangoneCardiology Associates in6 NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINEDelray Beach, physicians diagnose and treat cardiac andvascular conditions; at NYULangone Medical Associatesin West Palm Beach, physicians provide high-qualityprimary and cardiology care.Same-day appointments areoften available. No matterwhere you are, north or south,your electronic medical record is accessible to you andyour care team.“Every detail of this newambulatory care centerhas been thoughtfully

“DR. TOUSSAINT AND HIS WIFE MADE ME FEEL RIGHT ATHOME IN TOWN AND TOOK WONDERFUL CARE OF MEDURING MY TIME THERE. THANK YOU FOR CONNECTINGUS THROUGH THE HOST PROGRAM.”JING YE ’18“I WAS HAPPY TO OPEN MY HOME TOJING YE! IT WAS FUN HAVING PART OFTHE NYU COMMUNITY DOWN HEREIN FLORIDA, AND I WELCOME THEOPPORTUNITY TO DO IT AGAIN.”R. JAMES TOUSSAINT ’08Photo courtesy of R. James ToussaintR. James Toussaint ’08 (right), an orthopedic surgeon, medical consultant, andresearcher, who served as co-chair of his 10th reunion in 2018, and his wife,Sara (left), who received her MBA from NYU Stern in 2008, hosted Jing Ye ’18in Gainesville, Florida, for her interview at the University of Florida.designed to ensure that itis consistent with our otherlocations across the NYULangone Health system,while at the same timedrawing inspiration fromthe Florida community,”said Vicki Match Suna, AIA,senior vice president andvice dean for real estatedevelopment and facilities atNYU Langone. “For example,we’ve enhanced the spaces7 with engaging artwork inpartnership with local artistMary Ellen Scherl, creatinga welcoming, healingenvironment for patients,visitors, and staff.”Since 2011, NYU Langonehas expanded its networkto more than 230 locationsacross Manhattan, Brooklyn,Queens, Long Island, StatenIsland, the Hudson Valley—and now the Sunshine State.GRAPEVINE ALUMNI MAGAZINE SPRING 2018It has maintained itsposition as a national leaderin the highest-qualityoutpatient care. In 2017,NYU Langone received theAmbulatory Care Quality andAccountability Award fromVizient, Inc., for the thirdyear in a row.Learn more:nyulangone.org/cardiologydelraybeach

New(s)CELEBRATIONSDean’s Honors DayRecognizes OutstandingFacultyIN OCTOBER 2017, Dean andCEO Robert I. Grossman, MD,led NYU School of Medicine’sannual event to recognize agroup of extraordinary peopleat NYU Langone Health fortheir intellect, compassion,and service.H. Leon Pachter ’71, theGeorge David Stewart Chairand Professor of Surgery,received the Master Clinician Award. In his remarks,Dr. Grossman referred toDr. Pachter as an outstanding surgeon and a “goodold-fashioned doctor” whobuilds enduring relationshipswith his patients. Dr. Pachterfled Nazi Germany with hisfamily at age 5. In acceptinghis award, he thanked theUnited States for taking hisfamily in and giving them8 NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINErefuge as well as a wealthof opportunities.György Buzsáki, MD, PhD,the Biggs Professor ofNeuroscience, was namedthis year’s Master Scientistin recognition of his majorcontributions to our understanding of memory and howthe brain works, as well ashis overwhelming generosityas a mentor. Dr. Buzsáki saidhe loves his work so much, “Idon’t even understand whyit’s called a job.” He addedthat it is a unique privilege tosupport and share inyoung researchers’ excitement about discovery.The Master EducatorAward was presented toElisabeth Cohen, MD, theacademic advisor to medicalstudents in the Three-YearAccelerated MD Pathwayprogram at NYU Langone.A formidable clinician andclinical researcher, Dr. Cohenleads a national study aimedat improving treatment ofherpes zoster ophthalmicus,a form of shingles that affectsthe eye. Dr. Cohen’s ownsurgical career was endedby the virus, and she hasadvocated tirelessly to helpspare others by encouraginguse of the preventive vaccine.Martin Lipton (LAW ’55),a longtime member of NYULangone Health’s Board ofTrustees, was honored withthe Valentine Mott FoundersAward, conferred each year ona benefactor who has championed NYU Langone’s missionthrough his or her support.Steven B. Abramson, MD,Photo: Jay BradyHonorees included H. Leon Pachter ’71, the George David StewartProfessor of SurgeryLeft to right: H. Leon Pachter ’71,György Buzsáki, MD, PhD,Elisabeth Cohen, MD, and MartinLipton (LAW ’55)

