On May 12th, the Dubin Breast Center hosted its annual Fact vs. Fiction Luncheon and Symposium at the Metropolitan Club, providing a platform to discuss advancements in breast cancer care and women’s health. A distinguished panel of experts from Mount Sinai engaged an audience of more than 200 attendees, including Dubin Breast Center advisory board members, patients, families, and friends, with their insights into the latest innovations and emerging trends in breast health.

The event was led by visionary Mount Sinai Health System Trustee, Eva Andersson-Dubin, MD, who established the Center in 2011, alongside Elisa Port, MD, FACS, Chief of Breast Surgery and Director of the Center. Among the highlights was the inspiring story of Vanessa Rissetto, a Dubin Breast Center patient, registered dietitian, and CEO of Culina Health. Her journey resonated deeply with the crowd, illustrating resilience and hope in the face of adversity.

Watch Vanessa’s full story in the event recording here:

In her opening remarks, Dr. Port painted a vivid picture of the Center’s advancements, emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence in preventive breast care. “We continue to harness new technologies so that AI works for us, not instead of us,” she stated, reassuring the audience that their mammogram experience would remain personal—“You will never show up and be greeted by a robot.”

“We treat more than just breast cancer; we care for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit,” Dr. Port affirmed, setting the tone for an engaging discussion. The panel, which included esteemed Mount Sinai experts Susan S. Khalil, MD, Laurie Margolies, MD, FSBI, FACR, Jeffrey I. Mechanick, MD, PhD (hc), Georges Naasan, MD, Amy Tiersten, MD, and Christina Weltz, MD, explored vital topics ranging from gynecological care and IVF to the cognitive changes that accompany menopause and the innovative role of AI in imaging.

Their diverse insights created a rich tapestry of perspectives on women’s health throughout every stage of life, making the event not just informative but truly transformative. Together, they illuminated a path in women’s health care that prioritizes innovation, compassion, and holistic well-being.

In post-event communications, Drs. Port and Andersson-Dubin encouraged attendees to share the video with friends and family, and we hope you will do the same.

Outlined below are some of the essential insights presented at the event and featured in the video:

• Gynecologic Care: Dr. Khalil discussed the management of menopausal symptoms, emphasizing a precision approach and the importance of understanding the most bothersome symptoms and tailoring treatment accordingly. Options include non-hormonal medications for vasomotor symptoms, hormonal treatments, and addressing vaginal symptoms with moisturizers, lubricants, and pelvic floor physical therapy.
• Weight Management: Dr. Mechanick discussed the role of GLP-1 medications in reducing the risk of breast cancer. He explained that these medications, originally developed for diabetes, have shown effectiveness in weight loss, which is crucial as excess weight is a known risk factor for breast cancer. He emphasized the importance of a healthy eating pattern, regular exercise, and progressive resistance training to preserve muscle mass and reduce cancer risk. Dr. Mechanick also highlighted the need for personalized conversations with doctors about using these medications.
• Personalized Treatment Plans: Dr. Tiersten discussed the importance of neoadjuvant (essentially “pre-surgery”) therapy in breast cancer treatment. She explained that administering systemic therapy, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy, before surgery allows doctors to see how well the treatment works. This provides crucial information about prognosis and helps determine the best post-surgery treatment plan. Dr. Tiersten emphasized that this approach is particularly beneficial for HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer patients, as it significantly reduces the risk of recurrence.
• Chemo Brain: Dr. Naasan explained that cognitive symptoms around menopause are common and may be related to a loss of estrogen. He noted that these symptoms are typically mild and often go away later. Dr. Naasan also mentioned that breast cancer treatments, particularly those that lower estrogen, can contribute to cognitive changes and what some patients refer to as “chemo brain.”
• Heart Health: The experts underscored the importance of cardiovascular health in breast cancer patients. Dr. Margolies noted that AI algorithms are being developed to detect breast artery calcifications, which can indicate cardiovascular disease risk. This is crucial as more women are dying from cardiovascular disease than from breast cancer.
• AI Imaging: Dr. Margolies also discussed the advancements in AI imaging, particularly in mammography. AI algorithms are improving in detecting smaller cancers and reducing false positives. They are also used to compare with prior images and detect cardiovascular disease risk.
• IVF: Drs. Khalil and Weltz discussed the role of IVF in breast cancer patients, noting that IVF is often performed in conjunction with an aromatase inhibitor to keep estrogen levels down—an approach that is effective in preserving fertility while minimizing the risk of breast cancer recurrence.

About the Dubin Breast Center
From our inception, the Dubin Breast Center has had an enduring mission to treat and care for every patient regardless of their ability to pay, in a tranquil, soothing environment designed to promote healing, with compassionate caregivers who are with them on every step of their medical journey. We treat everyone individually and holistically, intending to alleviate fears and worries, enrich lives, and support well-being.

