Thank you to everyone who came to our recent Town Hall. We delved deeper into the Strategic Plan. Your engagement and participation are crucial as we chart the course for our department's future together.

During the session, we emphasized our commitment to integrating Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion efforts into every facet of our operations. We must understand that DEI isn't just a standalone initiative, but our collective responsibility, requiring teamwork and collaboration. Internally, we are focusing on enhancing employee engagement and integrating DEI efforts into our recruitment process. Externally, we recognize the importance of DEI in patient care and community engagement. We strive for our organization to reflect the diverse communities we serve and foster an inclusive environment for all.

Another significant pillar revolves around the well-being of our faculty and staff. We're prioritizing initiatives such as professional development and fostering a culture of wellness to ensure that every member of our team feels supported and valued. It was inspiring to have the Medical Center's new Chief Wellbeing Officer, Craig Rooney, PhD, and Associate CWO, Jessica Shand, MD, MHS, join us to discuss their vision and goals for promoting wellbeing within our organization. You can learn more about their mission and goals.

Our third pillar aims to set new standards in patient care, striving for excellence while ensuring equity and accessibility for all. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, addressing social determinants of health, and disseminating our clinical innovations globally are just a few of the strategies we're employing as a team to achieve this ambition. We aim to make a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of individuals and communities worldwide by pioneering superior patient care.

I encourage you all to watch the Town Hall videos: here is Part Two, and in case you need a refresher, here is Part One. We seek your feedback and welcome you to share your thoughts through this survey.

On a final note, this weekend is St. Patrick's Day! Here's an old Irish toast of gratitude: "Always remember to forget the troubles that passed away. But never forget to remember the blessings that come each day." To those of you who will celebrate, have fun, and stay safe! Sláinte!

Be well,
Ruth O'Regan, MD

Grants: Ryan O’Connor, MD, a Cardiovascular Disease fellow, was selected for the 2023-24 Dr. Stephen S. Scheidt Memorial Scholarship, awarded by the Board of Directors for the New York Cardiological Society. The award supports attendance at the American College of Cardiology national conference in April.

Publication: Wenjia Wang, MD, PhD, and division chief Aram Hezel, MD, from Hematology/Oncology, are authors of "Smad4 restricts injury-provoked biliary proliferation and carcinogenesis," published in Disease Models and Mechanisms. Learn more about their study.

Publication: Ilana Abeles, MD, PhD, Christopher Palma, MD, ScM, John Looney, MD, and division chief Jennifer Anolik, MD, PhD, from Allergy, Immunology & Rheumatology, are authors of "B Cell–Directed Therapy in Autoimmunity," published in Annual Reviews.

Publication: Anthony Pietropaoli, MD, from Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, and Craig Morell, DVM, PhD, director of Aab CVRI, are authors of "Thrombocytopenia Independently Leads to Changes in Monocyte Immune Function," published in Circulation Research.

Publication: Mostafa Mohamed, MBBCh, MSc, Allison Magnuson, DO, and Supriya Mohile, MD, MS, all from Hematology/Oncology, are authors of "Primary Treatment Modification and Treatment Tolerability Among Older Chemotherapy Recipients With Advanced Cancer," published in JAMA Open Network.

In the News: Susan Friedman, MD, MPH, from Highland Hospital, was a panelist on WXXI's Connections discussion of "How to navigate the social side of retirement."

In the News: Vivek Kaul, MD, and Sarah Enslin, PA, from Gastroenterology & Hepatology, are authors of "Educational Events to Help APPs Stay at the Forefront of GI Practice," published in Gastroenterology & Endoscopy News.

Satcher Award Nominations Due March 25

Nominations for the 15th annual Dr. David Satcher Community Health Improvement Awards are due at noon Monday, March 25, to the Center for Community Health & Prevention. New this year, a team category has been added to the staff, junior faculty, and senior faculty award categories. The awards reflect the mission of the Center for Community Health & Prevention and the Medical Center to develop and expand community-University partnerships that support community-engaged research and interventions that reduce health inequities and improve communities' health.