Elmezzi Graduate School 2021 Update - Northwell Health
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Elmezzi Graduate School 2021 Update
In 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic reshaped our lives and called on our students of the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine to shift their focus from their research projects to helping treat patients in Northwell Health’s hospitals and consenting patients for clinical trials. When New York was the epicenter of the virus in March and April, it was a time filled with uncertainty and fear, but our scholars and frontline workers around the world provided hope to their colleagues, patients, families and everyone at home with their strength and dedication. I am proud to share with you in this report an update of achievements. These achievements include virtually celebrating the graduation of three students who successfully wrote and presented their theses while also providing a helping hand during the COVID-19 pandemic, and during Northwell’s Constellation Forum, presenting New York Governor Andrew Cuomo with an honorary degree for his leadership throughout the pandemic. We also recognize, with The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Dr. Anthony Cerami for his vision to start the Elmezzi Graduate School and his advancements in medical research, and two of our alumni who are making an impact in HIV research and the LGBTQ+ community. The Elmezzi Graduate School continues to pursue its mission to provide an immersive educational experience dedicated to understanding the causes of human diseases and translating research into diagnostic and therapeutic solutions. The situation COVID-19 has presented to the health care and research world coincides with this mission to quickly move our research from the laboratory work bench to patient bedside. Through innovation and collaboration, we will persevere to overcome the challenges of COVID-19. Although this past year was unlike any other we have experienced, it has made us stronger and even more determined to conduct our research. The success of the Elmezzi Graduate School and our students would not be possible without the support of The Thomas and Jeanne Elmezzi Foundation, the Elmezzi Graduate School board of directors and the committed Feinstein Institutes investigators. We look forward to the year ahead and the future accomplishments of our students. Annette T. Lee, PhD Dean
Elmezzi scholars return to
the frontlines for COVID-19
The coronavirus challenged us to adapt our personal and professional lives to a new
normal this past year. When New York became the epicenter of COVID-19 in March and
April 2020, five of the Elmezzi Scholars were called on to respond. Erik Anderson, MD,
PhD, Naomi-Liza Denning, MD, PhD, Michelle Kallis, MD, PhD, Siavash Bolourani, MD, and
William Royster, MD, joined thousands of other doctors and nurses to control the daily
influx of patients during the two-month surge.
They worked tirelessly through 24-hour shifts in the COVID trials at the patients’ bedside. Dr. Anderson stated, “I
ICU units at Northwell Health hospitals and consented thought that doing this work, while disconcerting at
patients at their bedside for clinical trials when the risks of times given the risks, was ultimately rewarding in that
the virus were still unknown. Like all healthcare workers, I felt I was contributing towards gaining desperately
they wanted to ensure patients were getting the care needed knowledge about the disease.” Within a month,
they needed. members of The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
enrolled more than 1,300 patients in seven clinical trials
New York had the largest and fastest spike of COVID-19 in
and programs.
the United States; however, after two months the state
went from having the highest infection rates in the country Elmezzi scholars also devoted their time to communicating
to one of the lowest. Although the numbers decreased, with the patients’ families as they were not permitted
the intensity of these experiences will never leave these to visit their loved ones. This lack of familial support was
dedicated healthcare workers. Some of the specific difficult for patients, filling them with fear and anxiety;
challenges they faced were the severity of infection in however, many physicians and nurses made it a priority
patients, patient volume and shortage of medications and to regularly update the patients’ families despite their
supplies. Elmezzi scholars were deployed to an improvised overwhelming workloads.
unit of 23 ICU beds where patients required emergent
“Communication with families is always important in
intubation. The patients were all heavily sedated and
medicine, but it was even more so with COVID given that
usually chemically paralyzed in order to better ventilate
many of the patients that I worked with were intubated
their lungs. When discussing treatment and shortage of
and sedated and really were at risk for decompensating
supplies, Dr. Royster shared, “We would frequently run
very quickly,” reflected Dr. Kallis. “I made it a point, no
out of one type of sedating or paralyzing medication and
matter how busy it was, to take time to call all the families
had to adjust accordingly. At the peak, the hospital was at
daily, sometimes multiple times a day if their family
almost 300 percent ICU capacity. Everyone was stressed,
member was getting worse. I felt like communicating with
but everyone still gave their all.” Physicians and nurses
their families was one of the most tangible ways I could
always had to think ahead and quickly determine the best
‘help’ them.”