CELEBRATIONSFaculty ServiceAchievement Awardsfor 2016–17IN JANUARY, NYU School of Medicine hosted an event torecognize faculty who celebrated milestone anniversarieslast year. Below are the award recipients.2016: 25-YEAR AWARD2016: 50-YEAR AWARDJeffrey M. Cohen ’86Keith S. Heller ’71Abraham Jelin ’72Allen S. Keller ’88Richard A. Lebowitz ’88Margaret J. Nachtigall ’88Edwin F. Richter III ’87Elias G. Sakalis ’90Gail E. Schattner ’89Mark A. Steele ’86Alexandra Stern ’90Scott A. Weber ’88Paul B. Yellin ’79Ross S. Basch ’61Martin L. Kahn ’63Richard P. Novick ’592017: 25-YEAR AWARDJoseph DeVito ’91Colette J. Ho ’91Salvatore R. Lenzo ’81Ted E. Listokin ’91Cynthia A. Loomis ’90, PhD(GSAS ’93)Rhonda J. Pomerantz ’89Andrew E. Prince ’80Sondra R. Zabar ’912016: 35-YEAR AWARDWilliam J. Cole ’80Michael J. Faust ’78Mark S. Nachamie ’80Peter L. Reisfeld ’77Rene S. Rodriguez-Sains ’77James M. Salik ’80senior vice president andvice dean for education,faculty, and academicaffairs, also recognized thosefaculty members who havebeen named director of aninstitute; who have receivedan endowed professorship;who have been promotedor received tenure in therole of professor; and whohave been promoted toassociate professor, clinicalor research professor, orclinical or research associateprofessor. NYU LangoneHealth’s chairman of theBoard of Trustees, Kenneth G.Langone, thanked everyonepresent, and all the facultyand staff, for working daily “tohelp people live healthier andbetter lives.”9 2017: 35-YEAR AWARDMichael J. Attubato ’81Gary S. Meredith ’812017: 50-YEAR AWARDFelicia B. Axelrod ’66Lois Anne Katz ’66Arthur S. Lebowitz ’65Michael S. Simberkoff ’62Bruce K. Young ’63BOOKSBefore the Court ofHeaven (Long TrailPress, 2016), by JackL. Mayer ’71, is anaward-winning workof historical fictionbased on a truestory of Weimar Germany and therise of the Third Reich, illuminatinghow a democracy can becomea dictatorship, and how ordinarypeople can become complicit inextraordinary crimes. Dr. Mayer alsowrote Life in a Jar: The Irena SendlerProject (Long Trail Press, 2011), anonfiction book about a forgottenHolocaust hero, Irena Sendler, whorescued 2,500 Jewish children fromthe Warsaw ghetto. Dr. Mayer is apracticing pediatrician in Vermont,an instructor in pediatrics at theUniversity of Vermont School ofGRAPEVINE ALUMNI MAGAZINE SPRING 2018Medicine, and an adjunct facultymember for pre-med students atMiddlebury College. To learn more,visit jackmayer.net.Vitamin D (AcademicPress, 2018), byDavid Feldman’63, BA (ARTS ’59),editor-in-chief andemeritus professorof medicine (endocrinology, gerontology, and metabolism) at StanfordUniversity, is a major two-volumepublication now in its fourth edition.Its more than 100 authors cover allfeatures of vitamin D: biology, physiology, and clinical aspects, includingits role in bone health, immunology,cancer, and multiple diseases suchas osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.

