Albert Einstein College of Medicine’s M.D. students displayed posters and presented lectures on their research at the annual IMPact Day event, which celebrates their professional and personal growth and scholarly excellence.

More than 150 students and faculty mentors gathered in Lubin Dining Hall on March 11 for the event, which included 117 posters and seven podium presentations – the largest showcase since the event was launched in 2023. Posters covered a range of studies in eight areas: basic science, clinical and translational research, community engagement, global health, technology and health innovations, medical education, quality improvement, and advocacy.

Medical students Sol Bie Choi, Rachel Santana Felipes, and Isabelle Ilan at IMPact Day

The event was part of Einstein’s Scholarly Impact and Research Program, which includes a four-year longitudinal course series that helps students develop research skills while working with faculty mentors on capstone projects. The program is led by Jessica Rieder, M.D., M.S., associate professor of pediatrics, and Charles Esenwa, M.D., M.S., associate professor in the Saul R. Korey Department of Neurology.

“The breadth and quality of the work presented—from students across all class years—reflect not only the strength of the program, but also the creativity, curiosity, and dedication that define Einstein students,” said Yaron Tomer, M.D., the Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean at Einstein and chief academic officer at Montefiore Einstein. “Working alongside world-recognized investigators and physician-scientists, our students are making discoveries, examining important medical questions, and partnering with communities to advance knowledge and improve health.”

Amanda Raff, M.D. ’98, senior associate dean for medical education, noted that 59 projects by members of the class of 2026 have already been published, and an additional 35 have been submitted for publication.

Samantha Abbruzzese describes her research to Amanda Raff, M.D., senior associate dean of medical education

Keynote speaker Jane Mencher Gold, M.D. ’92, said the research collaborations between students and mentors reflected scientific rigor, curiosity, and persistence. Dr. Gold, medical director for the BNY Health Centers in New York and New Jersey and a member of Einstein’s Alumni Association Board of Governors and the Dean’s Society, also noted that the research process has helped students think critically, question assumptions, and evaluate evidence.

“As you move through your career, research will change the way you practice, upending long held assumptions and impacting your patient management and care plans,” said Dr. Gold. “You will see changes in patients’ outcomes, their quality of life, and their life expectancies. Research moves patient care forward, allowing us to constantly work toward improving the lives of patients.”

Research Honors

Seven students won oral presentation awards:

1. Lili Hong, “Retrospective Review of Malaria Cases, Treatments, and Outcomes in New York City.” Mentor: Christina Coyle, M.D.
2. Yashraj Srivastava, “Hybrid Coronary Revascularization Improves Early Recovery with Equivalent Survival to Multi-Arterial Grafting.” Mentor: Joseph DeRose, M.D.
3. Hannah Rosenthal, “Nationwide UNOS Analysis of Mortality After Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation in Patients With HIV, 2005-2023.” Mentor: Vagish Hemmige, M.D., M.S.
4. Gagandeep (Sunny) Mudhar, “Patient Narratives from Reddit Reveal Emotional Differences by Breast Reconstruction Type: A Sentiment Analysis to Inform Shared Decision-Making.” Mentor: Sheldon Feldman, M.D.
5. Joshua Kimbrell, “Surviving In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest at Nighttime: A Nationwide Registry-Based Cohort Study.” Mentor: Ari Moskowitz, M.D.
6. Melvin Alexander, “Association of Life’s Essential 8 Cardiovascular Health Scores with Pre-Heart Failure in a Hispanic/Latino Population-Based Cohort: Results from the Echocardiographic Study of Latinos (ECHO SOL).” Mentor: Carlos Rodriguez, M.D.
7. Solbie Choi, “Late life mTor inhibition alters rat muscle, mtDNA integrity, and survival.” Mentor: Jonathan Wanagat, M.D.

Medical student Hamzah Sheikh at IMPact Day

Jay Chung, mentored by Mitchell Fourman, M.D., won the “People’s Choice” award for his poster, “Postoperative Inflammatory Markers and Surgical Wound Infection After Lumbar Spine Surgery: The Importance of Surgical Context.” Twenty-two student posters are displayed on Main Street through April.

The event also honored more than 85 mentors and program leaders for their collaborations with students.

Future Benefits for All

“This process made me realize that I do not just want to practice medicine but also continue to shape it,” said Mr. Srivastava, a rising fourth-year medical student. “I want to lean on evidence-based medicine whenever the data are there and help investigate the questions that still do not have clear answers. For my future patients, I think that means providing care that is both grounded in evidence and always open to improvement.”

Austin Freedman, a rising fourth-year medical student, displayed two posters, including one that found that hospitals could reduce irrigation fluid and plastic waste during endoscopic urology procedures by using more conservative fluid strategies that would be safe for patients.

“It’s rewarding to contribute even a small piece of knowledge that could help guide future care,” said Mr. Freedman. “Research and clinical medicine are deeply connected. Being involved in research not only advances the field but also shapes you into a more thoughtful, evidence-driven physician, which ultimately benefits patients.”