course of treatment for their patients. Although there were
uplifting success stories, many patients had succumbed to Communication was also essential between nurses,
the disease. physicians and other support staff. Since Northwell created
In addition to Dr. Bolourani’s work in the ICU, he and
continues on page 4
Dr. Anderson worked to consent patients for clinical
Elmezzi Graduate School 2021 Update | 3
New students Elmezzi scholars return to the
frontlines for COVID-19
Sara Siskind, MDgraduated continued from page 3
from SUNY Downstate College
of Medicine in 2017. She then makeshift ICUs in its hospitals, the Elmezzi scholars
began a general surgery had to work with people from various departments of
residency at Donald and the hospital and learn to adapt to each other quickly.
Barbara Zucker School of Dr. Denning shared, “Although it was a stressful time,
Medicine at Hofstra/ it was great to see all of us work so hard towards a
Northwell. In July 2019, she common goal. It helped foster good interdepartmental
began her research in Dr. Ping relations.” From the tireless hours worked and
Wang’s lab. Dr. Siskind’s research focuses on the role determined efforts, the bond established between the
of extracellular CIRP in acute kidney injury, specifically healthcare workers will be long lasting.
mediated through interaction with the TREM-1
receptor. She is also studying the effects of a novel This unexpected, challenging experience has reshaped
peptide, M3, which inhibits this interaction, as a each Elmezzi scholar’s professional perspective and even
treatment modality in acute kidney injury. Her impacted Dr. Bolourani’s current research focus in the
primary focus is aimed at kidney injury secondary to Elmezzi program. “Acute lung diseases like COVID-19
ischemia reperfusion injury, but her research also has were not my area of research prior to this pandemic,”
applications in kidney injury secondary to sepsis. said Dr. Bolourani. “Whether it was the sense of duty or
just fighting the feeling of powerlessness against this
disease, I started working on machine learning based
Dane Thompson, MD, MBA prediction models for COVID-19 patients. Going through
earned his medical degree from the data and the steep learning curve of starting a new
the University of Minnesota. He area of research has changed my research outlook.”
then completed two years of
general surgery residency The dedication of each frontline worker was remarkable
training at the Donald and during this unprecedented time. Despite the many
Barbara Zucker School of obstacles COVID-19 presented, Drs. Anderson, Denning
Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. and Kallis all successfully defended their theses and
In 2019, he joined the lab of received their degrees during a virtual commencement in
Dr. Kevin Tracey as a post-doctoral fellow. Since joining June 2020. The Elmezzi Graduate School also presented
the lab, Dr. Thompson’s research has focused on New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo with an honorary
understanding the links between the inflammatory degree for his leadership throughout the pandemic
reflex and regulation of pancreatic cancer growth. during Northwell Health’s Constellation Forum in
August 2020.
Stefanos Zafeiropoulos, MD, MS “It’s my pleasure to accept this degree on behalf of all
earned his medical degree New Yorkers who work so hard to get us through this
from the Aristotle University of COVID pandemic,” said Governor Cuomo at the Forum.
Thessaloniki in Greece. He then “I also want to thank our entire healthcare community
completed a Master of Science for literally doing the impossible at great personal
(MS) in Medical Research sacrifice and saving thousands and thousands of lives
Methodology at the same in this state — that’s what you did and there can be no
University. In September 2020, greater pursuit.”
Dr. Zafeiropoulos joined the
Although the Elmezzi scholars never envisioned
Elmezzi Graduate School, where he is working in
themselves working through a global pandemic, they
the Translational Neurophysiology Lab under the
accepted the challenge, cared for hundreds of patients
mentorship of Dr. Stavros Zanos, exploring the vagus
and helped the research community begin their mission
nerve stimulation effects on cardiovascular diseases.
to find effective treatments for COVID-19. Each of the
His research focuses on fighting inflammation and
students agreed it felt good to be able to help their
autonomic imbalance in pulmonary arterial
community. Their experiences have given them a new
hypertension.
sense of pride for the job they do.
