News

Dr. Christoper Cunniff is retiring as Chief of the Division of Medical Genetics at Weill Cornell Medicine this week. 

Dr. Christopher Cunniff’s inspired leadership of the Division of Medical Genetics significantly expanded the institute's clinical pediatric genetics services, allowing for greater access and improved outcomes for children and adults with rare diseases. His longstanding dedication in growing the Bloom Syndrome Registry has made significant contributions to the body of scientific knowledge about the rare condition and improved the medical care and quality of life for individuals with Bloom Syndrome. Through his dedication to medical education, as both Program Director for the Medical Genetics Residency and Unit Leader/Lecturer for first year medical students, Dr. Cunniff has impacted a generation of physicians and physician-scientists. His leadership and friendship will be missed. Thank you, Dr. Cunniff.

Members of the Weill Cornell Medicine community gathered on Oct. 25 in Griffis Faculty Club to celebrate the unveiling of a set of paintings depicting four icons of diversity and inclusion efforts at the institution. Dr. Daniel Laroche, M.D. ’92, his wife Marjorie Laroche and his cousin Marie Claude Brutus commissioned the paintings from the Haitian artist Junior Jacques to recognize the seminal contributions of Drs. James Curtis, Elizabeth Wilson-Anstey, Bruce Ballard, and Carlyle Miller, M.D. ’75 to Weill Cornell Medicine’s efforts to attract and retain underrepresented minorities in medicine.  See full story

We are also pleased to announce the arrival of Genevieve Giny Fouda, M.D., Ph.D., to the Department of Pediatrics and Weill Cornell Medicine, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Fouda will serve as Assistant Dean for Faculty Development, focusing on the professional development of basic scientists, and Director of the PhD Scientist Development and Training in Pediatrics Program, where she will help shape the next generation of pediatric scientists in basic sciences and promote wet bench research within the Department. Dr. Fouda will join the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases as a Professor of Pediatrics and provide mentorship to junior scientists and physicians involved in laboratory-based research.

Dr. Fouda’s research focuses on antibody responses to viral pathogens in children in comparison to adults following natural infection and vaccination. She is especially interested in investigating how the unique characteristics of the early life immune system can be harnessed to develop immunization strategies tailored to pediatric settings. Her research program is funded through several NIH grant mechanisms, including several R01s. She is also involved in collaborative projects to investigate pediatric HIV vaccine candidates and immune-based strategies toward a pediatric HIV cure.

Congratulations to Nicole Kucine, M.D., associate professor of clinical pediatrics, on being named by Weill Cornell Medicine - for the second time - as the Charles, Lillian and Betty Neuwirth Clinical Scholar in Pediatric Oncology.  

 As the Charles, Lillian and Betty Neuwirth Clinical Scholar, Dr. Kucine will continue her research on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), rare pre-malignant bone marrow disorders in children. She is working to better understand the pathogenesis in young patients and complete the largest sequencing evaluation of this patient population. Dr. Kucine evaluates the clinical features of the disease by describing the incidence of thrombotic events and identifying treatment options for use in children with MPNs. She leads an internationally recognized pediatric MPN clinical and research program and sees children from across the country.