News from NYU Langone Health

NYU Langone Health Chief Of Hospital Operations Discusses The Pandemic’s Challenges. (PBS)

PBS NewsHour Weekend (3/9) Fritz François, MD, Executive Vice President and Vice Dean, Chief of Hospital Operations, discussed the challenges faced by medical professionals during the pandemic and the importance of preparedness, citing NYU Langone Health’s pre-COVID-19 crisis preparations, which included a January 2020 tabletop exercise on a potential respiratory syndrome outbreak, and said, “The idea is that we want to ask the questions, we want to do research, we want to learn new things that can help us to better serve our patients, and can better help us to support our staff and help us to also serve our communities.”

Also reporting is PBS (3/9).

For Patients Needing Transplants, Hope Arrives On Tiny Hooves. (New York Times)

The New York Times (3/10) Genetically modified pigs, raised by companies like eGenesis and Revivicor, are being developed for xenotransplantation to address the organ shortage, with clinical trials underway and ethical concerns about pathogen transmission and informed consent; Robert Montgomery, MD, DPhil, the H. Leon Pachter, MD, Professor of Surgery; chair of the Department of Surgery; and director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, who transplanted a Revivicor pig kidney into a brain-dead patient, said, “Part of what we were able to answer with the two-month decedent was, ‘Can the pig kidney do all these things?’” and added, “The answer? ‘Not all of them. But most of them.’” In April 2024, surgeons at NYU Langone Health transplanted a Revivicor pig kidney into Lisa Pisano, a critically ill New Jersey woman, but complications necessitated its removal; in November, Towana Looney, received a pig kidney and was “the first patient to make it to the three-month mark, and she flew home to Alabama last month.”

Four Long Island Hospitals, Eight Others In NY Ranked Among Nation’s Best: See The Full List. (Massapequa Daily Voice)

Massapequa Daily Voice (3/9) NYU Langone Health’s Tisch Hospital was featured in both global and national rankings in Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025 list, which evaluates hospitals based on expert surveys, patient experience, and performance metrics, placing it among the top three hospitals in New York City.

Also reporting are Kingston Daily Voice (3/9) and Shelton (CT) Daily Voice (3/9).

NYU Langone Health Adds Long Island Community Hospital To The Fold. (DOT Med News)

DOT Med News (3/10) Long Island Community Hospital has merged with NYU Langone Health, becoming NYU Langone Hospital – Suffolk, the seventh inpatient facility in NYU Langone Health’s system, with expanded services and new medical technology in Suffolk County; since affiliating in 2022, the hospital introduced robotic surgery and other services, reduced hospital-acquired conditions by 25%, cut emergency wait times by nearly 70%, increased operating room procedures by over 50%, and added infusion services for cancer and neurological patients, resulting in 4,000 new visits since May 2023, with Robert I. Grossman, MD, CEO of NYU Langone Health and dean of NYU Grossman School of Medicine, saying, “The completion of this merger, along with the expansion of our outpatient locations in the local community, marks a new era of healthcare exceptionalism on Long Island.”

GLP-1 RAs Benefit Kidney Transplant Recipients With T2D. (Medscape)

Paywalled* Medscape (3/6)* A study led by Babak J. Orandi, MD, PhD, member of the faculty, Department of Surgery, Division of Transplant Surgery, and Department of Medicine, and Yusi Chen, MHS, Department of Surgery, found that glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are linked to improved graft and patient survival in kidney transplant recipients with type 2 diabetes, although they may increase the risk of diabetic retinopathy, necessitating careful monitoring.

Alarming Rise In Fentanyl Poisoning Among US Children Revealed. (Newsweek)

Newsweek (3/8) A study published in The American Journal of Drug And Alcohol Abuse reveals a significant increase in fentanyl poisoning among U.S. children, with reported cases rising from 69 in 2015 to 893 in 2023, with Joseph Palamar, PhD, MPH, associate professor, Department of Population Health, saying the need for prevention, treatment, and harm reduction is critical, starting at home, emphasizing parental awareness of the dangers of fentanyl-laced pills and the importance of naloxone availability to reverse potential overdoses, as accidental exposure is common among young children who might mistake fentanyl for candy or medicine, posing severe risks due to its potency and rapid onset.

Also reporting was the Sacramento (CA) Bee (3/8).