4 | Northwell Health
Elmezzi Graduate School
recognizes Dr. Anthony Cerami
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
recently named its fourth floor glass conference
room the Anthony Cerami Conference Room to
recognize Dr. Anthony Cerami for his contributions
in medical research.
It was Dr. Cerami’s vision to start a graduate school
specifically designed for physicians who wanted to pursue
translational research while earning a PhD; the Elmezzi
Graduate School of Molecular Medicine is the direct
result of his vision. The Elmezzi Graduate School has to
date 44 graduated students and awarded 29 honorary
degrees. Dr. Cerami’s desire to enrich the research world
through education is reflected in the 20 years he spent
as a professor and dean at Rockefeller University and
in the development of the Elmezzi Graduate School.
During his career, Dr. Cerami has had a significant impact
on the medical research world by turning his discoveries
into therapeutic products. He has been the inventor or
co-inventor of over 150 issued U.S. patents and hundreds
of foreign counterparts including the development of
Portrait of Dr. Anthony Cerami by artist Karl Hagedorn.
the hemoglobin A1c test used worldwide by diabetics,
the identification of the anti-tumor necrosis factor
(TNF) monoclonal antibody for the treatment of Crohn’s 2001, Dr. Cerami assisted in establishing the Feinstein
disease and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as many other Institutes, serving on the Board of Directors starting in
inflammatory and tissue related discoveries. He is a 2006, and is currently an honorary director of the Board.
member of the National Academy of Sciences and has
To commemorate the naming of the conference room, a
been the recipient of the Luft Award in Diabetes, the
portrait of Dr. Cerami by Karl Hagedorn was donated to the
Banting Medal for Scientific Achievement and the Paul
Feinstein Institutes and is on display in the Anthony Cerami
Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize for his work in TNF.
conference room.
Dr. Cerami’s findings have helped patients overcome or
manage their illness, and the more than 500 publications About the artist: Karl Hagedorn (1922–2005) was a German artist
of his discoveries have assisted researchers in their studies. from the 1950s to the 21st century who referred to his work as
symbolic abstraction. He is known for using vivid colors, forms
He is a leader in the laboratory and in the operations of and shapes in various mediums including painting, drawing,
research institutes and programs. Dr. Cerami was the first watercolor and gouache. Hagedorn used great precision in his
president of the Picower Institute for Medical Research work to depict a connection between the human system and the
from 1991 to 1996. After the Picower Institute closed in world it reflects.
What are the odds?
With more than 23,000 people participating in the 35th Annual LA Marathon, the
chances of running into someone you know are slim. In spite of different start times
and running speeds, two Elmezzi alumni found each other at the finish line after the
26.2-mile race. Adam Khader, class of 2015, and Sergio Iván Valdés-Ferrer, class of 2013,
recognized each other instantly even though they had not seen each other for more
than five years. It was an unexpected, but exciting coincidence that shows the long-
standing bond between Elmezzi scholars.
Adam Khader ’15 and Sergio Valdés-Ferrer ’13
Elmezzi Graduate School 2021 Update | 5
2020 Elmezzi Graduate 2021 Graduating students
School of Molecular
Yemil Atisha-Fregoso, MD i s a Mexican
Medicine Graduates rheumatologist whose primary interest
is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Under
Dr. Betty Diamond’s mentorship, he
Erik Anderson, MD, PhD
is conducting studies focused on
researched the role of
understanding the behavior and origin of
interferon-alpha and
plasma cells in patients with lupus. The
kynurenine/tryptophan
final goal of these studies is to find
metabolism on cognitive
the subpopulations of B cells that are
dysfunction and
precursors of the pathogenic autoreactive plasma cells and the
depression in lupus. He is
mechanisms that cause the differentiation of these cells. He is
currently a postdoctoral
also studying alternatives for the treatment of lupus, focused on
research trainee in
B cells. He presented part of his work in oral presentation at the
Dr. Meggan Mackay’s lab at The Feinstein
American College of Rheumatology meeting. After completing
Institutes for Medical Research.
his PhD, Dr. Atisha-Fregoso will continue studying lupus as a
physician scientist.
