Highlights of Surgery Department & Residency
Hospital Rankings and Numbers
2009 US News and World Report Ranking:
NY Presbyterian Hospital - #6
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#3 kidney disease
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#4 neonatology
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#5 endocrinology
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#5 neurology and neurosurgery
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#6 heart disease and cardiac surgery
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#10 respiratory disease
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#11 general pediatrics
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#14 digestive disease
Case Volume
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PGY1 100-150 cases
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Chief 1100 cases
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Graduates
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Whipple/Pancreas 20-25
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Total gastrectomy 4-5
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Esophagectomy 4-5
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Liver 5-6
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AAA (open) 4-5
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AAA (endo) 5-8
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Open colectomy 35-40
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Lap colectomy 15-20
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Carotid (open) 5-10
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Thyroid/PT 50-60
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Renal Txp 45-50
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Lung Resection (open) 20-25
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Vascular bypass 30-35
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Clinical Programs and Treatment Centers
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Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation,
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Joan and Michael Schneeweiss Center for Adult Congenital Heart Disease
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Aortic Surgery Program
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Heart Transplantation Program
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Integrative Medicine Program
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Mechanical Circulatory Support Program
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Minimally Invasive & Robotic Cardiac Surgery Program
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Preventive Cardiology Program
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Surgical Atrial Fibrillation Program
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Syncope Center
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Robotics
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LeBuhn Center for Lung Failure,
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Pancreas Center,
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Center for Obesity Management,
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Thyroid and Parathyroid Center,
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Geriatric Cardiac Surgery,
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Pediatric Trauma,
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Bariatrics,
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Adrenal Center
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Center for Innovative Cancer Management,
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Adult Congenital Disease,
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Antenatal Service,
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Pediatric Vascular Anomalies
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Colorectal Care Center
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Minimal Access Surgery (adrenal, spleen)
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Phrenic Nerve Program
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Community Surgery
Pancreas Surgery
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Pancreaticoduodenectomy, first performed by Dr. Allen Oldfather Whipple in 1934, when he was a Professor of Surgery at Columbia University.
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Dr. Chabot, head of Pancreas Center, one of few centers in the world to achieve a mortality rate of less than 1 percent for the Whipple procedure
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currently close to 200 pancreas operations performed at CPMC
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Each chief resident graduates with 20-25 Whipple operations (ACGME requirement 4)
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Begun performing laparoscopic whipple operations and laparoscopic liver resections
Minimally Invasive Surgery
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Dr. Fowler was the first surgeon in the world to perform sigmoid resection laparoscopically in 1990. He later developed other surgical techniques and became the first surgeon to complete and report techniques for laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy, laparoscopic truncal vagotomy with antrectomy and Billroth II anastomosis, laparoscopic resection of benign tumors of the stomach, and laparoscopic transduodenal sphincteroplasty.
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Pioneers in transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEMS) for precancerous growths or early cancers of the anus
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Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery, or NOTES, is a new method of performing minimally invasive surgery through the mouth, anus, or vagina. Drs. Marc Bessler, Peter Stevens and Dennis Fowler have successfully performed the first U.S. transvaginal gall bladder removal operation (cholecystectomy) with limited laparoscopic assistance as part of a larger IRB approved study. In addition to transvaginal removal of the gallbladder, the Columbia team is conducting minimally invasive procedures for appendectomy, gastroesophageal reflux, and weight loss surgery.
