Weill Cornell Researcher Weighs in on FDA Approach to Evaluating Obesity Drugs
Dr. Louis Aronne, clinical professor of medicine and director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center
A group of nearly 20 stakeholders in the fight against obesity — including a researcher from Weill Cornell Medical College — recently released a series of new approaches they hope will impact the federal government's evaluation of obesity drugs.
Dr. Louis Aronne, clinical professor of medicine and director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Program at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, joined fellow clinicians who specialize in pediatric and adult obesity, researchers from academia, leaders from advocacy and consumer groups as well as representatives from industry to develop a consensus report on how to transform the process used to evaluate interventions to treat obesity.
The report, "Obesity Drug Outcome Measures," authored by researchers from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, states that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's evaluation process for obesity drugs doesn't adequately categorize the type of patient who could benefit from their use, nor does it sufficiently capture the potential benefits of modest weight loss resulting from drug therapy.
In the report, these stakeholders propose a more comprehensive patient-centered approach in making risk-benefit determinations that can help the Food and Drug Administration ensure that safe and effective obesity drugs are available to pediatric and adult patients for whom the benefits of the drug outweigh the potential risks.
A live webinar Aug. 14 hosted by The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services focused on the findings and considerations from the report.
Additional awards and honors
Dr. George S. Alexopoulos, the Stephen P. Tobin and Dr. Arnold M. Cooper Professor in Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, professor of psychiatry and professor of psychiatry in integrative medicine, was inducted as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatry Association in May. Distinguished Fellowship, the highest membership honor the Association bestows, is awarded to outstanding psychiatrists who have made significant contributions to the psychiatric profession in areas including administration, teaching, scientific and scholarly publications, volunteering and community involvement, as well as clinical excellence.
Dr. Cara Angelotta, a resident in the Department of Psychiatry, became a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in public service psychiatry for 2012-2014. The American Psychiatric Association, founded in 1844, is the world's largest psychiatric organization. It is a medical specialty society representing more than 36,000 psychiatric physicians from the United States and around the world.
Dr. J. Emilio Carrillo, associate professor of clinical public health and associate professor of clinical medicine, was appointed for a second term to the National Hispanic Medical Association's Board of Directors in June. The Association, representing the interests of 45,000 licensed Hispanic physicians in the United States, seeks to empower Hispanic physicians to lead efforts to improve the health of underserved populations in collaboration with state, regional and local level Hispanic medical societies, resident and medical student organizations, and other public and private sector partners. Additionally, Dr. Carillo developed and leads the NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Health Collaborative, which is dedicated to reducing waste and inefficiency in health care. Dr. Carillo was invited to speak Sept. 25 at Massachusetts General Hospital on the concept and first-year outcomes of the Regional Health Collaborative in a talk entitled, "More than Just Medicine: Addressing Social Determinants through Community Health Improvement." This program, chosen as a national Best Practice, was also featured in the New England Healthcare Institute's publication, "A Health Care Leader's Guide to High Value Health Care."
Dr. Curtis Cole, associate professor of clinical medicine and associate professor of clinical public health, received The Laurie H. Glimcher Faculty Impact Award at the inaugural gala fundraiser for the student group Motivating Action through Community Health Outreach. The students of MAChO, as it's known, honored Dr. Cole, faculty mentor and advisor since last fall, for his support, creativity and generosity that positively affected the group and the execution of its vision. MAChO is a grassroots obesity prevention program targeting young adolescents, ages 10 to 14, in disadvantaged communities.
Dr. David A. Hamburg, the DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholar received the 2012 George Brown Award from the Civilian Research and Development Foundation Global in recognition of his critical work advancing cooperation in science and technology. Dr. Hamburg will be honored for his achievements during an award dinner Dec. 4 at the Ronald Reagan Building Pavilion in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Sharon Maddock Kahler and Dr. Jennifer Sweet, residents in the Department of Psychiatry, were residency program team co-captains for the National Alliance for Mental Illness Walk for the Department of Psychiatry in May. More than 400,000 people participated in the five-mile walk at South Street Seaport, raising more than $436,000 to help fund free programs and services offered by the Alliance, the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization which is dedicated to building better lives for Americans affected by mental illness.
Dr. Conor Liston, a psychiatry resident in the Sackler Institute for Developmental Psychobiology, received the Resident Research Award from the International Society for ECT and Neurostimulation for a study, co-authored by Dr. Marc Dubin, assistant professor of psychiatry, titled "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reverses Abnormal Default Mode Network Connectivity in Depression." Established in 1976, the Society is an international organization dedicated to promoting the safe, ethical and effective use of electroconvulsive therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation through education and scientific research. In addition, Dr. Liston was awarded the American Psychiatric Association's APF-Pfizer MD/PhD Psychiatric Research Fellowship for "Circadian Regulation of Synaptic Plasticity in Corticolimbic Circuits." The one-year fellowship supports post-graduate psychiatric trainees with research experience who are focusing on research and personal scholarship.
Dr. Raymond Raad, co-chief resident in the Department of Psychiatry, was awarded the Rappeport Fellowship from the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. Named in honor of the Academy's founding president, Dr. Jonas R. Rappeport, the fellowship offers an opportunity for outstanding residents with interest in psychiatry and the law to develop their knowledge and skills.
Dr. Alexandra Sacks, a former resident in the Department of Psychiatry, was awarded the Association of Women Psychiatrists' Alexandra and Martin Symonds Foundation Fellowship. The Foundation awards two fellowships each year to outstanding women residents or fellows interested in advancing women's mental health in the fields of clinical services, research and/or education.
Dr. Karthik Sivashanker, a resident in the Department of Psychiatry, is serving as resident chairman of the New York County District Branch of the American Psychiatric Association until next year. The largest branch in the American Psychiatric Association, the New York County District Branch has strived to be a resource for both psychiatrists and the public. In addition, Dr. Sivashanker received the annual American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Educational Outreach Program for General Psychiatry Residents award. The program provides the opportunity for as many as 20 general psychiatry residents to receive a formal overview in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry, establish mentors and participate in the Academy's annual meeting, this year slated for Oct. 23-28 in San Francisco, Calif.
Dr. Emma Wall, a resident in the Department of Psychiatry, represented the Department at the NYC Global Mental Health Forum with a Service Orientation. Hosted at Columbia University April 21, the forum, themed, "Building a Local Network for Service Around the World," brought together mental health pioneers from the major academic institutions around New York to discuss challenges and innovations in the field.
Submit your awards and honors to WCMCAwards@med.cornell.edu.