Naomi-Liza Denning, MD,
PhD studied the
Siavash (Sia) Bolourani, MD i s a general
interaction between
surgery resident whose two separate
extracellular Cold-
focuses are the role of extracellular Cold
inducible RNA-binding
inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP) on
protein (eCIRP) and
pulmonary fibrosis and using machine
Triggering Receptor
learning techniques to predict specific
Expressed on Myeloid
outcomes in surgical patients. He is
Cells-1 (TREM-1) in
mentored by Drs. Ping Wang and
inflammation and sepsis. She is currently a
Theodoros P. Zanos. Dr. Bolourani has
general surgery resident at Northwell Health.
presented his work at national and international conferences,
including the Shock Society Annual Meetings, CHEST Meetings
Michelle Kallis, MD, PhD
and the American College of Surgeon’s Clinical Congress.
focused her research on
Dr. Bolourani has won multiple travel and investigator awards for
the mechanisms that
his work. He will return to his general surgery residency after the
contribute to surgery-
completion of his PhD. Dr. Bolourani then hopes to practice as an
accelerated metastasis in
academic surgeon-scientist.
osteosarcoma. She
targeted macrophages
William Royster, MD is a general
within the metastatic
surgery resident whose research focuses
niche in order to
on the expression of the inhibitory
mitigate post-surgical metastatic enhancement
surface receptor Sialic acid-binding
to improve outcomes in patients with
Immunoglobulin-like Lectin G (Siglec-G) on
osteosarcoma. She is currently a general surgery
murine B-1a lymphocytes and the ability
resident at Northwell Health.
of extracellular CIRP (eCIRP) to alter the
expression of Siglec-G and the immune
phenotype of the B-1a cells. His research is
mainly aimed at fighting sepsis, but has applications to sterile
inflammation, such as intestinal ischemia reperfusion injuries. He
is mentored by Dr. Ping Wang. Dr. Royster has presented his work
at national conferences, including The American College of
Surgeons, The Academic Surgical Congress and The Shock Society.
After graduation, he will return to Northwell for the final 3 years
of his general surgery residency. Dr. Royster plans to pursue a
career as a surgeon-scientist, focusing on surgical oncology.
6 | Drs.
Northwell Healthand Bolourani work in the lab.
Atisha, Royster
Spotlight on alumni
David Rosenthal, PhD, DO graduated life. Dr. Rosenthal has led this Center to improve the public’s
in 2014 and is currently an allergy access to comprehensive HIV care by being part of New
and immunology physician, an York’s Center for AIDS Research and Treatment. Specifically
assistant professor at the Donald and in his research, Dr. Rosenthal has been exploring TH2/
Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at TH1 cytokine and chemokine expression from T-cells
Hofstra/Northwell, and the medical in HPV-induced recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
director of the Center for Young Dr. Rosenthal’s clinical interests expanded when he
Adult, Adolescent and Pediatric found the Center for Transgender Care in 2016. He has
HIV and Center for Transgender been advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion by coordinating
Care at Northwell Health. In addition to these many roles, clinical, infrastructural, research and education initiatives
Dr. Rosenthal is a researcher at The Feinstein Institutes for in Northwell’s health system. With the Center, he is able
Medical Research where he studies immune responses to to create an environment where Trans and non-binary
viruses, the use of technology in health care, as well as individuals feel respected and know they are receiving
outcomes-based research for patients living with HIV and competent care. In 2020, Dr. Rosenthal opened the
for the LGBTQ+ community. Northwell Health Physician Partners LGBTQ Transgender
Health Program, Long Island’s first center dedicated to
Dr. Rosenthal has made great strides in helping patients
transgender care, which provides an array of services
with HIV and members of the LGBTQ+ community receive
to the LGBTQIA+ community and educates health care
the best clinical care. Since 2011, he has directed the
professionals about transgender health. Dr. Rosenthal’s
Center for Young Adult, Adolescent and Pediatric HIV
constant clinical efforts are helping transform health care
to provide medical and psychological care, as well as
to provide high-quality care for all communities.
