Features

Gloved hands take apart mixed media construction of a human heart.

Change of Heart

To tackle long-standing sex disparities in outcomes for cardiac surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine physicians are pursuing innovative clinical trials and treatment.
Comic-style illustration of women in face mask examining slide in front of microscope.

The Dark Side of STING

Painstaking research has yielded vital new insights into how a protein known for triggering inflammation can both hinder — and accelerate — cancer.
Doctors gaze up into virtual reality headsets.

Teaching Empathy in the Digital Age

Meet C.A.R.L., a lifelike virtual “patient” who stands at the vanguard of advances in immersive learning that could improve the way doctors are trained.

Also in This Issue

Illustration of vaping device inside triangle of smoke.
Photo composite of Brenda Panama and Dr. Hasina Outtz Reed.

Alumni

Dr. Anthony Rossi

“The right mentor can not only open a lot of doors for you, they can also remove a lot of hurdles...” Dr. Anthony Rossi (M.D. ’08)

Alumni Section

From the Dean

 Dr. Robert A. Harrington

At Weill Cornell Medicine, we have a profound responsibility and a societal mandate to engage in groundbreaking scientific research that curbs the spread of disease and translates our discoveries into effective patient care. We use the best methods to develop targeted interventions, refine treatments for individual patients and improve disease management. Few tools to advance this promise are more exciting than artificial intelligence (AI).

Paired with big data, the level of scientific inquiry and insight AI makes available is already unparalleled, and the potential for further breakthroughs in the next five to seven years is extraordinary. The technology will not only change the way we aggregate and process large amounts of data in our clinical trials, but it will help us explore scientific questions in ways we haven’t before, and speed that data to the bedside.

Physicians will increasingly use AI to help interpret critical medical tests — as we have already done with echocardiograms in cardiology — with greater speed and accuracy. AI will help personalize medicine to maximize outcomes for patients. And scientists will be able to use it to study the impact of disease and health outcomes on communities in new and groundbreaking ways, enabling us to enhance the scale and capacity of both medicine and public health.

Here at Weill Cornell Medicine, investigators are using AI to analyze huge data sets so that we can understand mental health status and risks at the population level. Our physician-scientists are also using AI to educate, to train doctors how to communicate better with their patients, because clear, culturally conscious communication is central to successful care. Eventually, endeavors like these can be used to develop targeted interventions, refine treatments for individual patients and improve understanding of disease and how to manage it.

Ultimately, AI and the myriad research it inspires must be subject to the same scientific rigor as existing medical interventions, and the quality of the results must drive how we apply it to healthcare. Our ultimate goal is to integrate these innovations into our practice in ways that enhance, rather than replace, the personal care that our patients value. The true measure of our success will not only be in the discoveries we make and the leadership we show, but in how we apply these advancements to improve the lives of the patients we treat.

Robert A. Harrington, M.D.
Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean, Weill Cornell Medicine
Provost for Medical Affairs, Cornell University

Portrait: Sam Kerr

Fall 2024 Front to Back

  • From the Dean

    Message from the Dean

    By integrating innovations in artificial intelligence into clinical practice, the aim is to enhance, rather than replace, the personal care that patients value.
  • Features

    Change of Heart

    To tackle long-standing sex disparities in outcomes for cardiac surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine physicians are pursuing innovative clinical trials and treatment
  • Features

    The Dark Side of STING

    Painstaking research has yielded vital new insights on how a protein known for triggering inflammation can both hinder — and accelerate — cancer
  • Features

    Teaching Empathy in the Digital Age

    Meet C.A.R.L., a lifelike virtual “patient” who stands at the vanguard of advances in immersive learning that could improve the way doctors are trained.
  • Notable

    New Chair and Physician-in-Chief

    Dr. Myles Wolf, who specializes in nephrology, will oversee Weill Cornell Medicine's largest clinical and academic department.
  • Notable

    Dateline

    Dr. Sasha Fahme is leading studies to better understand the sexual health challenges refugee women face.
  • Notable

    Overheard

    Weill Cornell Medicine faculty members are leading the conversation about important health issues across the country and around the world.
  • Notable

    News Briefs

    Notable faculty appointments, honors, awards and more — from around campus and beyond.
  • Grand Rounds

    Lending an Ear

    How a single-sided cochlear implant is helping a psychiatry resident achieve his dreams.
  • Grand Rounds

    The Art of Medicine

    Through visits to the Guggenheim and more, medical students are expanding their thinking to improve patient-centered care.
  • Grand Rounds

    News Briefs

    The latest on teaching, learning and patient-centered care.
  • Discovery

    Unraveling the Riddle of Suicide Risk

    Researchers are identifying new preventive strategies by leveraging cutting-edge computational techniques and cross-disciplinary strategies.
  • Discovery

    A Common Type of Fiber May Trigger Bowel Inflammation

    An unexpected finding could pave the way for therapeutic diets that ease symptoms and promote gut health.
  • Discovery

    Findings

    The latest advances in faculty research, published in the world’s leading journals.
  • Alumni

    Profiles

    From leading the Alumni Association to improving public communication of science, our alumni are making an impact.
  • Alumni

    Notes

    What’s new with you?
    Keep your classmates up to date on all your latest achievements with an Alumni Note.
  • Alumni

    In Memoriam

    Marking the passing of our faculty and alumni.
  • Alumni

    Moments

    Marking celebratory events in the lives of our students and alumni, including the White Coat Ceremony and Reunion.
  • Second Opinion

    Taming Weed

    How can medicine and public health address largely unregulated, readily available and potentially harmful marijuana products?
  • Exchange

    Roles in Research

    A physician-scientist and a college student discuss how undergraduate research opportunities can boost the STEM pipeline of those from historically underrepresented communities.
  • Muse

    Making the Music

    Clinical psychologist Dr. Robert Allan finds inspiration from composing and playing the piano.
  • Spotlight

    Therapeutic Advocate

    In his quest to help more patients, Dr. Joseph Amprey (M.D. ‘04, Ph.D. ‘02) shifted from clinical practice to drug development.