News from NYU Langone Health
5 Years Later: What We Learned From COVID-19. (HealthLeaders Media)
HealthLeaders Media (1/15) NYU Langone Health, through insights shared by Fritz François, MD, professor, Department of Medicine, Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and General Internal Medicine, executive vice president and vice dean, chief of Hospital Operations, learned from the coronavirus pandemic the critical importance of preparation, such as conducting a tabletop exercise for a respiratory virus outbreak just before the pandemic began, which helped them implement core strategies like designating ICUs for the sickest patients and ensuring adequate PPE and equipment supplies; François emphasized the need for health system leaders to focus on patient placement, personnel adequacy, supply chain management, evidence-based protocols, and performance measurement to ensure standardized care across their facilities, which was vital for maintaining high-quality, equitable healthcare.
Dr. Robert Montgomery Talking Pig Organs Transplanted Into Humans. (iHeartRadio)
iHeartRadio (1/13) Robert Montgomery, MD, DPhil, the H. Leon Pachter, MD, Professor of Surgery, chair, Department of Surgery, NYU Langone Transplant Institute, discussed the innovative use of genetically modified pig organs to address the global shortage of human organs for transplantation, highlighting that only 4% of those with organ failure receive transplants annually, with kidney disease being particularly prevalent; Dr. Montgomery also mentioned his personal experience with a heart transplant, underscoring the urgent need for alternative organ sources.
Dementia Cases In The US Expected To Double By 2060, Hitting 1 Million A Year. (People)
People (1/14) A study published in Nature predicts that dementia cases in the U.S. will rise to 1 million annually by 2060, with Americans facing a 42% risk of developing the disorder after age 55, and women at increased risk due to longevity; Josef Coresh, MD, PhD, the Terry and Mel Karmazin Professor of Population Health, Department of Population Health, professor, Department of Medicine, Optimal Aging Institute and study leader, emphasized prevention, citing that “half of dementia risk is preventable,” while noting Black Americans face a higher lifetime risk due to factors like structural racism and vascular risk factors.
Also reporting are CBS News (1/15) and the Daily Mail (UK) (1/15).
Scientists Seek Cure To Blindness With $56M Federal Grant. (Crain's New York Business)
Paywalled* Crain’s New York Business (1/15) Scientists, including Daniel J. Ceradini, MD, associate professor, the Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, are collaborating on a $56 million federally funded project to develop whole-eye transplantation technology, with NYU Langone Health focusing on refining surgical protocols and integrating the optic nerve into the brain; Dr. Ceradini, who played a key role in the first whole-eye and partial-face transplant at NYU Langone Health in 2023, said, “Restoring vision through transplantation sounds like a pie-in-the-sky situation, but really the idea is that we put together all these very smart people to move things quickly and if we put enough support behind it that we advance the field.”
Why NYU Langone Health Is Betting On Molecular Oncology. (Becker's Hospital Review)
Becker’s Hospital Review (1/15) NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center has launched the Center for Molecular Oncology, appointing Shridar Ganesan, MD, PhD, director, Center for Molecular Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, to enhance personalized cancer care through systemwide molecular analysis and genomic sequencing; Alec Kimmelman, MD, PhD, the Anita Steckler and Joseph Steckler Chair, and professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, said, “We are really taking advantage of the integrated academic medical system at NYU Langone Health. It’s one system.”
Tech And Wellness Will Combine Like Never Before In 2025, But Will We Benefit? (CNET News)
CNET News (1/5) Daniel Friedman, MD, professor, Department of Neurology, described advancements in brain health tech as “an interesting area of research” that remains underdeveloped; he pointed to smartphone usage patterns as potential early indicators of neurocognitive issues.
Commission Issues ‘Radical Overhaul’ Of Obesity Diagnosis. (Cardiology News)
Cardiology News (1/15) The Lancet Commission on Obesity has introduced a new clinical definition of obesity, proposing a shift from the traditional BMI-based criteria to a more nuanced diagnosis that includes body fat distribution and health status, with NYU Langone Health’s Michael A. Weintraub, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism, supporting this change, saying, “I wholeheartedly agree with modifying the definition of obesity in this more accurate way.”
Focus On Safeguards In Promoting Organ Donation: Ethicist. (Medscape)
Paywalled* Medscape (1/16)* Arthur L. Caplan, PhD, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty Professor, Department of Population Health, Division of Medical Ethics, addressed a troubling incident at Baptist Hospital in Kentucky where a prospective organ donor, initially declared dead, was found alive in the operating room, stressing the rarity of such errors and the importance of maintaining trust in the organ donation system; he urged that despite fears, safeguards are in place to ensure ethical practices, and emphasized the critical need for organ donors to address the shortage, which leaves over 100,000 individuals on waiting lists.
