The Department of Medicine News and Events 2020

The PSQC Council and Its Impact on Internal Medicine Residents

Posted by Internal Medicine on December 11, 2020

The Department of Medicine is pleased to share a recent publication from Nirvani Goolsarran, MD, FAC, (Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Associate Vice Chair for Quality, Patient Safety, and Compliance and Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency) and colleagues regarding the Internal Medicine Residency Patient Safety Quality Council and its impact on residents.

Promotion of Sahar Ahmad to Associate Professor with Tenure

Posted by Internal Medicine on December 4, 2020

Sahar Ahmad, MD

 The Department of Medicine is thrilled to announce the promotion of Sahar Ahmad, M.D.,   to Associate Professor of Medicine with tenure.

 Dr. Ahmad is a well-respected faculty member of The Department of Medicine, and the Director   of Ultrasound & Critical Care Education at Stony Brook University.

New Palliative Care Faculty

Posted by Internal Medicine on November 3, 2020

Please join The Department of Medicine in welcoming our new Palliative Care faculty attending physicians.


Laurie Anderson, MD
Laurie Anderson, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine

Dr. Huda Salman is Awarded a Clinical Trial Research Grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Posted by Internal Medicine on October 16, 2020

The Department of Medicine is thrilled to announce that Huda Salman, M.D, Ph.D., was awarded a clinical trial research grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, one of only six FDA grants whose focus is to enhance the development of medical products for patients with rare diseases. Dr. Salman’s R01 FDA/NIH R01 grant is titled “CD4 Redirected Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for CD4 Positive T Cell Neoplasms.” The grant totals $3.1 million over four years.

SBUH Receives the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award

Posted by Internal Medicine on September 25, 2020

Dr. Hal Skopicki, distinguished faculty member in the Department of Medicine in the Renaissance School of Medicine, and Chief of Cardiology at Stony Brook University Hospital, can now add one more distinction to his long list of accolades: the leader of the Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center that received the 2020 American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines®-Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

Promotion of Dr. Joshua Miller to Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine

Posted by Internal Medicine on September 21, 2020

The Department of Medicine is thrilled to announce the promotion of Joshua Miller, MD, MPH, to Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine in the division of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Appointment of Grace La Torre, MD, Director of Palliative Care

Posted by Internal Medicine on August 5, 2020

The Department of Medicine has the distinct pleasure of announcing the appointment of Dr. Grace La Torre, Assistant Professor of Medicine, as Director of the Stony Brook Palliative Care Service and Section of Palliative Care in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology.

Nirvani Goolsarran Awarded the Presidential Mini Grant for 2020-2021

Posted by Internal Medicine on July 24, 2020

The Department of Medicine is thrilled to announce the following: Nirvani Goolsarran, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Program Director of the Internal Medicine Residency, and Associate Vice Chair for Quality, Safety and Compliance, Department of Medicine, was awarded the Stony Brook University Presidential Mini Grant for 2020-2021.

Stony Brook Primary Care Receives PCMH Recognition

Posted by Internal Medicine on June 2, 2020

The Department of Medicine is thrilled to announce that, once again, Stony Brook Primary Care has received PCMH recognition.

What is a PCMH NCQA® practice? PCMH practices (patient-centered medical homes) recognized by the NCQA® (National Committee on Quality Assurance) exemplify a different kind of care, where improved coordinated services for patients and increased satisfaction among providers are just some the ingredients for an overall improved system.

Four Internal Medicine Physicians Appear in "Save Our Masks" Campaign

Posted by Internal Medicine on May 18, 2020

The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce that four of our distinguished physicians, from both the divisions of Gastroenterology and Primary Care, participated in Stony Brook Medicine's powerful "Save Our Masks" campaign in May 2020.

The overall "Save a Mask, Save Our Supply, Stay Safe" message conveyed the importance of unifying our efforts, conserving our masks and ensuring our continued safety. 

