Columbia University Medical Center Newsroom

CUMC Expert Resources

Robin Goland, M.D. , Diabetes care With diabetes on the rise year after year, a staggering number of Americans will ultimately require medical care for the disease. Yet, despite documented improvements in treatment since the mid-1990s, 20 percent of diabetes patients continue to struggle with poor glucose control—while another 33 and 40 percent have ongoing blood pressure and cholesterol problems, respectively. Dr. Robin Goland, associate professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, co-founder and co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center, and a noted clinical investigator, can discuss what improvements in care are needed to get the diabetes epidemic under control, as well as the latest developments in diabetes prevention, research, and treatment. > Detailed Profile

John Mann, M.D. Suicide & Antidepressants, The role of antidepressant medications in the risk of suicide has been a point of contentious debate within the psychiatric medical community over the past several years. A leading expert on this issue is J. John Mann, M.D., a nationally recognized expert in suicide who has published more than 400 papers and edited 10 books on the subjects of the biology and treatment of mood disorders, suicidal behavior and other psychiatric disorders. > Detailed Profile

Neil W. Schluger, M.D., Tuberculosis While TB has been nearly eradicated from the U.S., it remains a major issue throughout the world -- where it is one of the top 5 most serious issues in global public health. Neil W. Schluger, M.D., chief of the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine at CUMC is senior author of a paper, "Use of X-Ray to Determine if First or Reactive Case of Tuberculosis," published in JAMA. Results of the study have valuable implications for public health as they show that the origin of an infected person''''s TB cannot be assumed by how the disease appears on their x-ray, as doctors previously believed. > Detailed Profile

Barron Lerner, M.D. (illness and celebrity), Recent disclosures of cancer recurrences by political figure Elizabeth Edwards and White House spokesman Tony Snow vividly illustrate a number of dilemmas that well-known individuals must tackle when going public with health problems and concerns. Dr. Barron Lerner, the Angelica Berrie-Gold Foundation Associate Professor of Medicine and Public Health and author of "When Illness Goes Public: Celebrity Patients and How We Look at Medicine" (Johns Hopkins University Press, October 2006), can outline the unique issues and circumstances famous patients face, tracing the evolution of celebrity illnesses from private matters to stories of widespread interest. He also can comment on both the Edwards and Snow cases, examining them against the broader backdrop of other well-publicized medical crises. > Detailed Profile

Harry Fisch, M.D. (Male biological clock), Much has been written lately about the concept of a male biological clock, which suggests that men may not have limitless opportunities to father healthy children (and, in the process, has turned conventional wisdom about fertility on its ear). Dr. Harry Fisch, director of the Male Reproductive Center and professor of clinical urology at Columbia University, is a pioneer and renowned expert in this growing area of study and specialization. Dr. Fisch can discuss the particulars of why and how this phenomenon occurs, as well as the measures that men should take to best protect their fertility as they age. > Detailed Profile

Rachel Miller, M.D., Seasonal allergies It's spring, and people are starting to feel their allergies kick into gear. Dr. Rachel Miller, assistant professor of clinical medicine and public health (environmental health sciences) at Columbia University Medical Center and an expert on allergies and asthma, is available to speak about why allergies occur, and what we can do about them. > Detailed Profile

David Brenner, Ph.D. (radiation screening), To prepare for a dirty bomb incident, American cities and municipalities have been looking for high throughput radiation biodosimeters – screening devices that estimate how much radiation a person has received – but have so far not found any system that can handle more than a few cases per day. This problem will be tackled by Dr. David Brenner, professor of radiation oncology and environmental health sciences at Columbia University Medical Center. Dr. Brenner currently heads up a multi-institute consortium that is developing high throughput biodosimetry devices, enabling health care screening facilities to process tens of thousands of samples per day. > Detailed Profile

Michael Terman, Ph.D., Seasonal depression For many, coping with the arrival of winter months means much more than bundling up against the cold. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which affects up to 6 percent of the U.S. population, is a form of depression that can lead to day-long fatigue, difficulty waking in the morning, increased appetite, anxiety, and a sense of hopelessness. Dr. Michael Terman, one of the nation’s leading experts in treating SAD, is the director of the Center for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. > Detailed Profile