New(s)CELEBRATIONS11. Dean and CEO Robert I. Grossman,Thomas J. Liesegang ’70, and AnthonyJ. Grieco ’63; 2. Malika Wilson ’21;3. Saida H. Baxt ’66 and Sherwood A.Baxt ’66 with Jitendra Sonal Patel ’19and Gabriel Redel-Traub ’20, recipientsof the Saida H. Baxt, MD, Scholarship;4. Roberta Goldring, MD, with NolanKerstin ’19, recipient of the Robert S.Coles Scholarship; 5. Dean Grossman,Jeffrey P. Friedman ’83, and AnthonyJ. Grieco ’63; 6. Celia Kroop, StevenKroop, Eugenie Kroop, and JessicaQiu ’19, recipient of the Dr. IrvingG. Kroop and Eugenie S. KroopScholarship; 7. Safi Ali-Khan ’19,Herbert A. Goldfarb ’60, and BeverlyGoldfarb; 8. Dean Grossman andMichael J. Napoliello ’6625678The Power of ScholarshipsRead larshipsIN NOVEMBER 2017, more than150 students, faculty, alumni,and friends took part in theannual Scholarship andAlumni Appreciation Dinnerat the Water Club in New YorkCity. NYU School of Medicinehonored three donors: MichaelJ. Napoliello ’66, who receivedthe Jerome S. Coles Award;10 NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINEThomas J. Liesegang ’70,who received the Samuel D.Leidesdorf Award; and JeffreyP. Friedman ’83, who receivedthe Raymond J. BrienzaScholarship Award.Malika Wilson ’21, a firstyear student originally fromLincoln, Nebraska, addressedthe group and described thelife-changing impact ofher scholarship.“By sixth grade, I knewthat I wanted to become anOB/GYN, so that I could bepart of bringing life into theworld,” Wilson said. “But myunwavering love for medicineis somewhat surprising asI never recall having met aPhotos: Alan Barnett PhotographyAlumni gifts help the next generation of physicians

EVENTSAlumni Reconnect alongthe East CoastScott Janowitz, ElizabethJanowitz, Warren R. Janowitz ’72,Allison Janowitz, and Joe Saka3SAVE THE DATE!4We hope you canjoin us at theseupcoming events.DURING THE ANNUAL Florida alumni regional brunch at theNEW ENGLAND ALUMNI BRUNCHBoca Beach Club in February, physicians reminisced abouttheir time at NYU School of Medicine and honored Warren R.Janowitz ’72, medical director of molecular imaging at BaptistHealth South Florida and clinical professor of radiology at theFlorida International School of Medicine. The event waschaired by Mary Chrussiadis ’89 and Howard E. Voss ’61.September 23, 11 amBoston Harbor HotelNORTHERN CALIFORNIAALUMNI BRUNCHOctober 20, 11 amThe Ritz Carlton, San FranciscoSOUTHERN CALIFORNIAALUMNI BRUNCHOctober 21, 11 amThe Peninsula, Beverly HillsFreed Photography (bottom right)Photos: Aaron Bristol from Bristolfoto (top right);Learn more and/or RSVP:Call Carolann Treacy at212-404-4032 or emailalumnievents@nyumc.org.black physician during mychildhood. My scholarshipmeant one less financialburden my mother had to takeon while having three childrenin higher education. It meantthat I, as an African Americanwoman from Nebraska, couldfinally envision myself as ablack doctor with role modelswho look like me. Mostimportantly, it meant that Iwould get the opportunity topursue my dreams withoutthe burden of choosinga specialty that wouldeventually cover my debt.”11 Saralyn Mark ’88 andAnthony J. Grieco ’63IN THE FALL OF 2017, alumni gathered at the WillardInterContinental in Washington, DC, to honor Saralyn Mark’88, founder and president of iGIANT and SolaMed Solutions,LLC. Our director of the Division of Medical Humanities, DavidOshinsky, PhD, attended both events to share his book Bellevue:Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America’s MostStoried Hospital (Random House, 2016).GRAPEVINE ALUMNI MAGAZINE SPRING 2018

