1. Program Curriculum
medical student raising hand

Our Admissions Process

Learn more about our rigorous and holistic approach to admissions.
medical students walking in classroom

ASCEND Curriculum

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is proud to unveil ASCEND, a re-envisioned curriculum that builds on the foundation of its educational structure. ASCEND introduces a personalized and active-learning approach aimed to transform the way knowledge and clinical experiences are acquired. ASCEND embodies our commitment to elevate medical education, fostering the next generation of health care leaders through innovation, holistic development, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

ASCEND represents a multi-year collaboration of stakeholders across Icahn Mount Sinai, including students, deans, department chairs, educators, staff, and administration. As ASCEND formally launches with incoming students in the Fall of 2024, the Office of Curricular Affairs will continue providing updates and gathering feedback to further improve the rollout process.

ASCEND includes three major phases: the Pre-Clerkship Phase, the Clerkship Phase, and the Integration and Transitions Phase.

Pre-Clerkship Phase

The Pre-Clerkship Phase of ASCEND supplies students with foundational knowledge in basic sciences through early clinical exposure and collaborative learning sessions. At 17 months, the Pre-Clerkship starts with acclimation and immersion sessions and progresses through a series of foundational blocks that cover core scientific principles. This is followed by organ systems-based modules that leverage a mix of didactics, workshops, and lab activities.A typical week includes ample flexibility, allowing students to explore their own passions.

It culminates with the Periodic Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (PEAKS 1) assessment, as well as preparation for the USMLE Step 1 Licensure Examinations.

Clerkship Phase

The 13-month Clerkship Phase features core clerkships in various medical fields, focusing first on acute and emergent patient care, followed by a phase dedicated to chronic disease management, health maintenance, and preventive health.

Each clerkship offers immersive experiences for our MD students. This includes real-time patient care, diagnostic skills, and inter-professional collaboration. After every six-week rotation, the Clerkship Phase also includes Coaching, Advising, Mentoring, and Preparation (CAMP) weeks that provide periods for reflection, mentorship, and self-care. This approach integrates clinical experience with guidance and wellness, ensuring continuous professional development. Elective opportunities allow students to explore areas of clinical interest further. The Clerkship Phase concludes with assigned PEAKS 2 assessment weeks, which are aimed at evaluating student competencies and readiness for the Integration and Transitions Phase.

Integration and Transitions Phase

The Integration and Transitions Phase of ASCEND spans 15 months and represents the final segment of medical education at Icahn Mount Sinai. Focused on preparing students for post-graduate training, it includes a two-month Chronic Care clerkship along with other advanced clinical experiences, as well as faculty-mentored scholarly projects.

For the past few years, the Curriculum Redesign Initiative Committee has been working to redesign the Icahn Mount Sinai MD Program curriculum. ASCEND embodies our ongoing efforts across four major focus areas:

  1. Providing a curricular framework that minimizes extraneous cognitive load. ASCEND achieves this through more effective content delivery, as well as increased flexibility for students to engage with content materials. Through early and continuous clinical experiences, ASCEND contextualizes biomedical, social, and health systems science.

  2. Designing curricular content that promotes the “whole patient” perspective. This includes patient signs, symptoms, goals, values, and lived experiences. To maximize student learning in this approach, ASCEND integrates key information and experiences throughout all phases of the curriculum.

  3. Delivering more frequent learner assessment and feedback opportunities. ASCEND features new mechanisms to track learner progression, and further enhances student preparation through simulation, standardized patients, and additional interactive experiences.

  4. Elevating student and faculty well-being through expanded support resources. ASCEND includes more opportunities for students to individualize their path into medicine, extends faculty and staff development resources, and works to achieve equity in Icahn Mount Sinai’s learning environment.

The Curriculum Redesign Initiative Committee offers a full list of guiding principles for the focus areas listed above.

Since the inception of the redesign initiative, the Curriculum Redesign Initiative Committee has collaborated closely with stakeholders throughout Icahn Mount Sinai. The aim is to ensure comprehensive representation and to launch ASCEND in a manner that genuinely benefits the entire academic community. To facilitate this, dedicated committees were formed early in the process, tasked with guiding the development, execution, and enhancement of ASCEND.

ASCEND Steering Committee Members

The Steering Committee consisting of deans, chairs, and senior leaders, guides the overall direction and strategic decisions for the curriculum redesign, ensuring alignment with Icahn Mount Sinai’s goals.

ASCEND Framework Committee Members

The Framework Committee focuses on establishing the structural foundation of the new curriculum, including its core principles and educational strategies.

ASCEND Content Committee Members

The Content Committee is comprised of three Working Groups for each phase of the curriculum. Together these are responsible for defining the specific knowledge areas, skills, and competencies that the curriculum will cover in all of its phases, ensuring relevance and comprehensiveness.

Phase 1 Working Group

Phase 2 Working Group

Phase 3 Working Group

ASCEND Learner Assessment Committee Members

The Learner Assessment Committee develops and implements evaluation methods to accurately measure student progress, achievements, and readiness for clinical practice.

ASCEND Student Support Committee Members

The Student Support Committee proactively aims to provide comprehensive support services and resources to students, enhancing their educational experience and well-being throughout the curriculum transition.

