1. MD-PhD Program
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Mount Sinai Academy of Physician-Scientists

Physician-Scientists at Mount Sinai

The Mount Sinai Academy of Physician-Scientists (MAPS) brings together physician-scientists across the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Mount Sinai Health System, from students and residents to fellows and faculty. The Academy fosters a dynamic and collaborative community committed to advancing discovery, mentorship, and innovation in translational medicine. Through shared programming and cross-disciplinary engagement, MAPS strengthens the pipeline of physician-scientist development and amplifies Mount Sinai’s leadership in biomedical research.  

Physician-Scientists at Mount Sinai

Planning Committee

Alexander Charney, MD, PhD
Alexander Charney, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, Psychiatry, Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Neurosurgery, Neuroscience

Jaime Chu, MD
Jaime Chu, MD

Associate Director of the MD/PhD (MSTP) Program at the Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital; Associate Chief, Division of Pediatric Hepatology;  
Professor, Pediatrics, Hepatology 

Miriam Merad, MD, PhD
Miriam Merad, MD, PhD

Chair, Immunology & Immunotherapy; Director, Precision Immunology Institute; Professor, Immunology & Immunotherapy, Oncological Sciences, Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Dermatology

Talia H Swartz, MD, PhD
Talia H Swartz, MD, PhD

Director, MD-PhD Program; Associate Professor, Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Medical Education

Our Physician-Scientist Achievements

Fanny Elahi headshot

Redefining Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Fanny Elahi, MD, PhD leads Mount Sinai's pioneering use of blood-based biomarkers for early Alzheimer's detection, enabling noninvasive diagnosis and earlier intervention.

Alexander Charney

Dr. Charney Challenges Postmortem Brain Research

Research from Alexander Charney, MD, PhD, revealed significant differences in RNA splicing and protein expression between living and postmortem brain tissue.

Jean-Frederic Colombel

The Preclinical Phase of IBD Revealed

Jean-Frederic Colombel, MD, identifies immune pathway changes years before Crohn's disease symptoms appear, opening new possibilities for disease prediction and prevention through biomarker analysis.

Jake Herb

Jake Herb, MSTP Student, PhD Year 4

"This year, I presented my research at a national meeting on liver disease. Standing at the podium, I felt energized and connected to a global research community. Afterwards, I met with audience members one-on-one to discuss my work in greater depth. These conversations helped me see how my PhD research fits within the broader field of liver disease and further solidified my commitment to a physician-scientist career."

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Jake Herb, MSTP Student, PhD Year 4

"This year, I presented my research at a national meeting on liver disease. Standing at the podium, I felt energized and connected to a global research community. Afterwards, I met with audience members one-on-one to discuss my work in greater depth. These conversations helped me see how my PhD research fits within the broader field of liver disease and further solidified my commitment to a physician-scientist career."

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Rachel Geltman, MSTP Student, PhD Year 3

"This year, I observed meetings between researchers, PICU attendings, allergy/immunologists, and hepatologists coordinating care for a hospitalized child with a rare immune disorder. Findings from a study my PhD lab published this year directly informed the clinical team’s next steps. Through this process, I was struck by how dual-degree training, combined with a shared medical and research campus, can facilitate crosstalk between researchers and clinicians, genuinely improving patient outcomes in real time."

Jake Herb

Jake Herb, MSTP Student, PhD Year 4

"This year, I presented my research at a national meeting on liver disease. Standing at the podium, I felt energized and connected to a global research community. Afterwards, I met with audience members one-on-one to discuss my work in greater depth. These conversations helped me see how my PhD research fits within the broader field of liver disease and further solidified my commitment to a physician-scientist career."

Rachel Geltman

Rachel Geltman, MSTP Student, PhD Year 3

"This year, I observed meetings between researchers, PICU attendings, allergy/immunologists, and hepatologists coordinating care for a hospitalized child with a rare immune disorder. Findings from a study my PhD lab published this year directly informed the clinical team’s next steps. Through this process, I was struck by how dual-degree training, combined with a shared medical and research campus, can facilitate crosstalk between researchers and clinicians, genuinely improving patient outcomes in real time."

Samantha Brown

Samantha Brown, MSTP Student, Medical School Year 3

"Defending my PhD in neuroscience and beginning clinical clerkships in 2025 marked a pivotal transition in my training. My PhD training taught me perseverance and scientific independence, and caring for patients reminded me why scientific discovery matters. Bridging these experiences shaped my growth as a future physician-scientist committed to translating research into meaningful patient impact."