NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine

04/24/2026

Advanced OMM Course: “Rule of the Artery” | May 1–3 | NYITCOM Old Westbury

Co-sponsored by Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and NYIT Osteopathic Medicine Center.

For the first time on the U.S. East Coast, this three-day immersive course explores cardiovascular dynamics, the role of the heart beyond a pump, and its integration with the autonomic nervous system and primary respiratory mechanism.

This is an advanced course designed for qualified candidates only. Open to MDs/DOs who have completed a 40-hour basic cranial OMM course.

24 AOA Category 1-A CME credits anticipated

Space is limited. Registration does not guarantee acceptance—confirmation is required.

Register: https://buff.ly/vI6ctSy

Questions? Contact: barnard@nyit.edu

04/24/2026

Closing out the year on a high note.

In their final DPR2 lab, students worked alongside faculty to practice essential clinical skills, including Foley insertion, Pap smear with speculum, and other key reproductive techniques.

Thank you to Dr. Morgan for capturing the moment.

04/24/2026

Join us for a poignant tribute to our invaluable donors at the Anatomy Department's Spring 2026 Donor Memorial Ceremony.

Monday, April 27
at 11 a.m.
in Mollie Auditorium

Experience the profound impact of their gift as we honor their contribution to medical education and research.

For more information, please email kmountra@nyit.edu

04/23/2026

What made you choose this path?

“Scribing for a P*P serving rural, underserved patients taught me that effective medicine must be attuned to the culture of the people it serves. Appointments rarely began with symptoms - they began with who had recently passed, whose roof needed fixing, and which high school football team was headed to Regionals. Watching this physician translate those narratives into diagnoses revealed medicine's most profound duality - the ability to honor a patient's story while also intervening to ensure that story continues. It is that bridge between human connection and purposeful clinical action that drew me to medicine.” - Zainab Rahman, OMS I (Class of 2029)

Email nyitcomsocial@nyit.edu with your reason why you choose this path to D.O. and we'll post it.

04/23/2026

It’s terrific to see our NYITCOM community—students, faculty, and staff—taking the time to recognize colleagues by submitting nominations for their outstanding contributions. Your participation is what makes the Above & Beyond Employee Recognition Program so meaningful.

Thank you for continuing to highlight and celebrate the incredible work happening across NYITCOM. Please join us in congratulating our newest group of Above & Beyond Employees:

NY Campus
• Elena Demayo, Administrative Assistant, Clinical Education
• Anthony Pellicano, Research Associate, Biomedical Sciences
• Shannon McCartan, Assistant Director, Clinical Education
• Kelly Ryan, Assistant Director, Academic Affairs

AR Campus
• Rebekah Herring, Senior Career Advisor, Student Services
• Trosha Krennerich, Associate Director, Student Services

Special Nomination of NYIT Staff
• Emma Dajko, Campus Dining, NYIT Riland Café

To learn more about the Above & Beyond Employee Recognition Program or to submit a nomination, visit: https://buff.ly/JLKxdbb

04/22/2026

Dr. Adena Leder, Director of NYIT’s Parkinson’s Disease Treatment Center, was in Chicago for the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) meeting, joined by two NYITCOM alumni. Audrey Hunt, DO (Class of 2021), and Minaal Zahid, DO (Class of 2024), both currently completing their pediatric neurology residencies, had the chance to reconnect and represent the NYITCOM community together.

04/22/2026

A college degree still holds value—but only if it prepares students for the real world. In a recent op-ed, New York Tech President Jerry Balentine explains that in an AI-driven economy, success depends on more than a diploma. Hands-on experience, critical thinking, and the ability to adapt are what truly set graduates apart. The takeaway: it’s not just about earning a degree—it’s about what you do with it.

Read now: https://buff.ly/HRUOKKL

04/22/2026

NYITCOM students Bilal Niazi, Dillon Pekoff, Demetra Menoudakos, and Schyler McBride represented the college at the National ACP Internal Medicine Conference in San Francisco.

Dillon Pekoff, OMS-II, and Demetra Menoudakos presented poster research, while Schyler McBride was selected as one of a limited number of award recipients to deliver an oral presentation. Pekoff’s research, conducted alongside Matt Duazo (OMS-II), Aayush Bhatawadekar (OMS-II), Dr. Brian L. Beatty, Dr. Maria Plummer, and Dr. Zachary Brown, examined how the anatomic origin of primary bone cancers influences metastatic behavior and patient prognosis.

Their work reflects NYITCOM’s continued commitment to advancing research and showcasing student achievement on a national stage.

04/21/2026

NYITCOM was proud to be represented at the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) 2026 conference in Florida, where members of our community were recognized for their contributions to osteopathic medicine.

We extend a special congratulations to our alumna, Kerry Agnello, DO, FACOFP, recipient of the Outstanding Female Leader of the Year Award. We also congratulate all of this year’s ACOFP award recipients, whose dedication continues to advance the field of family medicine.

It was great to see NYITCOM represented throughout the event, including students Brandon Rein (OMS III), who moderated the lifestyle lecture, and Sarah Gerald (MS III). We were also glad to reconnect with alumni at the Fellows Reception, including Drs. Bono and Agnello, and to join colleagues Drs. Riley, Cohen, Penn, and Benson at the keynote session.

ACOFP’s awards program honors physicians, residents, and students who make exemplary contributions to osteopathic family medicine, and we are proud to see members of our community among those recognized.

04/21/2026

The 2026 NYITCOM Alumni Awards Dinner is just one week away. Join us on Tuesday, April 28 at 6 p.m. at The Garden City Hotel as we celebrate members of the NYITCOM community for their impact in medicine and service. The evening will feature a cocktail reception and sit-down dinner with alumni, faculty, students, and friends.

2026 Honorees:
Distinguished Alumnus: Eric Appelbaum, D.O. ’97
Alumnus of the Year: Atul Kukar, D.O. ’00
Alumna of the Year: Taranjeet Kalra Ahuja, D.O. ’06
Community Partner: St. Barnabas Health System
Honorary Alumnus: Krishan Kumar, M.D.
Young Alumnus: Karan Lal, D.O. ’16

Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available—don’t miss your chance to be part of this special evening and support our honorees:
https://buff.ly/JDvHxMx

.balentine

04/20/2026

Join us for a Department of Biomedical Sciences Seminar featuring Gonzalo Otazu Aldana, Ph.D., Associate Professor at NYITCOM.

Topic: Neural Basis of Olfactory Deficits in Mouse Models of Autism
Date: April 21, 2026
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Location: BRIIC, Room 146 (Conference Room A)

Simulcast via Zoom (contact baskari@nyit.edu or aperez13@nyit.edu for link)

Dr. Otazu’s research focuses on how the brain processes odors and how these systems are affected in neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.

Refreshments will be served.

This program is free and open to all.

04/20/2026

From the art world to medicine, NYITCOM student Perry Rosen is rediscovering her calling.

Featured in New York Tech News, Rosen’s nontraditional path—from economics graduate and mother to medical student and published researcher—highlights her commitment to patient care, education, and advancing research in areas like pediatric health and medical simulation.

https://buff.ly/lujgDHv

College of Osteopathic Medicine student Perry Rosen is the lead author on a recently published study about pediatric ni****ne exposure, but her journey to medical school was not a linear path.