Two physicians who spent the past few years doing research at the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research graduated this week with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Molecular Medicine from the Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine. This year’s graduates are David Walter Rosenthal, DO, and Emil Pablo Nashi, MD. The program was held at the Feinstein’s Goldman International Conference Center on Thursday, May 26.
Dr. Rosenthal studied the immune responses to human papillomavirus (HPV) in the laboratory of Vincent Bonagura, MD. Human papillomavirus causes cervical cancer and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, a condition where benign growths form in patient’s airway. Dr. Rosenthal’s thesis helps explain how HPV evades the normal immune response, and thereby lays the groundwork for developing a treatment for active HPV disease.
He graduated as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO. He completed an internship and residency at St. Michael's Medical Center, Seton Hall University in Newark, NJ in Internal Medicine, dually accredited by the New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and a fellowship in Allergy/Immunology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s Long Island Campus at North Shore-LIJ Health System. He plans to pursue a career in academic medicine as a physician scientist, studying the human immune responses to viruses and other diseases affecting the immune system, such as primary immune deficiencies and HIV.
Dr. Rosenthal is the Clinical Director, Center for Young Adult, Adolescent and Pediatric HIV for the North Shore Health System and is a physician with the North Shore Medical Group in the Division of Allergy/Immunology. He sees patients with allergies, eczema, asthma, primary immune deficiencies and HIV.
Dr. Nashi graduated from the University of Alberta in 1998 and became interested in research during his residency. He studied lupus. After a fellowship in immunology, he completed a master’s degree during which time he studied genetic susceptibility in lupus. He worked in the Center for Autoimmune and Musculoskeletal Diseases at the Feinstein Institute. His research focuses on how signaling through a particular pathway (the B cell receptor (BCR) pathway) can contribute to autoimmunity. He uncovered abnormalities in a particular gene called Csk that he found can alter BCR signaling. This contributes to autoimmunity in a laboratory model of lupus. The implication of this work is that the BCR pathway is important to autoimmunity, and is a potential target of therapy. Dr. Nashi is now working as a physician at the McGill University Health Center, where he is continuing his research on lupus.
The Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine currently has 12 students enrolled. Unlike the typical graduate program at universities or medical schools, the Elmezzi Graduate School offers an individually tailored program with a strong emphasis on translational research.
The Health System considers education a critical strategic focus. Nine of the hospitals are teaching facilities that are involved in both graduate and undergraduate medical education. North Shore-LIJ has partnered with Hofstra University to establish a new Medical School on Long Island. The first class of 40 students will arrive this summer.
Daniel L. Kastner, MD, PhD, Deputy Director for Intramural Clincial Research, National Institutes for Health, and Scientific Director in the Division of Intramural Research at the National Human Genome Research Institute, accepted an honorary degree from the Elmezzi graduate program. A rheumatologist and immunologist, Dr. Kastner and his colleagues have recently played a role in identifying mutations in a gene called CIAS1 that is associated with neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). He has also conducted research on genes associated with cystinuria, the most common inherited form of kidney stones.
New recipients of endowed professorships were announced during this year’s commencement. David Battinelli, MD, is the new Betsy Cushing Whitney Professor of Medicine and Chief Academic Officer. Jeremy Boal, MD, is now The Lawrence Scherr, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Professor of Medicine. Thomas McGinn, MD, accepts the new endowed title of the David J. Greene Professor of Medicine.
A number of new professorships were also announced and include the Randi and Mark Jacobson Professor of Metabolism that was awarded to Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president of the Feinstein Institute. Peter F.R. Walker, MD, Professor of Anesthesiology went to John DiCapua, MD. The Merinoff Endowed Directorship was also awarded to Dr. Tracey.
Comments