Dr. John Leonard, Chair (Interim) of Weill Department of Medicine, recently held his State of the Department address, identifying key staff, faculty and department-wide updates over the last year. Key senior appointments included Dr. Jeff Wolchok being appointed director of the Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center and Dr. Juliet Barker being named director of the Weill Cornell Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program; other notable appointments: Dr. Jonathan Weinsaft being appointed Chief of the Division of Cardiology; Dr. Marshall Glesby becoming Vice Chair for Mentoring and Faculty Development; Natalie Pagan and Anna Lezon being promoted to Associate Director for Research Administration and Associate Director of Budget & Accounting. respectively, and Larissa Breedlove starting her role as the Department’s Communications Manager.
Throughout 2022 and more than midway through 2023, the Department has enjoyed considerable growth in many areas, particularly in research funding. The WDOM is now in the top 20 Departments of Medicine nationwide for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding – a testament to the Department’s core missions of clinical care, education, training, and research. Dr. Leonard acknowledged the Department’s commitment to these missions across all areas, from faculty and trainees to research administration staff, development officers, and senior leadership.
Other highlights included the completion of the Racial Justice and Equity Task Force Report. Produced by the Racial Justice and Equity Task Force, the report encompasses multifaceted recommendations to further enhance the Department’s commitment to Diversity & Inclusion. In addition, the Department created its Well-being Committee, part of the Department’s larger Quality & Patient Safety initiatives, and launched its employee engagement series, Vitals.
After providing divisional updates as well as updates from NewYork-Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, and NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Dr. Leonard acknowledged major promotions and awards over the last year.
Looking ahead, Dr. Leonard outlined major goals as we look ahead to 2024 and beyond. Central themes include a continued effort to enhance clinical recruitment and growth, thereby expanding patient access; growing outreach to underserved communities; continuing accelerated growth in research initiatives, including emphasis on diverse representation in patient cohorts; furthering development of mentorship and leadership programs; and driving key partnerships with Departments and institutions locally and around the world, including the welcoming of Dean Robert Harrington, who embarked on his role in September 2023. In close, upon thanking the Department’s 600+ faculty, 800+ staff, and 300+ trainees, Dr. Leonard concluded that ultimately, the ‘state of the Department’ continues to depend on the success and commitment of each one of us.