As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I find there is much to be thankful for at Einstein. Most importantly, the M.D. class of 2028 is the first to have all four years of tuition covered by the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Scholarship, made possible by the extraordinary generosity of Board of Trustees Chair Dr. Ruth Gottesman. Needless to say, this transformational gift will surely have a lasting impact on their lives and careers.

Another significant gift, an anonymous $100 million contribution to Einstein announced in 2023, has already begun to transform biomedical research and educational programs at the College of Medicine. The donation is providing support across the full research spectrum—from bolstering graduate students and early-career investigators to advancing discoveries made in the lab into clinical practice. Initiatives that the gift has made possible, ranging from antibodies targeting blood cancer to early prediction of Alzheimer’s disease, are described in our article, “$100M Gift Strengthens Biomedical Research and Training at Einstein.”

In other research efforts, Einstein scientists are investigating the relationship between food and health from several different angles. Our cover story, “Exploring the Science Behind Nutrition and Disease,” delves into the work of four scientists who have found new links between colorectal cancer and the Western diet, the gut microbiome and type 2 diabetes, cognitive health and what we eat, and a novel brain-liver pathway that affects energy metabolism and mental health.  

Finally, “General Internal Medicine Celebrates 20 Years of Service to the Bronx,” spotlights the Einstein and Montefiore clinicians, investigators, and educators who created the division, now a thriving hub for clinical care, research, and education in the Bronx with a special focus on our most vulnerable residents. With 75 full-time faculty and more than 50 staff members, the DGIM has widened its scope to include work on hepatitis C, COVID-19, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, substance-use disorders, and chronic pain—all conditions that disproportionately affect historically marginalized groups.

In closing, I’d like to give my thanks to you—our trustees, donors, alumni, and friends of Einstein—for all that you do for the College of Medicine. Our successes would not be possible without your generosity and support.

Yaron Tomer, M.D.
The Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Dean
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Chief Academic Officer
Montefiore Einstein