News from NYU Langone Health
This Hospital Hired Restaurant Chefs — and Completely Changed Its Food
Food & Wine
Over the past 12 years, NYU Langone Health has transformed its food system to serve restaurant-quality cuisine, challenging stereotypes about hospital meals. The initiative, which gained momentum after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, prioritizes fresh, from-scratch cooking. The program is led by hospitality industry experts, including Dan Dilworth, NYU Langone Health's senior director of food and nutrition services. Chefs collaborate with registered dietitians to create flavorful, medically tailored meals for patients. Vicki Match Suna, AIA, executive vice president and vice dean for real estate development and facilities at NYU Langone Health, noted the opportunity for change. The program is now focusing on sustainability.
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4/02/2026
RFK Jr launches $134M+ national program to study microplastics in the human body, drinking water
Fox News
The Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency announced a joint program to measure and remove microplastics from the nation's water supply and the human body. The Systematic Targeting of Microplastics (STOMP) initiative, valued at over $134 million, aims to develop a clinical test for microplastics costing under $50. Leonardo Trasande, MD, the Jim G. Hendrick, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and director of the Division of Environmental Pediatrics at NYU Langone Health, commented that the US healthcare cost contribution of plastic exposure is currently $250 billion annually.
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4/02/2026
Rethinking Obesity Diagnosis Beyond BMI Could Postpone Critical Treatment, Study Finds
SCIENMAG
A new Endocrine Society guideline communication argues that redefining obesity based on whether excess body fat causes measurable health problems, rather than just BMI, could complicate diagnosis and delay treatment. The authors, including Michael Weintraub, MD, endocrinologist and clinical associate professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, express concerns that the proposed framework is difficult to implement in routine clinical care and could create barriers to accessing treatment. They suggest the framework's reliance on complex measurements could also worsen existing health inequities. The authors advocate for a more practical approach that emphasizes clinical risk and functional impact.
Also reporting was: Endocrine News
4/02/2026
Getting Ahead Of Allergy Season
FOX 5 Health News
With allergy season approaching, Devi E. Nampiaparampil, MD, a clinical associate professor at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, offered tips for managing symptoms. She advised using air purifiers with HEPA filters at home and cleaning air conditioner filters before use. To minimize bringing pollen indoors, she suggested leaving outer layers of clothing outside after being in parks. For treatment, Dr. Nampiaparampil mentioned that while nasal sprays can offer quick relief, allergy shots are an option for more severe cases and can come closer to a cure.
4/02/2026
Cardiologist Reveals Her Favorite Trendy Exercise Class: 'It’s Really Intense'
TODAY
Nieca Goldberg, MD, a cardiologist and clinical associate professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, recommends a combination of cardio workouts and strength training for optimal health. She notes that varying exercise routines can provide extra advantages for longevity. Dr. Goldberg highlights that cardio is beneficial for blood pressure and cholesterol, while strength training helps build muscle and reduce body fat. She personally incorporates walking, stationary biking, yoga, and Gyrotonic training into her fitness regimen to maintain a varied and intense workout schedule.
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4/02/2026
Evaluating the Impact of Sugary Drink Taxes in Fast-Food Environments
SCIENMAG
A study published in PLOS Medicine and led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine found that sugary drink taxes have a negligible impact on calorie consumption in fast-food restaurants. The research, helmed by Brian Elbel, MPH, PhD, the Muriel G. and George W. Singer Professor of Population Health in the Department of Population Health and director of the Section on Health Choice, Policy and Evaluation in the Department of Population Health, and Pasquale Rummo, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Population Health, analyzed six years of data from a national fast-food chain. The findings suggest these taxes are less effective in fast-food settings compared to grocery stores, potentially due to consumer habits like ordering combo meals.
Also reporting was: Medscape
4/02/2026
FDA approves new daily GLP-1 pill — what to know, including how they compare to Wegovy tablets
New York Post
The FDA has approved Foundayo, a new daily GLP-1 pill from Eli Lilly for weight loss. Unlike its competitor, Wegovy, Foundayo is a small molecule that can be taken at any time of day, with or without food. Holly F. Lofton, MD, obesity medicine specialist and director of the Medical Weight Management Program at NYU Langone Health, noted this flexibility is significant for patients with complex morning routines. She added that the drug is a great addition to the available treatment options for weight management.
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4/02/2026
Expanding Treatment Options in Mantle Cell Lymphoma
HMP Global Learning Network
At the 2026 LL&M Winter Symposium, John P. Leonard, MD, director of the Center for Blood Cancers, Perlmutter Cancer Centre at NYU Langone Health, discussed recent advances in mantle cell lymphoma treatment. He reviewed the evolving role of BTK inhibitors in both frontline and relapsed settings and the diminishing use of autologous stem cell transplants in initial therapy. Dr. Leonard also highlighted emerging options, including CAR T-cell therapy, next-generation BTK inhibitors, and other novel targeted agents, noting that treatment options are expanding and improving patient longevity.
4/02/2026
Bindi Irwin Shares Diagnosis That Took 10 Years to Find: ‘Inescapable Pain'
Newsweek
Television personality Bindi Irwin revealed she was diagnosed with endometriosis after a decade of pain, highlighting common delays in diagnosis. An article from NYU Langone Health reports that the average time from first symptoms to diagnosis is seven to ten years. Kathy Huang, MD, director of NYU Langone Health's Endometriosis Center, stated that pain is not normal and urged those experiencing symptoms to seek answers. Irwin's social media post, shared during Endometriosis Awareness Month, has prompted renewed discussion about the challenges many women face in getting timely diagnoses for the condition.
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4/02/2026
Phase 2b/3 Study Begins for LPP With Brepocitinib
Dermatology Times
Priovant Therapeutics has launched a phase 2b/3 clinical trial for brepocitinib in patients with lichen planopilaris (LPP), a rare inflammatory scalp disorder that can cause irreversible hair loss. Currently, there are no FDA-approved treatments for the condition. Commenting on the trial, Kristen Lo Sicco, MD, FAAD, chief of the Skin and Cancer Unit at NYU Langone Health, described LPP as a 'trichologic emergency' and emphasized the urgent need for efficacious, approved therapies. Brepocitinib is a selective dual inhibitor of TYK2 and JAK1, and the FDA has granted it Priority Review for dermatomyositis.
4/02/2026
New York’s Wellness Crowd Is Walking Away From Optimization Culture
New York Weekly
A cultural shift is underway in New York's wellness scene, moving away from data-driven optimization culture toward practices focused on nervous system regulation and emotional well-being. While somatic and analog approaches are gaining popularity, the city's digital health sector remains strong, with startups raising over $2.3 billion in 2024. The article notes that New York's concentration of world-class hospital systems, including NYU Langone, Mount Sinai, and NewYork-Presbyterian, provides a unique environment for these startups to pilot programs and form partnerships, supporting continued innovation in healthcare technology.
4/02/2026
23 hospitals, health systems investing in ASCs in Q1
Becker's ASC Review
A report on 23 hospitals and health systems investing in Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) in the first quarter of 2026 notes that NYU Langone Health opened a new ambulatory and radiology practice location in Riverhead, N.Y. The trend is driven by a shift towards value-based care and expanding outpatient access. The list also includes competitor Northwell Health, which opened a new women’s multispecialty center in Manorville. These investments reflect a strategic imperative for health systems to enhance patient experience and expand their service footprint.
4/02/2026