Brian Elbel, PhD, MPHDirector of the ComprehensiveProgram on ObesityAnn Marie Schmidt ’83Director of IGNITION LabMelanie Jay ’00Co-Director of the ComprehensiveProgram on ObesityAssociate Professor, Departmentof Population HealthDr. Iven Young Professor ofEndocrinology,Department of MedicineAssociate Professor, Department ofMedicineProfessor, Department of Biochemistryand Molecular PharmacologyAssociate Professor, Departmentof Population HealthAssistant Dean for Strategic Initiativeswithin the Office of Science andResearchProfessor, Department of PathologySpecialty: Clinical ScienceSpecialty: Basic ScienceSpecialty: Population Health12 NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINEAssociate Professor, Departmentof Medicine

IGNITINGATRANSFORMATIONANN MARIE SCHMIDT ’83, MELANIE JAY ’00, ANDBRIAN ELBEL, PHD, ARE USING DATA AND TECHNOLOGYTO CONNECT RESEARCH IN BASIC SCIENCE, CLINICALMEDICINE, AND POPULATION HEALTH.by jen swetzoffAnn Marie Schmidt ’83 has never forgotten the patientsshe saw as a resident in internal medicine at Bellevuemore than 30 years ago. Back then, blood tests fortype 2 diabetes, the most common kind of diabetesand the one most often associated with obesity, hadonly recently emerged. Insulin pumps were justbecoming available. Many of her patients worked twoor more jobs, unable to monitor their insulin levelsregularly or compute a daily step count. There was no affordablediabetes drug to prescribe.“Those patients in the clinic had so many stresses and complications related to diabetes, including blindness, plus a lot of economicchallenges,” recalls Dr. Schmidt, the Dr. Iven Young Professor ofEndocrinology and Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry and MolecularPharmacology, and Pathology at NYU School of Medicine. “Thosepatients are the ones I think about on a daily basis. They’re the reasonI keep pushing ahead with my research, trying to give back, to find abetter solution.”FOLLOWING THE SCIENCEA world-renowned diabetes researcher,Dr. Schmidt has dedicated her life to medicalscience. She earned her BA in biology andhistory from NYU, and she is a graduate ofthe NYU School of Medicine, where she alsocompleted her medical residency and afellowship in hematology and medical13 GRAPEVINE ALUMNI MAGAZINE SPRING 2018oncology. Her Bellevue experience has shapedher career and her professional focus.After completing her fellowship, she spentnearly two decades in academia at ColumbiaUniversity—where she discovered the proteincalled RAGE (receptor for advanced glycationend products) that has proven to promote inflammation and to be a key player in diabeticcomplications. Dr. Schmidt found that giving

