Doers. Makers. Innovators. Healers.

Celebrate the end of the semester at the MayFest! Join us on West 61st Street for the return of the NYC Street Fair. Come enjoy the ice cream truck, popcorn truck, ball-pit photo booth, caricaturists, airbrush shirts and hats, and two carnival game trailers with prizes. Join us outside on West 61st street for the return of the NYC Street Fair!  Register (https://cglink.me/2rJ/r382429)

Join Counseling and Wellness as well as Project Sunshine to celebrate Earth Day! There will be music, bubbles, chalk, and rock and flower pot painting.Register (https://cglink.me/2rJ/r381656)

Six members of the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (https://www.nyit.edu/medicine) (NYITCOM) community will be honored for their roles in medicine and their impact on the school at the 2026 NYITCOM Alumni Awards Dinner. The event will be held on Tuesday, April 28, at 6 p.m. at the Garden City Hotel (https://www.gardencityhotel.com/). The evening includes a cocktail reception and a sit-down dinner. The dress code is business cocktail attire. This year's awards include Distinguished Alumnus, Alumnus of the Year, Alumna of the Year, Community Partner, Honorary Alumnus, and Young Alumnus.For more information about past honorees, check out these highlights. (https://web.nyit.edu/medicine/nyit_college_of_osteopathic_medicine_alumni_awards_dinner) If you have any sponsorship questions, please scroll down to the bottom of this page and also contact Carmen Marmo-Savinetti, senior development officer, at cmarmosa@nyit.edu (mailto:cmarmosa@nyit.edu) If you have any other questions, please contact Katie Cobe, assistant director of alumni relations, at kkarwosk@nyit.edu (mailto:kkarwosk@nyit.edu).  TicketsIndividual Tickets: $350 per person. The fair market value of goods is $156. Your donation to NYITCOM is $194 and is tax deductible.Reserve a Table: $3,500 per table (10 people per table) The fair market value of goods is $1,560. Your donation to NYITCOM is $1,940 and is tax deductible.. Register (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-registration) 2026 Honorees Distinguished Alumnus Eric Appelbaum (D.O. '97) Eric C. Appelbaum is a senior healthcare executive and board-certified physician in internal medicine and emergency medicine. He has over 28 years of leadership experience at SBH Health System. As senior executive vice president and chief operating officer, he oversees hospital operations, strategic initiatives, clinical quality, and system-wide performance improvement efforts. He has held progressive executive leadership roles including chief medical officer and deputy chief medical officer, while maintaining active involvement in academic medicine, graduate medical education, and state and national professional organizations. Appelbaum combines clinical expertise, operational leadership, and healthcare administration training (MBA, Healthcare Administration) to drive quality improvement, patient safety initiatives, and organizational excellence. Alumnus of the Year Atul Kukar (D.O. '00) Atul Kukar completed his undergraduate education at Georgetown University and earned his medical degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, from which he graduated with honors as a member of the Psi Sigma Alpha Honor Society. He completed his postgraduate training in Internal Medicine at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center of Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He was selected to be one of the chief medical residents and stayed on to complete his training as a clinical fellow in cardiology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt in 2007. In 2008, he completed his fellowship training in interventional cardiology, and in 2009, his endovascular intervention training at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Kukar has been recognized for his endeavors in teaching, research, and the care of his patients. He has participated in the publication of numerous abstracts, review articles, book chapters, case reports and manuscripts. In 2018, he joined Mount Sinai Health System and is currently serving as the associate chief of cardiology at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, which is nationally ranked #17 in cardiology, heart and vascular surgery by US News & World Report. Kukar is board certified in cardiovascular medicine, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, vascular interpretation, and interventional cardiology. He also sits on the NYITCOM Advisory Board. Alumna of the Year Taranjeet Kalra Ahuja, (D.O. '06) Taranjeet Kalra Ahuja graduated from NYITCOM in 2006 and is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of American Medical Colleges, as well as the International Association of Medical Science Educators. She completed her pediatric residency at Stony Brook University Hospital, where she was later selected to be chief resident and became highly recognized for her skills not only as a clinician, but also as a medical educator. Following time in private practice, Ahuja assumed a position in academics as an assistant professor of science education and