Preventing Hepatitis B Reactivation: Updated Clinical Guidance From AGA. (GI & Hepatology News)

GI & Hepatology News (3/7) Saikiran M. Kilaru, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, called the updated guideline on hepatitis B virus reactivation a “useful clinical tool,” as it incorporates new medication classes and offers more evidence certainty than previous guidance, though she cautioned that some downgraded risk categories might cause concern among physicians.

Understanding Chest Pain: Is It Always A Heart Attack? (Everyday Health)

Everyday Health (3/7) Adriana Quinones-Camacho, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, chief, Medicine, Tisch Hospital, explains that chest pain occurring only when pressing on the chest is likely musculoskeletal, such as a muscle or bone issue, and while severe heartburn can mimic a heart attack, it is often relieved by antacids, though if accompanied by sweating and trouble breathing, it may indicate heart trouble.

Is There Really A Difference Between Male And Female Brains? Emerging Science Is Revealing The Answer. (LiveScience)

LiveScience (3/7) Yvonne Lui, MD, professor, Department of Radiology, vice chair, Artificial Intelligence, Department of Radiology, discussed how understanding baseline differences in male and female brains can improve comprehension of how diseases manifest, as scientists, aided by AI, begin to reliably distinguish male and female brains through subtle cellular and neural circuit differences despite overlapping distributions and societal influences on cognition, with ongoing research aiming to reveal how these differences affect cognitive development and disease susceptibility, potentially leading to tailored treatments.

“There Must Be Something Wrong With Women:” The Dangers Of Medical Ignorance. (Black Chronicle)

The Black Chronicle (3/9) Nieca Goldberg, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, discussed the persistent gap in medical research concerning women’s health, which leaves many women uninformed about proper healthcare and potential risks, underscoring the critical need for focused research in this area.

Study Predicts Lifetime Risk For Dementia, Projects Need For Geriatricians. (Bay News 9-TV Tampa (FL))

9-TV (3/8) A study by NYU Langone Health found a lifetime risk of developing dementia after age 55 at 42 percent, with higher risks for women and Black adults carrying a specific gene variant, as well as indicating a projected 277% increase in the need for geriatricians.

Also reporting is Spectrum News 13 (FL) (3/9).

More Context On New York Mets’ Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas Injury Timelines. (Sports Illustrated)

Sports Illustrated (3/9) Laith M. Jazrawi, MD, professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, chief, Division of Sports Medicine, provided insights into the injuries of New York Mets pitchers Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea, explaining that Montas’ lat strain, treated with a PRP injection, could keep him out for at least two months, while Manaea’s oblique strain might allow a return within two to four weeks.

Kelly McKinney: If A Catastrophic Flood Hits Pittsburgh, FEMA Won’t Help Enough. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

In an opinion piece published in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3/6), Kelly McKinney, Vice President of Emergency Management and Enterprise Resilience, wrote that the current national disaster system is fragmented, with 50-plus state systems lacking cohesive coordination, leaving states to manage catastrophes individually. McKinney said that FEMA has shifted its focus from crisis leadership to grant administration, and a refocused FEMA should lead disaster responses by creating strong public-private partnerships, transcending political barriers, and preparing for sudden catastrophes.

How To Ease Into Daylight Saving Time This Week. (iHeartRadio)

iHeartRadio (3/4) Alcibiades J. Rodriguez, MD, associate professor, Department of Neurology, Division of Epilepsy, and Sleep Medicine, offers strategies to transition smoothly into daylight saving time, such as obtaining morning light to enhance cortisol levels and alertness, gradually adjusting sleep schedules by 15 to 20 minutes earlier each day, and maintaining consistent bedtime routines, which include avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and screen time before bed, refraining from late exercise or meals, and ensuring a dark sleep environment.

The Placebo Effect Can Be Good Medicine, For Pain And Other Problems. (Washington Post)

The Washington Post (3/8) Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, shared insights into the placebo effect, recounting a case where he approved a physician’s use of low-dose aspirin as a placebo to prevent a patient from seeking addictive stimulants, saying, “I didn’t like the lack of transparency, but I think using a no-risk placebo to avoid an addictive drug was right.”

It Is ‘Very Likely’ Alzheimer’s And Heart Issues Contributed To Gene Hackman’s Death: Dr. Marc Siegel. (Fox News)

Fox News (3/7) “Fox News senior medical analyst Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, “gives his take on the latest details from the investigation into the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife on ‘Fox Report.’”