Transplantation
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In 1964 Keith Reemtsma, MD, former chairman of Chairman of Surgery, revolutionized treatment of end-stage organ failure and initiated an era of unprecedented exploration into organ transplantation by transplanting a chimpanzee kidney into a human patient
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#1 in nation for total solid organ transplants, 2006
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Among highest 1&5 year survival rates in country
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Top 5 in lung, kidney, liver transplants
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-heart: 106
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-lung: 51, increased by nearly 50% in last 2 years
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-kidney: 250 (2005) expect to do 300 in 2008
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-liver: 154
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LVADs: 65 in 2007
Abdominal Organ Transplant
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Dr. Emond performed the first living related liver transplant
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Dr. Ratner performed the first laparoscopic nephrectomy for living related kidney transplant. Dr. Ratner is preparing to do the first laparoscopic kidney implant in 2008
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One of few centers performing pediatric liver transplants (~ 20/year)
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Pioneering alternative strategies in organ transplantation
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multiorgan transplantation,
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recently performed a five-organ transplant in an 8mo —liver, small bowel, pancreas, colon and stomach
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ABO incompatible and positive crossmatch kidney transplants
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Multi-donor swaps (kidney transplants),
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High-risk transplantation in all organ systems
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Active small bowel transplant program
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Will initiate a pancreas transplant program in 2008
Thoracic Organ Transplant
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Consistently perform the most heart transplants of any center in the US
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In 2006 Set World Record for Number of Heart Transplants in One Year, with 119
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High risk patients: 50% have had operations, 30% have had LVADs
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LVAD patients with txp: 95% success rate at 1 year, versus national avg of 82%
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Lung Transplant had the highest one-year survival rate among the 10 largest lung transplant programs in the U.S.
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Between July 1, 2001 and December 31, 2006, the program performed 188 lung transplants, with a one-year survival rate of 92%, compared to 82% nationally
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Only active single and double lung txp program in NY
Cardiac Surgery
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Performed the first robotically assisted repair of an atrial septal defect, without making a chest incision; first open-heart procedure in the U.S. to be completed with a totally closed chest
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First in the nation to perform a robotically assisted, totally endoscopic coronary artery bypass
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Developed technology for percutaneous mitral valve repair
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One of the first centers to conduct percutaneous transcatheter heart valve insertions
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Dr. Rose served as the national PI for the landmark REMATCH study, which demonstrated a survival advantage with the use of LVADs as destination therapy in end-stage heart failure patients who were not transplant candidates; this trial served as a basis for FDA approval for the Heartmate XVE as destination therapy as well as reimbursement by Medicare and a number of private insurers.
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Instrumental in the development and evaluation of alternate energy sources in surgical ablation for AF--including radiofrequency, laser, microwave, and ultrasound energy.
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Pioneer in the application of deep hypothermic, circulatory arrest.
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Early adoptors of antegrade perfusion for cerebral protection during aortic surgery;
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One of the world's largest experiences with the David procedure.
Thyroid Center
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In 1977, Dr. LoGerfo developed the thyroglobulin assay, which remains one of the most commonly used methods for detecting recurrent thyroid cancer.
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In the mid 1980s, Dr. LoGerfo pioneered the field of thyroid and parathyroid surgery by developing a technique for using local anesthesia; He was the only surgeon who routinely performed these procedures on an outpatient basis.
Pediatric Surgery
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Pediatric Trauma: Level 1 trauma center with extensive referral base
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3rd oldest ECMO program
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-treated over 500 patients, >84% survival rate
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First hospital for infants (1887)
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First modern pediatrics textbook (by L. Emmett Holt, M.D.)
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First facility for premature infants (1909
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Founding of the field of pediatric radiology (1930)
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Development of serum therapy for H. influenza meningitis before antibiotics were introduced (1938)
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Development of the Apgar score for newborn assessment (1952)
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First intrauterine surgery for fetal exchange transfusion (1965)
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First description of necrotizing entercolitis (1965)
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First use of intravenous alimentation for premature infants (1972)
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First successful heart transplant in a childFirst Level I pediatric trauma center in New York City (1997)
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First children's hospital with FDA approved program for adolescent obesity
Thoracic Surgery
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Extensive experience with lung reduction surgery for emphysema, one of main centers in National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) comparing medical therapy with surgery therapy for emphysema
Tumor Immunotherapy Program
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Leading center in multi-center clinical trial of Trovax, a tumor vaccine for advanced breast cancer
Recent Awards
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Kathie Ann P. Joseph, MD, MPH, has received the 2009 Susan G. Komen Greater New York City Gay Clark Stoddard Memorial Award.
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June Wu, MD, was one of eight recipients of the 2009 ICRC (Irving Clinical Research Center) Pilot Grants and the only 2009 recipient of an ICRC grant in the Department of Surgery.