Easing End-Of-Life Care With Shrooms. (Psychology Today)
Psychology Today (1/15) A study from NYU Langone Health found that psilocybin, combined with psychotherapy, significantly reduced anxiety, depression, obsessive thoughts, anger, and physical symptoms related to psychological distress, with effects lasting up to six months, based on data from two clinical trials involving 79 cancer patients; Petros D. Petridis, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, said, “Our findings suggest that the mental health benefits of psilocybin therapy for cancer patients may reach far beyond what we have previously understood,” adding to evidence that psilocybin can be safely administered under medical supervision to alleviate psychological distress in terminal illness.
Weight Loss Pills, Past And Present. (Everyday Health)
Everyday Health (1/15) Prescription weight loss drugs, including tirzepatide and semaglutide, are increasingly used to manage obesity, with recent FDA-approved drugs demonstrating improved safety profiles compared to earlier options, according to experts like Melanie R. Jay, MD, associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, and Department of Population Health, who said, “I think it is a very exciting time for obesity medicine because we now have several effective treatments to choose from.”
ACCC Helps Share Best Practices For MPN Care. (American Journal of Managed Care)
The American Journal of Managed Care (1/15) NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center participated in the Association of Cancer Care Centers’ quality improvement initiative for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), collaborating with Kent Hospital and Charleston Area Medical Center Vandalia Health to enhance patient management and develop actionable plans over three years; key improvements at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center included implementing protocols for symptom recognition, increasing clinic time to reduce referral wait times, and strengthening care coordination, while also addressing financial toxicity among patients, as detailed in ACCC’s published summaries.
Norovirus Cases Skyrocket Across US, Here’s How To Avoid The Stomach Bug. (Fox News)
Fox News (1/15) Norovirus cases have surged in the northeastern U.S., with more than 91 outbreaks reported by the CDC by early December 2024, and Marc K. Siegel, MD, clinical professor, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation said the virus spreads “easily through food and food handling,” urging frequent handwashing and isolation when symptomatic.
NYU Langone Health’s Daniel J. Kaplan, MD Discusses Karl-Anthony Towns’ Sprained Thumb. (Bismarck (ND) Tribune)
The Bismarck (ND) Tribune (1/15) Daniel J. Kaplan, MD, assistant professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, appeared on Brandon London’s weekly ‘Injury Report’ segment to discuss Karl-Anthony Towns’ right thumb sprain.
CathVision To Showcase Innovations At AF Symposium, Present New Science. (Cathvision)
Cathvision (1/15) CathVision will present new research on atrial tachycardia entrainment software at the AF Symposium in collaboration with Alexander Kushnir, MD, clinical assistant professor, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, and Larry A. Chinitz, MD, the Alvin Benjamin and Kenneth Coyle, Sr. Family Professor of Medicine and Cardiac Electrophysiology, Department of Medicine, the Leon H. Charney Division of Cardiology, showcasing the technology’s potential to enhance physician decision-making in complex ablation cases by automating measurements and providing innovative data displays; Dr. Kushnir, the lead NYU Langone Health researcher, said, “Our work with CathVision has led to the development of cutting-edge entrainment tools designed to help physicians detect and entrain reentrant arrhythmias and identify optimal ablation targets.”
Osteoporosis Screening Guidelines Updated: What To Know. (TODAY)
TODAY (1/15) Natalie E. Azar, MD, clinical associate professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, appeared on TODAY to discuss the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s new guidance on osteoporosis screening, providing insights into who should undergo these screenings.
Also reporting is NBC (1/15).
Where Have All The Doctors Gone? Read It And Weep. (Democratic Underground)
Democratic Underground (1/15) In an article about the concerning trends in the US healthcare system, particularly the decline in private practices and the impact on Medicare patients, Clarel Antoine, MD, clinical professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, warns that “the backbone of our health care system, private practice, is on the brink of collapse,” leading to longer wait times for nearly 70 million Americans on Medicare.
Gen Z Shockingly Admits They Don’t Know How To Change A Lightbulb In Startling New Poll. (New York Post)
The New York Post (1/14) Yamalis Diaz, PhD, clinical associate professor, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, attributes Gen Z’s inability to perform basic DIY tasks, such as changing a lightbulb, to the conveniences of the digital age, saying, “They simply haven’t really had to [do things for themselves],” as many prefer to outsource these tasks, spending over $1,500 annually on professional help, according to a Halfords survey.
News from NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn
Can You Stop Varicose Veins From Forming? Doctors Have Some Good News. (HuffPost)
HuffPost (1/14 Sheila N. Blumberg, MD, clinical associate professor in the Department of Surgery, and vascular surgeon at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, clarified that varicose veins are not caused by blood clots, though they may be present in patients with a history of clots, and reassured that “varicose vein disease is not a limb-threatening or life-threatening disease.”