Jesse Pace Receives 2020 Provost's Award for Academic Excellence

Posted by Internal Medicine on May 4, 2020

Stony Brook University student, Jesse Pace, who has spent four years as an integral part of the Mallipattu Lab in the nephrology division, has been honored with the 2020 Provost's Award for Academic Excellence.

This award is given annually to a very select number of graduating seniors who have shown true academic excellence, not just in the classroom, but also through research, creative activities or through building a stronger academic community.

Making a Difference: Medical Students Join the Fight Against COVID-19

Posted by Internal Medicine on April 29, 2020

Dr. Lisa Strano-Paul, Professor of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Assistant Dean for Clinical Education, and Director of Primary Care Clerkship, is wearing another hat these days: she’s the Course Director for the Renaissance School of Medicine COVID-19 Service Learning elective.

Dr. Farrukh Koraishy Receives SUNY Research Grant

Posted by Internal Medicine on April 7, 2020

The Department of Medicine is pleased to announce that Dr. Farrukh Koraishy in the nephrology division has received a SUNY research seed grant for his proposal, “Characterization of AKI and testing the use of Losartan in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.”

The Department of Medicine Announces Stony Brook Internal Medicine Chief Residents for Academic Year 2021-2022

Posted by Internal Medicine on April 3, 2020

The Department of Medicine is thrilled to announce the Stony Brook Internal Medicine Chief Residents for academic year 2021-2022:

Imran Chaudhri
Michael Lum
Aditi Malhotra
Brandon Ng

These four outstanding physicians are recognized by students, peers, and faculty for their excellence in patient care, medical knowledge, professionalism, and interpersonal skills. They have demonstrated superb leadership skills and are wonderful ambassadors for Stony Brook ​Medicine. 

Chief of Infectious Disease Launches Local Face Shield Production

Posted by Internal Medicine on April 1, 2020

Dr. Bettina Fries, Chief, Infectious Disease division, and Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology in the Department of Medicine, has had to play many leadership roles during the current crisis, with her expertise needed at every turn to fight the global pandemic.

The Challenges and Successes of Match Day 2020

Posted by Internal Medicine on March 24, 2020

Match Day 2020 was the first of its kind for The Renaissance School of Medicine: it was a Virtual Match Day, broadcasted live on Stony Brook Medicine’s Facebook page, due to the social distancing guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Although it was a first of its kind for the School of Medicine, the “Zoom Party” still captured the raw emotion (in real-time) of the School of Medicine's MS4s as they learned where their residency assignments will be.

The Stony Brook University Heart Institute Receives Service Award

Posted by Internal Medicine on March 21, 2020

The Stony Brook University Heart Institute was awarded an Outstanding Patient Experience Award from the Committee for Outpatient Experience.

This bi-annual award given to outpatient locations is based on Press Ganey results, whose mission is "to support healthcare providers in understanding and improving the entire patient experience."

Dr. Susan Lane Will Serve as President-Elect of APDIM

Posted by Internal Medicine on February 28, 2020

The Department of Medicine is honored to announce that Dr. Susan Lane, Vice Chair for Education and Internal Medicine Residency Program Director has been elected to serve as President-Elect of the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM).

Dr. Alexandra Guillaume Will Be Featured Speaker at Hot Topics in Motility Event

Posted by Internal Medicine on February 24, 2020

"Hot Topics in Motility" is a conference jointly provided by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the New York Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 

2020 DOM Pilot Project Grant Awards

Posted by Internal Medicine on February 12, 2020

The Department of Medicine has announced the recipients of the 2020 DoM Pilot Project Grant awards.

These recipients were selected from a slate of many meritorious applications, and collectively represent a group of really exciting research projects.
The five funded projects and their principal investigators are:

Stony Brook Medicine Wins the John A. Hartford Foundation Tipping Point Challenge in the Overall Course Completions Category

Posted by Internal Medicine on February 12, 2020

On February 5th, The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) announced the winners of the inaugural round of The John A. Hartford Foundation Tipping Point Challenge, a national innovation and quality improvement challenge sponsored by CAPC and The John A. Hartford Foundation.