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Henry M. Spotnitz, MD, has been awarded the 2009 Alfred M. Markowitz Service Award by the Society of Practitioners of the Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center.
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Kathie-Ann P. Joseph, MD, MPH, received a 2009 Medical Trailblazer award form the North Manhattan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
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Dr. Austin Chiang wins first prize in Clinical Research Category, Dr. Mary Jo Haley wins first prize in Translational Research
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Dr. Tracey Arnell is one of 13 new fellows announced by the Glenda Garvey Teaching Academy during April 2009.
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Mehmet C. Oz, MD received the American Legacy Foundation 2009 Humanitarianism in Medicine and Public Health Award for his contribution as an influential leader in the fight against smoking.
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James Guarrera, MD, received a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant for $746K to continue his work in liver preservation.
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Drs. Kathie-Ann P. Joseph and Spencer Amory were among twelve NewYork-Presbyterian physicians included in Black Enterprise magazine's 2008 list of "America's Leading Doctors."
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Dr. Jason Fisher wins first prize in seventeenth Surgery Residents' Research Competition (2008), Dr. David I. Sternberg takes second
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2008 AAP Salzberg Mentorship Award Goes to Dr. Altman
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Drs. Schmidt, Ramasamy, Yan Awarded $8M NIA Grant to Investigate Biology of Aging
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Kathie-Ann P. Joseph, MD, MPH, is co-PI of an NIH R21-funded trial investigating harmonic motion imaging as a new method to detect and ablate breast tumors.
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The Department of Surgery has received a bronze Telly Award for an educational video that will be part of COACH (Comprehensive Online Archived Heuristic), an online surgical training program being developed by James A. Lee, MD, and the Department of Surgery.
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The Forde Grant was awarded to June Wu, MD, for research directed at reversing AV malformations in children and entitled, "The role of Notch receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 signaling in hemangioma endothelial cells."
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Dr. Amory has received the 2007 Leonard Tow Award for Humanism in Medicine from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation.
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Dr. George Comas wins first prize in sixteenth Surgery Residents' Research Competition (2007), Dr. Piotr Witkowski takes second.
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Chesed of New Square in Spring Valley, New York has presented Joshua R. Sonett, MD, with its 2007 Chesed Humanitarian Award for excellent medical/surgical care in the Rockland community. Chesed of New Square is a community service organization dedicated to facilitating access to medical care for members of the Rockland community.
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Eric Rose (Principal InvestigatorI) leads a group of researchers that were awarded a Specialized Center of Clinically Oriented Research (SCCOR) grant from the NHLBI. This $18 million award for translational research will be used to develop biological solutions that overcome the major limitations of LVAD therapy, including coagulation and infection.
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Dr. Fowler, MD, has received a three-year, $1.1 million grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering to develop an insertable robotic effector platform and integrate it with a remotely controlled camera system for minimal access surgery.
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INCHOIR, a joint division of the Mailman School of Public health and the Department of -Surgery, has received a $23 million grant to act as data-coordinating center (DCC) for the Cardiothoracic Surgery Clinical Trial Network, a multicenter project that will evaluate devices and methods for cardiac surgeries.
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The Section of Cardiothoracic Surgery, with Eric A. Rose, MD, as PI, has received a grant of as one of seven centers participating in the CSSIN.
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Henry M. Spotnitz, MD, has received a five-year, $3.3 million grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in support of the study Biventricular Pacing after Cardiopulmonary Bypass, of which he is Principal Investigator.
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Shi Du Yan, MD, MS has received $7.9M competitive renewal grant award from the National Institute on Aging to be used over a five-year period beginning on July 1, 2006. The grant supports her research on aging and Alzheimer's disease in the Division of Surgical Science.
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Richard Axel, MD, Professor of Neuroscience wins 2004 Nobel Prize in Medicine for work on olfactory system
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Eric Kandel, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, wins Nobel Prize in Medicine for work on memory
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19 Nobel Prize winners in Medicine at Columbia
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