Entries with tag .
I am pleased to announce that Silvia Fossati, PhD, has been appointed the Interim Director of the Alzheimer's Center at Temple University (ACT). Dr. Fossati will succeed Domenico Praticò, MD, who was named the inaugural Scott Richards North Star Charitable Foundation Chair
for Alzheimer’s Research and Director of the Alzheimer’s Center in 2017. I want to thank Dr. Praticò for his service.
Fossati, who joined Temple in 2019 from NYU School of Medicine, served as the Associate Director of ACT and is an Associate Professor of Neural Sciences at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. She has dedicated her career to unraveling the complexities of neurodegenerative disorders. For over 15 years, her research has focused on the mechanisms of cell death and stress in Alzheimer's Disease and cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA).
A major research emphasis of her group has been the definition of the contributions of vascular system defects to mechanisms and biomarkers of cognitive impairment and dementia, in work bridging the fields of cardiovascular diseases and neurobiology, published in high profile journals such as Aging Cell and Alzheimer’s & Dementia (the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association). The work in Dr. Fossati's laboratory has opened promising avenues for therapeutic discovery for neurodegenerative disorders. Dr. Fossati has received multiple prestigious awards as Principal Investigator, including NIH awards, honors from the American Heart Association and the Alzheimer’s Association, and the PA Cure Award.
In her new role, Dr. Fossati will advance the research mission of ACT by building strong interdisciplinary and translational research collaborations across Katz and Temple, and by recruiting and mentoring new faculty with research focus on neurodegeneration. Dr. Fossati is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and excellence, inspiring high levels of scholarly productivity, providing mentorship, and offering opportunities for dynamic engagement among faculty, staff, and trainees. Additionally, she will champion innovative teaching programs, and promote diversity and inclusion for students and postdoctoral fellows associated with ACT.
As we begin the new fiscal year, we have much to celebrate at Katz School of Medicine and at Temple, and I am thrilled to have Dr. Fossati among our newest research leadership. Please join me in congratulating and supporting her as she continues to advance the important work of the Alzheimer's Center.
Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS
The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean
Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel J. Rubin, MD, MSc, FACE, Professor of Medicine, as Co-Director for the Center for Biostatistics and Epidemiology (CBE) at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Dr. Rubin has served with dedication and effectiveness as interim Co-Director of the CBE since May 2023. Dr. Rubin will continue to share leadership responsibilities with current Co-Director, 
Shannon Lynch, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Dr. Rubin, Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, joined the Lewis Katz School of Medicine faculty in 2010 as an Assistant Professor. During his tenure at Temple, Dr. Rubin has emerged as an academic leader, who currently also serves as Deputy Section Chief and Director of Clinical Research in the Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism within the Department of Medicine. His research focuses on predicting and preventing hospital readmissions among patients with diabetes and on in-patient diabetes management, and he currently holds a grant from the NIH’s National Institute of Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) to develop and prospectively validate EHR-integrated readmission risk prediction models for hospitalized patients with diabetes.
As Co-Director, Dr. Rubin will partner with Dr. Lynch to manage administrative functions for the CBE, overseeing its Cores in Informatics/Data Science, Biostatistics, and Education. With their deep experience and proven leadership in population-based, community-centered translational, clinical, and epidemiological research, Drs. Rubin and Lynch will continue their successful collaborative partnership to lead the CBE into its next chapter. We look forward to their ongoing efforts to align its activities with those of the broader research and educational community at Temple.
Please join me in congratulating Dr. Rubin on his appointment.
Sincerely,
Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS
The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean
Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Toby Eisenstein, a beloved member of our faculty. Beyond her acumen as a scientist and researcher, Dr. Eisenstein was a mentor, a cherished colleague, an inspiring teacher and a caring and generous member of our Temple family. Her legacy is one of relentless pursuit of knowledge and unwavering support for her students and peers.
Her academic journey began at Wellesley College and continued at Bryn Mawr College, where she earned her PhD in 1969. Her temporary position at Temple in that same year turned into
a lifelong commitment, as she balanced the demands of a rigorous academic career with the joy of her family life.
Throughout her 50 years at Temple, Dr. Eisenstein’s research spanned from developing vaccines for typhoid fever and Legionnaires’ disease to exploring the intersection of IV drug use and HIV. Her work in understanding the effects of opioids on the immune system led to the establishment of the Center for Substance Abuse Research, which she co-directed with distinction. Her contributions to our school and her field were celebrated in a portrait unveiling in October 2019.
As our community grieves her loss, contributions in her memory may be made to the Toby K. Eisenstein Endowed Fund the Center for Substance Abuse Research, helping to continue her exceptional work fostering discoveries that improve lives and advance our understanding of addiction.
With deepest sympathy,
Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS
The Marjorie Joy Katz Dean
Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Ellen Unterwald, PhD
Chair and Professor, Department of Neural Sciences
Professor, Center for Substance Abuse Research