ADULTSCHILDREN1 3 2 3ININis obeseareoverweightor obese1 3 1 3ININisoverweightor obesewill developdiabetes86%Obesity is one of the biggest drivers ofpreventable chronic disease, which accountsfor 86% of annual healthcare spendingAdapted from data available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and in a 2014 report on obesity published by McKinsey & CompanyAnn Marie Schmidt ’83mice a RAGE inhibitor or genetically deletingthe animals’ receptor protected them fromdiabetic complications. The animals had lessatherosclerosis and considerably less nerve,retinal, and kidney damage.“It was a wonderful example of what Icontinue to tell people in the lab: Just followthe science,” Dr. Schmidt says.Today, while still steering NYU’sdiabetes research program, Dr. Schmidt isexpanding her scope to help stop one of themost dangerous and complex epidemicsfacing humanity: obesity. Over the pastyear, she and a multidisciplinary team ofphysicians, scientists, and economists at NYULangone have been collaborating on a projectthey believe can result in novel therapeuticinterventions and prevention.OBESITY’S HARSH REALITYA nurse teaching a patient howto use an insulin pump withouttubing, managed with anelectronic control unitObesity plays a role in 86 percent of annualhealthcare spending, according to a recentreport from McKinsey. Two-thirds of adults inthe U.S. are overweight or obese, and one outof three children will develop diabetes. Half ofthe world’s population is projected to be overweight by 2030. At 2 trillion a year, obesityhas roughly the same economic impact assmoking or armed conflict.NYU Langone is committed to changingthis harsh reality, and has been recruitingfaculty who prioritize innovation andcollaboration. In March 2017, in recognition ofNYU’s efforts, the American Heart Association(AHA) awarded a 4 million grant to Dr.Schmidt’s research lab, “NYU IGNITION”(InvestiGating Novel obesIty soluTIONs),with support from the recently launchedNYU Comprehensive Program on Obesity, toevaluate the anti-obesity effects of blockingRAGE. The initiative, which makes NYUpart of the national AHA Obesity ResearchNetwork, is breaking new ground by bringing14 NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINEtogether faculty spanning basic science,clinical medicine, and population health.Leading the basic science research team,Dr. Schmidt is studying new models in miceto determine the role of RAGE-dependentinflammation and adipocyte (fat cell) biologyin energy expenditure and weight loss.“We’ve already discovered that mice thathave no RAGE whatsoever are largely protected from high fat diet–induced obesity,” Dr.Schmidt says. “When they eat high-fat food,unlike their RAGE-expressing counterparts,they do not become obese. So, we believethat if we antagonize the receptor pharmacologically, we might be able to improve themetabolic effects. Right now, we’re doing ourtests in mice, but we’re optimistic that thiswill ultimately also work with people.”To begin making those human connections, Ira J. Goldberg, MD, director of theNYU Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes,and Metabolism, and the center’s deputydirector, along with Jose Aleman, MD, PhD,assistant professor of medicine, will manageIGNITION’s clinical team. Their groups willassess the involvement of the RAGE signalingpathway as well as novel, yet-to-be-identifiedpathways, and perform an unbiased analysisto determine the inflammatory pathwaysactivated within people who are obese, andhow these are changed with surgical anddietary weight reduction.A COMPREHENSIVE PLANNYU IGNITION’s comprehensive scope willbe rounded out by the work of Mary AnnSevick, ScD, professor of population healthand co-investigator with Eran Segal, PhD, ofthe Weizmann Institute in Israel. In a community-based clinical trial, Drs. Sevick andSegal will compare two behavioral weight lossinterventions delivered using mobile technology: a one-size-fits-all calorie- and fat-restrictedPhoto: BSIP SA / Alamy“WHEN IT COMESTO COMPLEXDISEASESLIKE OBESITY,TRANSFORMATIVETHINGS TAKETIME.”

Photo courtesy of Melanie Jaydiet, versus a calorie-restricted diet pluspersonalized feedback to reduce glycemicresponse to meals. In addition to the projectsled by Drs. Schmidt, Goldberg, and Sevick, theresearch plan will contain a rigorous trainingprogram, overseen by Ira Goldberg, MD, leaderof the clinical project in the AHA Center anddirector of the division of endocrinology,diabetes, and metabolism at

NYU School of Medicine Office of Development and Alumni Affairs One Park Avenue, 5th Floor New York, NY 10016 med.nyu.edu/alumni NYU Langone Health comprises NYU Langone Hospitals and NYU School of Medicine. THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE OF NYU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE SPRING 2018 6 HOST program brings together alumni and students, new practices open in Florida