We see between 180 and 200 patients a day. In 2024, our team provided 12,000 mammograms, operated on 900 women and men, and proudly provided cold-capping services to 500 women. The Center recently surpassed 400,000 patient visits, encompassing imaging, surgery, and treatment services.

Philanthropy is essential in advancing our bold and ambitious vision. It ensures that the Dubin Breast Center of the Tisch Cancer Institute is one of the premier breast cancer treatment centers in New York City and beyond.

Accented by a sparkling springtime sunset overlooking the Hudson River, the Mount Sinai Health System held its 40th annual Crystal Party celebration at Pier Sixty in Chelsea Piers on May 20.

The evening was a smashing success, raising $5 million and bringing together more than 960 guests including family, friends, Health System leadership, Trustees, staff, and other supporters. This year’s event, which was chaired by Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz and Jana Pasquel de Shapiro and Adam Shapiro, honored Dennis S. Charney, MD, who will step down on June 30 after 18 years of leadership and service as the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and President for Academic Affairs.

“Dennis has been a transformative leader for the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,” Trustee Joel Ehrenkranz told the crowd. “When he became Dean in 2007, the School was well-respected. Today, after 18 years of Dennis’ leadership, the Icahn School of Medicine is one of the best medical schools in the country.”

During the event, it was announced that the Depression and Anxiety Center for Discovery and Treatment at Mount Sinai would be renamed the Dennis S. Charney, MD Depression and Anxiety Discovery Center to honor Dr. Charney, a preeminent expert in neurobiology who has made fundamental contributions to the understanding of human anxiety, fear, depression, and resilience. Having played a key role in the discovery of new treatments for mood and anxiety disorders, Dr. Charney was recently named one of the 2025 TIME 100 Most Influential People in Health for his breakthrough treatments for depression.

Attendees were captivated by a video tribute that painted an intimate and inspiring portrait of Dr. Charney’s remarkable journey and impactful legacy.

Brendan G. Carr, MD, MA, MS, Chief Executive Officer and Kenneth L. Davis, MD, Distinguished Chair of the Mount Sinai Health System, saluted Dr. Charney as someone who “personifies Mount Sinai’s sense of mission and our spirit of invincibility,” adding that “his success is widely recognized, far beyond the halls of Mount Sinai.”

Much to the delight of Dr. Charney—an avid New York sports fan—Dr. Carr then queued up personalized video tributes from New York Yankees Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera and New York Knicks legend Walter “Clyde” Frazier.

“Congratulations on 18 winning seasons as Dean of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai,” Rivera said. “And I thank you and your team for all the jobs that you have done to advance science and medicine and bring blessings and good health to all New Yorkers. All New Yorkers congratulate you. You are the best, Dennis.”

Frazier flashed his two NBA championship rings and congratulated Dr. Charney with his familiar, inimitable flair. “They tell me that you were quite the basketball player back in the day—dishin’ and swishin, boundin’ and astoundin’ opponents across Long Island,” Frazier said. “But I appreciate that you brought your greatest game to medicine and science. Kudos and bravos for sure, for 18 years of grandeur, as Dean of the School.”

“Dennis Charney is to science and medicine what every professional sports team would love to have: An all-star player, coach, and general manager—all wrapped up in one exceptional person,” said Richard A. Friedman, Co-Chairman of the Boards of Trustees at the Mount Sinai Health System.“

“Mount Sinai has an extraordinary commitment to serving its community,” said Adam Shapiro, also a Trustee of the Health System. “Sinai reaches far and wide to serve over six million patients per year. It serves people in need, and it serves them with the same compassion and cutting-edge care that all patients receive. Its exemplary standards are those of a world-class academic medical center. And many of those standards were set by Dennis Charney.”

In his remarks, Dr. Charney referenced the 1904 opening of The Mount Sinai Hospital’s first building on Fifth Avenue and how its then-president, Isaac Wallach, characterized Mount Sinai as a “House of Noble Deeds.”

“This holds true today,” said Dr. Charney, who will remain on the faculty at the Icahn School of Medicine and plans to continue writing, researching, and mentoring. “Our team has the talent. We have the drive. We have the spirit of collaboration. And we have the technology. These are the essential elements that will enable us to keep climbing the mountaintops of scientific discovery—and to write new chapters of biomedical innovation in the epic history of this House of Noble Deeds.”

Proceeds raised at the Crystal Party fund a variety of programs and departments across the Icahn School of Medicine and the Mount Sinai Health System. Thank you for your support.