Educator Support Committee Members

ASCEND Curricular Leadership

ASCEND is managed by the Office of Curricular Affairs and bolstered by extensive curricular leadership throughout all phases, ensuring a comprehensive and responsive educational experience.

Pre-Clerkship Curriculum Leadership

Cynthia Abraham, MD
Cynthia Abraham, MD

Co-Module Director, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Micaela F Bayard, MD
Micaela F Bayard, MD

Co-Module Director, Musculoskeletal

Mary B Beasley, MD
Mary B Beasley, MD

Director, Pulmonary Pathology

David H Bechhofer, PhD
David H Bechhofer, PhD

Module Director, Molecular, Cellular, and Genomic Foundations

Robert D Blitzer, PhD
Robert D Blitzer, PhD

Co-Module Director, Pharmacology

Daniel S Caplivski, MD
Daniel S Caplivski, MD

Co-Module Director, Immunology and Microbiology

Oren Cohen, MD
Oren Cohen, MD

Module Director, Pulmonary Medicine

Steven H Itzkowitz, MD
Steven H Itzkowitz, MD

Module Director, Gastroenterology

Tamara L Kalir, MD
Tamara L Kalir, MD

Co-Module Director, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Tonia K Kim, MD
Tonia K Kim, MD

Module Director, Renal and Co-Module Director, Pharmacology

Staci A. Leisman, MD
Staci A. Leisman, MD

Director, Periodic Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (PEAKS 1)

Anna Pace, MD
Anna Pace, MD
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR | Neurology, Headache
John D Paulsen, MD
John D Paulsen, MD

Director, GI Pathology

Alexandros D Polydorides, MD, PhD
Alexandros D Polydorides, MD, PhD
PROFESSOR | Artificial Intelligence and Human Health
PROFESSOR | Pathology, Molecular and Cell Based Medicine
PROFESSOR | Medicine, Gastroenterology
PROFESSOR | Medical Education
Roberto Posada, MD
Roberto Posada, MD

Co-Module Director, Immunology and Microbiology

Trevor R Pour, MD
Trevor R Pour, MD

Module Director, Anatomy

Barbara Sampson, MD, PhD
Barbara Sampson, MD, PhD

Director, Cardiovascular Pathology

Eileen Scigliano, MD
Eileen Scigliano, MD

Module Director, Hematology

Maria Skamagas, MD
Maria Skamagas, MD

Module Director, Endocrinology

Laura K Stein, MD, MPH
Laura K Stein, MD, MPH

Co-Module Director, Neuroscience

Simone Tomasi, MD
Simone Tomasi, MD

Module Director, Behavioral Science

Matthew I Tomey, MD
Matthew I Tomey, MD

Module Director, Cardiology

Margrit Wiesendanger, MD, PhD
Margrit Wiesendanger, MD, PhD

Co-Module Director, Immunology and Microbiology

Clerkship Curriculum Leadership

Cynthia Abraham, MD
Cynthia Abraham, MD

Co-Module Director, Sexual and Reproductive Health

Katherine T Chen, MD, MPH
Katherine T Chen, MD, MPH

Clerkship Director, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Deanna Chieco, MD, EdM
Deanna Chieco, MD, EdM

Clerkship Director, Pediatrics

Michael Chietero, MD
Michael Chietero, MD

Co-Clerkship Director, Surgery-Anesthesiology

Rex Hermansen, MD
Rex Hermansen, MD

Associate Clerkship Director, Inpatient Medicine

Horatio E Holzer, MD
Horatio E Holzer, MD

Director, Periodic Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (PEAKS) 2

Adam Korayem, MD, PhD
Adam Korayem, MD, PhD

Co-Clerkship Director, Surgery-Anesthesiology

Yael Kufert, MD
Yael Kufert, MD

Associate Clerkship Director, Psychiatry

Andrea Lendaris, MD
Andrea Lendaris, MD

Co-Associate Clerkship Director, Neurology

Susan M Lerner, MD
Susan M Lerner, MD

Co-Clerkship Director, Surgery-Anesthesiology

Eve R Merrill, MD
Eve R Merrill, MD

Clerkship Director, Inpatient Medicine

Maria de las Mercedes Perez-Rodriguez, MD, PhD
Maria de las Mercedes Perez-Rodriguez, MD, PhD

Clerkship Director, Psychiatry

Matthew Swan, MD
Matthew Swan, MD

Clerkship Director, Neurology

Despina S Tsevdos, MD
Despina S Tsevdos, MD

Associate Clerkship Director, Pediatrics

Integration and Transitions Curriculum Leadership

Eric Barna, MD
Eric Barna, MD

Acting Internship Director, Medicine

Katherine T Chen, MD, MPH
Katherine T Chen, MD, MPH

Acting Internship Director, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Jan Fune, MD
Jan Fune, MD

Acting Internship Director, Pediatrics

Adam Korayem, MD, PhD
Adam Korayem, MD, PhD

Acting Internship Director, Surgical Subspecialties

Scott Q Nguyen, MD
Scott Q Nguyen, MD

Acting Internship Director, General Surgery

Ravishankar Ramaswamy, MD
Ravishankar Ramaswamy, MD

Director, Periodic Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (PEAKS) 3

Marc Sherwin, MD
Marc Sherwin, MD

Course Director, Transition to Residency