{"id":26,"date":"2015-08-13T19:45:06","date_gmt":"2015-08-13T19:45:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/?page_id=26"},"modified":"2025-03-24T20:32:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-24T20:32:42","slug":"the-team","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/the-team\/","title":{"rendered":"The Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

Current members<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Talia H. Swartz, MD, PhD<\/strong>\u00a0(she\/her\/hers)
\n<\/span>Associate Professor<\/span><\/p>\n

Talia is originally from New York (born at Mount Sinai Hospital). She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Barnard College and completed her MD and PhD at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She then completed her Internal Medicine residency and Infectious Diseases Fellowship at The Mount Sinai Hospital through the research track and joined the laboratory of Dr. Benjamin Chen<\/a> to where she obtained a K08 award to support her research project probing the role of purinergic signaling in HIV-1 infection. Talia’s R01-funded laboratory is focused on understanding the role of inflammatory signaling in HIV-1 infection and inflammation. Talia is passionate about physician scientist careers, understanding the challenges of women and trainees who are underrepresented in science and medicine, and understanding the mechanisms of host pathogen interactions. Outside of lab, Talia enjoys spending time with her family, two kids and dog, Chickpea and cat, Omaha.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

Trinisia Fortune, MSc<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers)
\n<\/span>Research Associate<\/span><\/p>\n

Trinisia is originally from West Harlem. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the City College of New York and her Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Trinisia is studying the impact of drugs that target the purinergic signaling and NLRP3 inflammasome pathway on HIV-1 infection using a human tonsil explant model. Her career goal is to pursue an MD-PhD and to be a physician-scientist. Outside of lab, Trinisia likes to run marathons, travel, cook, loves the outdoors and is a huge foodie.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Emma Kaufman<\/strong>\u00a0(she\/her\/hers)
\n<\/span>Research Associate<\/span><\/p>\n

Emma is originally from Bethesda, MD. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Barnard College, Columbia University, where she completed an honors thesis studying the repurposed antibiotic nitroxoline as a novel treatment for HIV-associated lymphomas. In the Swartz lab, Emma\u2019s work aims to identify the effect of various cannabinoid compounds on\u00a0HIV-1infection and associated neuroinflammation via the NLRP3 inflammasome. Her career goal is to pursue infectious disease research, specifically focused on HIV and other viruses. Outside of the lab, Emma enjoys running, going to galleries and museums, and watching movies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Aislinn Keane\u00a0<\/strong>(she\/her\/hers)
\nPhD Student<\/p>\n

Aislinn is originally from New York. She obtained her bachelor\u2019s degree in Biomedical\u00a0Engineering from Boston University in 2018. For her PhD, she is studying\u00a0the effect of HIV-1 infection on blood brain barrier dysregulation and neuroinflammation. Her career goal is to become a research scientist in the field of neuroimmunology. Outside of lab, she enjoys playing violin, reading, and spending time with friends and family.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Jesse Mangold<\/strong>\u00a0(he\/him\/his)
\nMD-PhD Student<\/p>\n

Jesse is originally from nearby New Jersey. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Global Health from Duke University, where he completed an honors thesis studying maternal immune interventions to reduce vertical transmission of HIV. Jesse is a PhD student in the MSTP at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is interested in understanding the underlying mechanisms of chronic inflammation in people living with HIV despite ART, with the goal of identifying novel drug targets to decrease comorbidities and improve their quality of life. His career goal is to perform translational research and care for patients as a physician scientist at an academic medical center. Outside of the lab, Jesse enjoys running in Central Park with Front Runners New York, exploring the gardens and art museums in the city, and spending quality time with friends.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Tracy Okine<\/strong> (she\/her\/hers)
\nMD-PhD Student<\/p>\n

Originally from Accra, Ghana, Tracy earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience from The Ohio State University (Go Bucks!). Now a PhD student in the MSTP at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, she spends her days investigating how oxidative phosphorylation and purinergic signaling fuel chronic inflammation in people living with HIV When she\u2019s not in the lab, you can probably find Tracy perfecting her crow pose in a yoga class, reforming her core in Pilates, or documenting her fitness journey (including 75 Hard) one sweat session at a time. She\u2019s also the mastermind behind Sundays in Soho, where she combines her interests in art, cooking and writing to discuss topics at the intersection of culture and cuisine. An unapologetic foodie, she swears by the shrimp scampi at The Smith.<\/p>\n