On Thursday, April 10th, the Milton and Carroll Petrie Department of Urology hosted its annual Prostate Cancer Research Gala at New York’s storied Rainbow Room in Manhattan. The evening celebrated the extraordinary patients, physicians, scientists, and caregivers committed to advancing prostate cancer research and care. Raising close to $1.3M, the event was a testament to the power of community and shared purpose.

“As we stand here tonight, remember that each step, each discovery, and each act of generosity propels us towards a better future. Together, we’re igniting hope and transforming challenges into victories. I invite you to join us in this ongoing journey. Every bit of support brings us closer to a day when prostate cancer is a story of the past, not a battle in the present,” said Ash Tewari, MBBS, MCh, Chair of the Department of Urology at the Mount Sinai Health System and the Kyung Hyun Kim, MD Professor of Urology at Icahn Mount Sinai, who spearheaded the gala and directs the Center of Excellence.

At the event, Sybil and David Yurman were honored with the Visionary Award for their exceptional commitment to philanthropy and dedication to improving men’s health. Dr. Tewari praised the Yurmans’ unwavering support of the Mount Sinai Health System, highlighting their role as true visionaries in the field.

The third annual Steven Southwick, MD Memorial Award was presented to Natasha Kyprianou, PhD. Named after renowned researcher and scientist Steven M. Southwick—a leading expert in psychological trauma and human resilience, who passed away in 2022 after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer—this award recognizes outstanding achievements in prostate cancer research. Dr. Kyprianou was recognized for her focus on groundbreaking research that continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the fight against prostate cancer.

“What really drives research is what drives me since I was very young—the effort to reduce suffering of any kind… Not only to give back, but to do whatever we can as scientists, as physicians, as human beings—to help reduce the suffering of other people,” Dr. Kyprianou said of her passion for advancing scientific discovery for prostate cancer.

Ash Tewari, Sybil Yurman, David Yurman

It is estimated that more than 300,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and more than 35,000 will die from this devastating cancer. The Prostate Cancer Research Gala is one of Mount Sinai’s signature fundraising events, providing the opportunity to celebrate our generous community of donors and partners committed to finding a cure.

When Ramone Brown first arrived as a student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, he received a journal that included the words “Icahn School of World Changers at Mount Sinai.”

The symbolism was inescapable.

“It’s a powerful statement,” Brown said, “but one that captures the spirit of the institution.”

That spirit resonates strongly for Brown, who is a beneficiary of Mount Sinai’s Enhanced Scholarship Initiative, or ESI, which is aimed at expanding opportunities for students from underprivileged or disadvantaged backgrounds with a demonstrated financial need.

A second-year student and native of Jamaica, Brown was chosen to be the student speaker at the Mount Sinai Student Scholarship Reception at The Mount Sinai Hospital on May 1. Before a group of more than 40 donors, student scholarship recipients, and the Icahn School’s leadership, he articulated how impactful ESI is—and continues to be—for recipients like him.

“As a student interested in orthopedics, I’ve been inspired by many giants in the field, like Dr. Alexis Colvin, and I’ve embraced the medical mantra ‘See one, do one, teach one,’” Brown said, referring to the School’s Associate Dean for Alumni Affairs and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery. “This philosophy challenges us to learn with humility, act with purpose, and pass on our knowledge to uplift others. Your support through the ESI has allowed me to embody this.”

The Student Scholarship Reception is a unique opportunity for select faculty and scholarship recipients to socialize with the generous donors whose support makes efforts like ESI possible. Members of the Mount Sinai Boards of Trustees in attendance included Joel Ehrenkranz and Robert Friedman and his wife, Dr. Elissa Gretz-Friedman.

Those gathered also heard remarks from Dr. Steven Lev, a scholarship donor and alumnus of the Mount Sinai Medical School’s Class of 1988; Dr. David Thomas, the Icahn School’s Dean for Medical Education; and Dr. Dennis Charney, who will retire at the end of this academic year after serving as Dean of the School since 2007.

Dean Thomas provided an overview of the new ASCEND curriculum that was rolled out for first-year students last fall, while Dean Charney provided a broader overview of how well the School is positioned to face the future now that he’s stepping away from a leadership role.

But the overarching theme of the evening was ESI and the opportunities it provides to students like Ramone Brown—opportunities that otherwise might not have existed.

Opportunities to become world changers.

“Becoming a physician at Mount Sinai means seeing the interconnectedness of medicine, research, and the patient experience,” Brown told the attendees. “It means doing what we committed to in our oath to enhance the lives of our patients. And it means reaching back to teach and inspire the next generation of talented students.

“Your generosity has given me the opportunity to live out this mission. Because of you, I’m not just learning how to be an orthopedic surgeon—I’m learning to be a physician leader, an advocate, and a change-maker. But the work is far from done.”