Mary D'Alton, M.D. , First trimester screening for birth defects The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recently revised their guidelines for Down Syndrome screening, and now recommends that all pregnant women be offered the option of testing regardless of their age. Dr. Mary D'Alton, chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University Medical Center, can discuss these new recommendations and the reasons behind ACOG's decision to adopt them. > Detailed Profile

Wahida Karmally, Dr.PH.,RD,CDE, Tips for a healthy Thanksgiving Americans are notorious for overeating on Thanksgiving yet often regret their overindulgence and inactivity, behavior that can carry over into the entire holiday season and pose serious health consequences down the road. Dr. Wahida Karmally, director of nutrition for the Irving Center for Clinical Research and associate research scientist at Columbia University Medical Center, can offer tips for a healthy, nutritious, and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday. She can discuss how to balance large meals with physical activity, provide advice on how to make over high fat recipes and cook cardioprotective Thanksgiving dishes, and offer insights about eating the right fats from the right foods. > Detailed Profile

Sheila Rothman, Ph.D., Ethnicity and genetic/medical profiling Research has long shown a relationship between Ashkenazi Jewish heritage and an elevated risk of breast cancer. But a recent paper in the American Journal of Public Health questions whether or not ethnicity is really the issue, citing major problems and inconsistencies with how these breast cancer population studies have been carried out. Sheila M. Rothman, Ph.D., professor of sociomedical sciences at the Center for the Study of Society and Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, was the co-author and lead investigator on this study. She can discuss the specific flaws she uncovered with the body of research on breast cancer mutations in Ashkenazi Jews, as well as the negative consequences of linking entire segments of the population with genetic disease. > Detailed Profile

Rudolph L. Leibel, M.D. , Obesity/diabetes The 1994 discovery of the hormone leptin—since proven to play a significant part in the biological regulation of body fat—has changed the way that the research and medical communities perceive body weight regulation, recharacterizing obesity as less about will power and more about basic molecular physiology. Dr. Rudolph L. Leibel, professor of pediatrics and medicine and co-director of the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center, was one of the scientists behind the discovery of leptin and can talk about the complex relationship between metabolism, hormones, and obesity. > Detailed Profile

Steven Chussid, D.D.S., Oral health and healthy Halloweening With visions of Halloween treats dancing in children’s heads this week, preventing cavities is on the mind of many parents. Pediatric dentists say it’s OK to have a happy and sweet Halloween, but there are a few things parents should keep in mind that can help minimize the risk of tooth decay in their children. Dr. Steven Chussid, director of the division of pediatric dentistry at the School of Dental & Oral Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, says candy (or any food with sugar or starch) is safer for teeth if it's eaten with a meal, not as a snack. Dr. Chussid also says parents should encourage their kids to brush immediately after consumption of candy, or rinse well with water if this is not possible. > Detailed Profile

Jose Luchsinger, M.D. , Alzheimer's disease and diet The recent Columbia-led study on Alzheimer's and the Mediterranean Diet has shed new and important light on the role of nutrition in this highly debllitating neurodegenerative disease. Dr. Jose Luchsinger, assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and researcher at the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, is an expert on the overall impact of nutrition and cardiovascular health on Alzheimer’s and can discuss the emerging body of research on these topics. > Detailed Profile

Nikolaos Scarmeas, M.D. , Alzheimer's disease and the Mediterranean Diet A team of Columbia researchers recently found that people who follow the Mediterranean Diet can significantly lower their risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, assistant professor of neurology at Columbia University Medical Center, was the lead investigator on these compelling studies. He can provide in-depth analysis of the studies’ particulars, addressing the potential reasons for the diet’s “protective effect” and what impact this research may ultimately have on the prevention, investigation, and treatment of Alzheimer’s in the future. > Detailed Profile

Burton Edelstein, D.D.S., Pediatric oral health and poverty While dental and oral health in America's young people has steadily improved over the past few decades, a “silent epidemic” of oral and dental disease is growing among the nation's poorest and most vulnerable young people, posing a serious threat to their overall well-being and to public health in general. Dr. Burton L. Edelstein, D.D.S., M.P.H., Chair of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Columbia University's College of Dental Medicine, can discuss the specific issues involved, talk about the epidemic's many ramifications, and explore potential solutions to the problem, including federal and state health policy approaches. > Detailed Profile

