MDNews - Long Island

were given by Souhel Najjar, MD, Northwell's Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the neurology service line, and Ruben Kuzniecky, MD, Northwell's Vice Chair of Academic Affairs. In addition, two patients with epilepsy shared their own personal stories — Dylan Isaacs, 22, of Woodmere, NY, and Jessica Minhas, 37, of Manhattan. From the comfort and safety of their own homes, virtual guests were also treated to a special musical performance by jazz pianist Pete Malinverni and his trio. Stony Brook Medicine is participating in a phase 3 clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a Novavax investigational vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Stony Brook is the only Long Island site participating in this clinical trial, and one of two in New York State to be selected for the trial. The study began on Dec. 27, 2020, and is led locally by principal investigator Benjamin J. Luft, MD, Edmund D. Pellegrino Professor of Medicine at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University and Adult Infectious Diseases Expert, and Sub-Investigator Sharon Nachman, MD, Professor of Pediatrics and Associate Dean for Research at the Renaissance School of Medicine. The randomized, blinded placebo-controlled phase 3 clinical trial will assess the immunity and safety of the Novavax vaccine candidate, as well as its ability to reduce disease in those who contract the virus. Stony Brook was chosen as a trial center, in part, because of the institution's outstanding expertise in infectious disease research — including vaccinology — and for the ability to perform clinical trials in subjects with complex medical conditions. The study will leverage Stony Brook's extensive relationships with the first responder and essential worker communities to offer the vaccine trial to those at particularly high risk. Additionally, Stony Brook aims to bring the vaccine trial to underrepresented populations who are also at higher risk for infection. Northwell Health has been named the Presenting Partner for this year's Rangers Training Camp. The New York Rangers announced that Northwell Health has been named the Presenting Partner for this year's Rangers Training Camp, which includes becoming the New York Rangers' first practice jersey sponsor. In addition, the Rangers and Northwell Health will partner on the "NYRises" campaign to pay homage to people around New York who have inspired their community during the most difficult times. As part of their jersey sponsorship, the Rangers and Northwell Health will identify several inspiring New Yorkers who will be given the opportunity to help design their own Rangers practice jersey. Rangers players will wear these jerseys periodically throughout the 2020-21 season. Each designer will share their story and inspiration behind their jersey through a custom content series featured on Rangers digital channels. Catholic Health is expanding its St. Francis Heart Center cardiovascular program with new interventional services at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre. The St. Francis Heart Center at Mercy team will be backed by the St. Francis Hospital cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists and others who have expertise in all types of heart surgery. The expanded St. Francis Heart Center cardiac services at Mercy joins St. Francis Heart Center at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip. St. Francis Heart Center will be further expanded to offer cardiac services at St. Joseph Hospital in Bethpage in 2021, with the opening of a new cardiac catheterization lab. The Town of Hempstead Board voted to approve $695,042 of CARES Act funding to Mount Sinai South Nassau to establish a COVID-19 testing and vaccination mobile unit for town residents. This new program stems from the success of a previously approved grant to Mount Sinai South Nassau which established a drive-through testing center to help contain the spread of the virus by testing residents from the safety of their vehicles and reducing person-to-person contact. This program tested 1,733 residents from Dec. 5, 2020 to Jan. 23, 2021. Further information will be posted on the Town of Hempstead website once the new program is fully operational. Northwell Health launched its Just in Time Teaching Tools app. Northwell Health's Office of Academic Affairs has launched its Just-in-Time Teaching Tools app to aid in the advancement of medical education knowledge and teaching skills of students, trainees and faculty. The app is now available in the Apple Store. The new app uses the Just-in- Time Teaching (JiTT) model — a pedagogical approach that involves close interaction between instructors and their classrooms — to better provide timely and relevant teaching tips to trainees and faculty who need to actively engage with their instructors, specifically for those in the patient care setting. JiTT infographics are adaptable to an array of clinical specialties and include foundational teaching principles in areas such as setting expectations, questioning techniques, feedback and coaching, and bedside teaching. Clinically specific teaching techniques include content pertaining to internal and family medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, psychiatry and neurology. Sub-specialties are also included. n M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S L O N G I S L A N D ■ 2 0 21 2 9

• Cover