educational support to assist patients in living a fulfilling
Sergio Iván Valdés-Ferrer, MD, PhD In the fall of 2015, he relocated to Mexico City, where he
graduated in 2013 and has made leads the Laboratory of Neurobiology and Systemic Illness.
research the main focus of his career. His laboratory focuses on cholinergic mechanisms to
Dr. Valdés-Ferrer was recently reverse persistent immune activation in HIV infection, the
appointed Head of the Laboratory of role of microglia in cognitive dysfunction in sepsis and CNS
Neurobiology and Systemic Illness at dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus. Dr. Valdés-
the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Ferrer is also the leading investigator on an investigator-
Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán generated study of the utility of acetylcholinesterase
in Mexico City, Mexico. Dr. Valdés- inhibitors (AChEI) to improve T cell homeostasis in people
Ferrer is also an adjunct assistant professor at the Center for living with HIV infection. Finally, Dr. Valdés-Ferrer is the
Biomedical Science at The Feinstein Institutes for principal investigator in a multi-centric trial evaluating the
Medical Research. role of pyridostigminer, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, in
patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.
After finishing medical school at the National University of
Mexico, Dr. Valdés-Ferrer did residency training in Clinical His lab is funded by three federal grants from the National
Neurology, and after a few years into his academic and Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACyT), as
private practice, he realized that there was much more he well as the Pfizer Scientific Institute (Mexico) who awarded
couldn’t explain about brain disease than he could. This Dr. Valdés-Ferrer in 2016 with the Clinical Research Prize to
curiosity led him to The Feinstein Institutes for Medical fund his pilot study of AChEI in HIV infection. Dr. Valdés-
Research where he received his PhD from the Elmezzi Ferrer is actively collaborating with Kevin J. Tracey at the
Graduate School and completed a postdoctoral fellowship Feinstein Institutes, as well as with Gary Nolan and Brice
studying the biological role of HMGB1 in sepsis survivors, Gaudilliere at Stanford University. Dr. Valdés-Ferrer values
where he found a previously unknown role for HMGB1 as collaboration and global cross-communication between
inducer of anemia of inflammation. While at the Feinstein scientists, academia, industry, and clinicians because it
Institutes, he co-founded the Management and Leadership moves forward their understanding of disease and allows
training group for scientists to advance his colleagues’ them to create novel therapeutic strategies
capabilities and make them effective leaders in the lab.
Elmezzi Graduate School 2021 Update | 7
Since 2007, the support of the Elmezzi Foundation has allowed the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research
to search for new advances through biomedical research. Alumni of the Elmezzi Graduate School of
Molecular Medicine continue to improve health care around the world long after they have graduated.
Alumni Worldwide
1
Japan
Sweden
1
2
China
4
Germany
Canada 1
Italy
Switzerland
1
1 Israel
India
1
1
30 United States
1 Mexico
900+ Research Publications
16 New York 44 Alumni
3 California
Alumni in U.S. 1 Alabama
1 Endowment
Maine
Impact 26 U.S. Utility Patents
1 Maryland
1 Massachusetts
1 Minnesota National Institute of
1 Pennsylvania 13 Health Grants
1 Texas
1 West Virginia Current Students
3 Wisconsin
9 (as of July 2020)
Alumni Areas of Focus Current Alumni Positions
Assistant Professors
Rheumatology CEO
Surgery 1 Chiefs
Cardiology Pulmonary and
7 Immunology
1
Critical Care
Fellows
4 Biochemistry 1
3 Investigators
Obstetrics and
Bioelectronic Radiology Medical Directors
Gynecology
Medicine 1 Pathology Pediatric and 1
1 Professor
1 Adolescent
Medicine Radiologist
1 Research Scientists
Residents
Hematology Endocrinology
and Oncology 1 Internal Medicine
Psychiatry
Neuroscience
4 11 1 5
527972_LUM 2021_02
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