Frank Gilliam, M.D., MPH , Epilepsy surgery Epilepsy accounts for more outpatient visits to neurologists than any other disorder of the nervous system. Yet a considerable number of epilepsy patients—4 out of every 10—continue to experience the seizures that are the hallmark of the disease even after they are treated with medication. Many of these individuals could be helped with surgery, but neurologists in the United States are frequently reluctant to prescribe this approach. Dr. Frank Gilliam, director of Columbia’s Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, is leading the charge to improve standards of care for people with epilepsy. Dr. Gilliam can talk about uncontrolled epilepsy, why drug therapy seems to fail patients with this form of the disease, and what kinds of surgical interventions are available to them. > Detailed Profile

Robert Fine, M.D. , Pancreatic cancer treatment The survival rate for pancreatic cancer is exceptionally poor—an abysmal 4 percent—compared to other types of cancer. But Dr. Robert Fine, director of experimental therapeutics at Columbia’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and head of the Pancreas Center at Columbia, is single-handedly giving pancreatic cancer patients new reason to hope. In a recent phase II clinical trial, Dr. Fine devised a complex chemotherapy regimen that increased median survival time from 4.5 months to 11.2 months, the single longest survival rate ever reported for metastatic pancreatic cancer. If these exciting results hold up in Phase III trials, it will be the new standard of care for this disease. Dr. Fine can talk about why this particular drug combination and routine works so well in comparison to others, and can discuss what’s next on the horizon for pancreatic cancer treatment. Detailed Profile

Gaetano Barile, M.D. , Diabetic retinopathy Diabetic retinopathy is responsible for nearly 10% of legal blindness in the United States, which translates into roughly 12,000 to 24,000 people losing their sight each year because of diabetes. Dr. Gaetano Barile, associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center, is investigating a number of pharmacological approaches to prevent or reverse sight loss in people with diabetes. Dr. Barile is specifically looking at the relationship between diabetic retinopathy and the cellular receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE), known to be a key component in the emergence of diabetes complications. He can talk about the process by which RAGE influences the development of retinal disease, and how this information could ultimately yield exciting new drug therapies in the treatment of related vision loss. > Detailed Profile

David Rothman, Ph.D. , Conflict-of-interest issues Concerns over conflicts of interest in medicine—both in medical research and in clinical practice—have grown steadily over the past few years. David J. Rothman, Ph.D., Bernard Schoenberg Professor of Social Medicine at Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons and president of the Institute of Medicine as a Profession, is a leading expert on medical conflicts of interest. In the January 25, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Dr. Rothman co-authored an article on health industry practices that create conflicts of interest, calling for greater disclosure and more stringent regulation of doctor/industry ties. > Detailed Profile

Ruth L. Fischbach, Ph.D., MPE , Bioethics Over the course of recent decades, the world of medicine has seen rapid-fire, even revolutionary breakthroughs. But with the largely uncharted territory of progress and innovation has come questions about the ethics of numerous medical advancements. Dr. Ruth Fischbach, professor of bioethics at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and co-founder and director of the Center for Bioethics at Columbia University, can speak with authority about a variety of bioethical issues facing the medical community today. > Detailed Profile

Joy Hirsch, Ph.D. , Neurocircuitry of fear Uncovering the neurological circuit that controls the brain's fear response has major implications for new potential treatments of depression and anxiety disorders. Dr. Joy Hirsch, professor of neuroradiology and psychology at Columbia University Medical Center, was senior author of a paper in the journal Neuron where the discovery of this important circuit at Columbia is discussed. Dr. Hirsch can analyze the finer points of how fear is regulated and controlled in the brain, and can talk about the tools and techniques that were used to identify and pinpoint the emotional circuitry involved. > Detailed Profile

Michelle Warren, M.D., Menopause September is National Menopause Awareness Month. Dr. Michelle P. Warren, Wyeth-Ayerst Professor of Women’s Health at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and the founder and medical director of the Center for Menopause, Hormonal Disorders and Women’s Health at Columbia University Medical Center, can discuss what women might expect both as they undergo the transition of menopause and in the years after menopause. She can also provide an overview of the best and most effective treatments for menopause’s many discomforts. > Detailed Profile

