Biodesign Training Program
The Montefiore Einstein Innovation Biodesign Training Program is a unique one-year experience that seeks to train the next generation of physician innovators. Given the high burden of chronic diseases in the Bronx, and the corresponding challenges faced by patients and providers, this program’s objectives include:
- Developing and implementing innovative health technologies that improve outcomes (clinical, process, economic) for patients, providers, and the Montefiore Einstein health system
- Contributing to presentations, publications, grant funding, and institutional intellectual property
- Contributing to an Innovation-based ecosystem at Montefiore Einstein comprised of didactics, mentoring, and sustainable product development/implementation
The program’s curriculum includes:
- Health technology-oriented didactic coursework
- A ‘clinical immersion’ experience to help program participants learn more about clinical challenges and areas for improvement
- A scholarly project (including a ‘big innovation’ paper and end-of-program pitch presentation to Montefiore Einstein Department of Medicine leadership) conducted through the biodesign framework
- Mentoring from Montefiore Einstein faculty and external experts
Through a multidisciplinary approach, Innovation Biodesign Training Program participants will benefit from our institution’s vast clinical, research, and health information technology infrastructure.
This program is open to fellows or residents in their research training years and attending physicians.
Fellows & Projects
Geetali Mohan
Dr. Geetali Mohan is a Hospitalist in the Internal Medicine Department. She attended medical school in India and completed her residency in Ohio.She is actively involved in resident and medical student education. She is the site director for the acting internship rotation for fourth year medical students.She would like toto combine her years of clinical experience with the innovation biodesign training program to find solutions to improve the health of her patients. She is interested in streamlining the discharge process.
Antoinette Danvers
Antoinette Danvers, MD was born in Jamaica and raised in the Bronx, NY. She attended Cornell University and obtained a BA in African Studies and Research in 2003. After a yearof working with a local education program, she went on to attend medical school at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She completed her OB/GYN residency at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and fellowship in Complex Family Planning at the University of North Carolina where she also received a Master’s degree in Clinical Research. She also has an MBA from Cornell’s Johnson School of Business where she developed an interest in healthcare innovation. Dr. Danvers is interested in using technology to improve patient education and experience.
Mousa K Hamad
Mousa K Hamad, MD was born and raised in Northern New Jersey. He attended the New Jersey Institute of Technology and received a BA in Biological Sciences in 2012. He helped co-found the Palestinian Neuroscience Initiative with his mentor, Mohammad Herzallah, MD PhD at Al-Quds University in Abu-Dis, Palestine while he was an undergraduate student. He went on to graduate from Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School in 2017 after inductioninto the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. He is currently in his enfolded research year (PGY-6) at Montefiore Einstein. His research and academic interests are in complex spine surgery and neurosurgical device development and innovations.
David E. Schecter
David E. Schecter was born and raised in New York. He received his medical degree from the Frank H. Netter, MD School of Medicine. He went on to complete his Internal Medicine residency and is currently a Pulmonary and Critical Care fellow at Montefiore Medical Center. David is committed to social justice and health equity with a deep sense of responsibility and respect for the importance of strong, accurate data to better serve his patients. He has a strong interest in cancer epidemiology, specifically early detection, and lung cancer screening as well as lung cancer diagnostics.
Carlo Lutz
Carlo Lutz, MD, MS is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center / Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Lutz has a longstanding interest in quality improvement and high-value care, with previous work investigating the overuse of telemetry. Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Lutz was Chief Resident at Jacobi Medical Center/Montefiore Medical Center Emergency Medicine Residency Program. Currently his focus is on medical informatics, and the role of mHealth interventions to improve transitions of care from the emergency department.
Shravan Kooragayalu
Shravan Kooragayalu, MD MBA MHA FCCP is a Pulmonary Critical Care physician and serves as the Medical Director for the Pulmonary Department at Western Maryland Health System-University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in Cumberland, Maryland. He graduated medical school from Bangalore Medical College Research Institute in India. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency training at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY and further pursued fellowship training in Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine from John.H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL. Having additional interest in constantly evolving Health Care System, he pursued a Masters in Health Care Administration as well as a Masters in Business Administration at Morris Graduate School of Management in Chicago. Currently he is pursuing a Master of Science in Health Informatics at University of Pittsburgh. He has a keen interest evaluating the use of technological advancements in monitoring and management of patients with variety of lung diseases, use of technologies for data capture from EMR, policies for integration of EMR and enhancement of the clinical decision support system.
Olga Myszko
Olga Myszko, MD is a board-certified pediatrician and is currently in her final year of Adolescent Medicine fellowship at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. She received her medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Montefiore. Her interests include the evaluation and management of polycystic ovarian syndrome and eating disorders; improving access to subspecialty Adolescent Medicine education and care; and empowering adolescents and young adults to engage in their healthcare.
Amit Punj
Amit Punj, DMD is a Board-Certified Prosthodontist and currently the Chief and Program Director of the Prosthodontic Residency at Montefiore Medical Center in the Department of Dentistry. He graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and completed his Prosthodontic Residency at Montefiore Medical Center. He also holds a Master of Clinical Research degree from Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine. His interests are in digital dentistry, dental technology and innovate tools to enhance Interprofessional education.