Lab alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Trainee name<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nStart\/end date of training<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nTerminal degree received and year<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nPosition while a trainee<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\nCurrent position<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rebecca Lee, DO\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2011-2012<\/span><\/td>\nMSBS, 2012<\/span><\/td>\nMasters student<\/span><\/td>\nDoctor of Osteopathy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kenneth Law, PhD<\/strong>\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n2011-2016<\/span><\/td>\nPhD, 2016<\/span><\/td>\nPhD student<\/span><\/td>\nAssociate Director at Rocket Pharmaceuticals<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Laura Cheney, MD<\/strong>\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n2014 -2015<\/span><\/td>\nMD, 2013<\/span><\/td>\nInternal Medicine Resident<\/span><\/td>\nInfectious Diseases fellow, Montefiore Medical Center<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maxwell Allison<\/strong>\"\"<\/span><\/td>\n2015 -2017<\/span><\/td>\nBS, 2022<\/span><\/td>\nHigh school student<\/span><\/td>\nUndergraduate student, Tufts University<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Anthony Esposito, PhD\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2015 -2017<\/span><\/td>\nPhD, 2010<\/span><\/td>\nPost-doctoral fellow<\/span><\/td>\nAssistant Professor, New Jersey City University<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Allison Glaser, MD\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2015 -2017<\/span><\/td>\nMD, 2013<\/span><\/td>\nInfectious Diseases Fellow<\/span><\/td>\nInfectious Diseases Physician, Private Practice<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Natasha Durham, PhD\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2016 -2017<\/span><\/td>\nPhD, 2015<\/span><\/td>\nPost-doctoral fellow<\/span><\/td>\nInstructor, UMass Chen Medical School<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elizabeth Osota\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2017 -2019<\/span><\/td>\nBS, 2018<\/span><\/td>\nSURP student<\/span><\/td>\nBusiness Analyst\/Consultant at Clarkston Consulting<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Foram Patel\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2017 -2019<\/span><\/td>\nMSc, 2016<\/td>\nResearch Assistant<\/span><\/td>\nPhD Student, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alexandra Soare\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2017-2019<\/span><\/td>\nBS, 2017<\/span><\/td>\nResearch Associate<\/span><\/td>\nPhD Student at University of Maryland<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hagerah Malik\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2020-2021<\/span><\/td>\nBA, 2020<\/span><\/td>\nResearch Associate<\/span><\/td>\nMD\/PhD Student at University of Chicago<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tracey Freeman\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2018 -2021<\/span><\/td>\nBA, 2018<\/span><\/td>\nSURP student<\/span><\/td>\nMD\/PhD Student at University of Pittsburg-Carnegie Melon<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Caroline Mullis, MD\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2018 -2020<\/span><\/td>\nMD, 2016<\/span><\/td>\nResearch Resident<\/span><\/td>\nInfectious Diseases Fellow, Montefiore Medical Center<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Karishma Rahman, MD\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2020 -present<\/span><\/td>\nMD-PhD, 2019<\/span><\/td>\nResident<\/span><\/td>\nResident, Mount Sinai Hospital<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kanen Embery\"\"<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n2021-present<\/span><\/td>\nBS, 2022<\/span><\/td>\nAPSA Virtual Summer Research Program<\/span><\/td>\nUndergraduate Student, Howard University<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alice Min, MD, PhD<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/td>\n

2018-2024<\/td>\nMD, PhD, 2018<\/td>\nResearch Residency
\nClinical Fellow
\nPost-doctoral Fellow<\/td>\n		Associate Medical Director
\nVertex Pharmaceuticals, MA<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Natalia Rodriguez<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n

2021-2024<\/td>\nBS, 2022<\/td>\nResearch Associate<\/td>\nMD\/PhD Student
\nIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connie Zhao
\n\"\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n		2019-2020<\/span><\/td>\nMD, 2018<\/span><\/td>\nResidents<\/td>\nAssistant Professor of Medicine
\nIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Esha Hedge
\n\"\"<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n		2021-2024<\/td>\nBS, 2021<\/span><\/td>\nResearch Associate<\/span><\/td>\nMD Student
\nMedical University of South Carolina<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Matthew Weinstein
\n\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n		2022-2024<\/span><\/td>\nBS, 2020<\/span><\/td>\nMSBS Student<\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Current members Talia H. Swartz, MD, PhD\u00a0(she\/her\/hers) Associate Professor Talia is originally from New York (born at Mount Sinai Hospital). She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Barnard College and completed her MD and PhD at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She then completed her Internal Medicine residency and Infectious Diseases […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":71,"featured_media":101,"parent":0,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-26","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","debut-has-thumb"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/71"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":55,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":302,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions\/302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.icahn.mssm.edu\/swartzlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}