Ethel Siris, M.D. , Osteoporosis 44 million U.S. adults, or 55 percent of Americans 50 years of age and older, are estimated to have the debilitating bone disease osteoporosis. Dr. Ethel Siris, Madeline C. Stabile Professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and director of the Toni Stabile Osteoporosis Center at Columbia University Medical Center, can talk about the best preventative measures and treatment options for the disease, as well as the latest findings and developments in osteoporosis research. > Detailed Profile

Michael Rosenbaum, M.D. , Taking on obesity According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 65% of U.S. adults are overweight and 32% are obese, with the prevalence of obesity in adults and children increasing at a rate of about 20% per decade. Dr. Michael Rosenbaum, associate professor of clinical pediatrics and clinical medicine and associate program director of the General Clinical Research Center at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, has studied the biological basis of obesity for more than 20 years. He can discuss the medical and economic implications of the obesity epidemic, the biology of obesity and why it is so hard to keep weight off, and the treatment and prevention of obesity and its complications. > Detailed Profile

Barry Honig, Ph.D. , Bioinformatics Dr. Barry Honig, professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics at Columbia University Medical Center, is an expert in the emerging fields of bioinformatics and computational biology. Dr. Honig can discuss the development and use of software tools, computer technologies, and mathematical techniques to characterize families of proteins and their specific biological functions—research that has major implications for the design of new, more effective pharmaceuticals. > Detailed Profile

9/11 EXPERT RESOURCE GUIDE, To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, CUMC has compiled a list of experts who can discuss any number of 9/11-related health issues. Areas of professional interest and expertise include the mental health response to the attacks, heart health and 9/11, Ground Zero environmental exposures, a possible post-9/11 baby boom in New York City, and more. Click on the link below for additional details and expert biographies. > Detailed Profile

Pamela Gallin, M.D. , Back-to-school health issues Back-to-school time is now upon us, leaving parents to ponder not just the ins and outs of shopping for school supplies, but also what medical and health matters they should be concerned about as their children prepare to return to class. Dr. Pamela Gallin, director of pediatric ophthalmology at Columbia University Medical Center and author of “The Savvy Mom's Guide to Medical Care,” can speak with authority about any number of school-related health concerns. > Detailed Profile

Harold Frucht, M.D. , Colorectal cancer Colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in the United States (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers), is one of the most preventable through proper nutrition and exercise—and one of the most treatable if caught early enough. Yet fewer than 40 percent of colorectal cancers are diagnosed before they spread, making successful treatment that much more difficult. Harold Frucht, M.D., associate professor of clinical medicine, Division of Digestive & and Liver Diseases, Columbia University Medical Center, can speak with authority about how best to avoid becoming one of these statistics. > Detailed Profile

Anne Gershon, M.D., Shingles vaccine The FDA recently approved the first vaccine to prevent shingles. Dr. Anne Gershon, professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center, is an internationally recognized researcher in vaccines and antiviral therapy, and leads the Women and Children's Care Center at Children's Hospital. Dr. Gershon says that FDA approval of the first vaccine to prevent shingles in healthy older individuals is a major advance in the medical care of people over 60 years old. > Detailed Profile

Richard Sloan, Ph.D., Prayer and medicine Richard P. Sloan, Ph.D., professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, is an internationally regarded commentator on the subject of prayer and medicine. Dr. Sloan believes that while faith/prayer may bring comfort to many people, there are no scientific methods to accurately measure the value of faith/prayer. > Detailed Profile

Robert Klitzman, M.D., AIDS and stigma/discrimination 2006 marks the 25th anniversary of the discovery and first report of the AIDS virus. Dr. Robert Klitzman, associate professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Mailman School of Public Health and faculty associate of the Center for Bioethics, has extensively studied ethical, social, and psychological issues in medicine, including stigma and discrimination related to HIV infection. His papers and other writings have examined issues of HIV disclosure, privacy and HIV prevention policies, professional socialization, healthcare communication among gay and lesbian patients, and other areas. > Detailed Profile

Yaakov Stern, Ph.D., Cognitive reserve and Alzheimer's disease Why do some people have more severe cognitive deficit as a result of Alzheimer’s Disease than others? Dr. Yaakov Stern, Ph.D. is studying one possible explanation - "cognitive reserve" – in which additional brain circuits become active when other parts of the brain become too damaged by the plaques and tangles of the disease to function. He addresses the question using a combination of epidemiological and functional imaging approaches. > Detailed Profile

Richard Garfield, DrPH, RN, Disaster and community health rebuilding Although the victims of hurricane Katrina are now receiving delayed relief efforts, the greater challenge will be in recovery over the months and several years ahead when the reporters go home and the newspapers no longer have dramatic photos on their covers, says Dr. Richard Garfield, professor of nursing and coordinator of a WHO/PAHO Nursing Collaborating Center at Columbia University. Millions of people will need to rebuild their lives and communities, and chronic health problems and both physical and emotional injuries will have to be treated. Dr. Garfield says this will require new and better systems of care than the inadequate ones that we saw break down in the aftermath of the hurricane. > Detailed Profile

Anne Marie Albano, Ph.D., ABPP, School-year anxiety As summer draws to a close, some parents may notice the tell-tale signs of school-induced anxiety in their kids. Most kids usually get excited about buying new school clothes and supplies, and look forward to seeing their friends. For others there is marked anxiety about having to face new teachers, meeting new kids and finding the classroom. These feelings may be summed up as a sense of impending doom related to the unknowns of the coming school term. Child psychologist and anxiety expert Dr. Anne Marie Albano of the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University Medical Center says, “This type of excessive worrying in kids should not be dismissed. While it is normal to have butterflies about what new responsibilities and expectations 10th grade may bring, night sweats and disturbed sleep leading up to the first day of school is not your garden-variety nervousness.” > Detailed Profile

Mary Beth Terry, Ph.D. and Alfred I. Neugut, M.D., Breast cancer risk and obesity A new Columbia study adds to the long list of reasons why it is vital to maintain a healthy, steady weight over lifetime. Researchers found that women who gained more than 24 pounds after turning 50 had a 60%+ increased risk for postmenopausal breast cancer. Overall, women who gained less weight in pre (ages 20-50) and postmenopausal years (ages 50+) had a significantly decreased risk of breast cancer. > Detailed Profile

Sarah Lisanby, MD, Vagus nerve stimulation and treatment-resistant depression The FDA announced that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) was approved for the long-term management of medication resistant depression. This is the first device, since ECT, to be approved by the FDA for any psychiatric indication. Prior to this announcement, the only approved treatment for medication resistant depression was electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Dr. Sarah Lisanby, director of the Brain Stimulation and Neuromodulation Division at Columbia University Medical Center was an investigator on the first study of VNS in the treatment of depression, and has used VNS in depressed patients in the context of research studies. Dr. Lisanby is available for interviews about VNS. > Detailed Profile

Steven Albert, PhD, MSc, End-of-life issues Steven Albert, PhD, MSc, a professor of sociomedical science at Columbia University Medical Center, is available to discuss his research on end-of-life decisions. Dr. Albert and his colleagues at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health and College of Physicians & Surgeons have tracked a cohort of 80 patients as they approach death with monthly interviews. He has reported on depression and the wish to die at the end of life, as well as patient-family concordance in this area. > Detailed Profile

Fredi Kronenberg, Ph.D., Complimentary and alternative medicine The Institute of Medicine recently released its report on the use of complementary and alternative medicine. Fredi Kronenberg, Ph.D., director of The Richard & Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (CAM) at Columbia University Medical Center says that today’s report highlights some of the most pressing issues related to alternative medicine. Dr. Kronenberg is the director of a CAM specialty center funded by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. > Detailed Profile

Peter Green, M.D., Celiac disease Peter Green, M.D., Director of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University Medical Center is one of the few recognized specialists on Celiac Disease in the United States. Celiac disease is a genetic intolerance to gluten a protein found in wheat, rye and barley that causes damage to the small intestine, which can lead to malabsorption of nutrients. > Detailed Profile

Jane Knitzer, Pediatric mental health and poverty Jane Knitzer, Ed.D., clinical professor of population and family health at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health (MSPH) and recently appointed director of MSPH's National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), is a renowned expert on the mental health issues and needs of low-income and vulnerable children. > Detailed Profile

Eric Kandel, M.D., Neurobiology and memory Columbia researchers, led by Nobel Prize winner Eric Kandel, M.D., have found that mice with mutated versions of a key memory molecule demonstrate the same kinds of memory problems that plague sufferers of Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RTS), an inherited disorder characterized by mental defects, growth retardation, and skeletal abnormalities. > Detailed Profile