pediatrics at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She currently holds the title of co-leader of the communication curricular thread. She previously served as the director of the Initial Clinical Experience (ICE), which is an integral part of the pre-clerkship curriculum that affords students direct, meaningful patient encounters. She was also the director of the continuity clinic component of the Advanced Clinical Experience, which provides the outpatient longitudinal experience in the MS3 year. In addition, Ahuja teaches physical diagnosis and clinical reasoning. She also serves as a facilitator for PEARLS, a case-based learning course designed to help students learn the key concepts of biomedical science embedded in real patient cases. Ahuja has maintained a clinical practice and has given numerous presentations on topics in pediatric medicine. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of American Medical Colleges, as well as the International Association of Medical Science Educators. Community Partner SBH Health System SBH Health System, a teaching hospital in the Bronx, is deeply rooted in its mission to deliver patient-centered care, improve the wellness, and well-being of our community. This focus stems from its 160 years of service providing the highest quality of care, regardless of background, identity, or economic status. Through these efforts, SBH has a dedicated team of more than 225 physicians and nearly 500 nurses, that advance its commitment to whole-person care. SBH has endeavored to guiding the next generation of physicians through its long-standing academic partnership with the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. These efforts have yielded hundreds of physicians with the knowledge of medicine, and deep commitment to serving our communities in the Bronx. A reflection of this enduring partnership is Eric Appelbaum, senior executive vice president and chief operating officer at SBH Health System, who is being recognized by New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine as a recipient of its distinguished alumni award. (see above) His career reflects a deep commitment to patient care, long-standing relationships within the community, and the strong connection between SBH and NYITCOM. Honorary Alumnus Krishan Kumar, M.D. Krishan Kumar serves as a clinical professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine for NYITCOM. He joined the faculty of NYITCOM in 2011 and is also a member of the Dean's Advisory Board. Kumar has been a faithful supporter and friend of NYITCOM for more than 40 years, and, in 2024, he established the Kumar Family Scholarship to benefit a fourth-year medical student. Kumar is the former chair and program director of Nassau University Medical Center's department of pediatrics. He joined NUMC as an attending physician in the department of emergency medicine/pediatrics in 1990. He also previously served as an associate professor of pediatrics at Stony Brook, as an attending in the department of emergency medicine at New York Presbyterian Queens and Coney Island Hospital, and as the medical director for Nassau County Fire Police EMS Academy. Kumar graduated from medical school at Kanpur Medical College in India in 1977 and emigrated to the United States in 1984. He joined Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx as a resident and soon became associate director of emergency medicine in 1988. Kumar is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Emergency Medicine, and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics.He is also a member of the New York State Board of Medicine and serves as the vice president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the second-largest medical association in the United States. His numerous awards include being recognized as one of America's Top Pediatricians by Consumer's Research Council of America in 2010, the Medical Director of Excellence Award for outstanding contribution to paramedic education by the Nassau County Fire Police EMS Academy. He has received a number of congressional citations from state and national representatives of New York. Young Alumnus Karan Lal (D.O. '16) Originally from New York City, he grew up in Queens and attended Hunter Science High School in Manhattan. He graduated summa cum laude from the New York Institute of Technology, where he completed a rigorous seven-year accelerated combined medical program. He was selected to be an academic medical scholar, during which he received a Master of Science in Neuroscience and a scholarship for three years of medical school and graduate training. He was elected to the Sigma Sigma Phi and Psi Sigma Alpha medical honor societies. He completed his internal medicine internship at the University of Connecticut Medical Center, where he was elected intern of the year. He completed a three-year dermatology residency at the University of Massachusetts, where he was elected chief resident. He continued at the University of Massachusetts to complete a pediatric dermatology fellowship, where he gained an interest in vascular anomalies, pediatric laser, and dermatologic surgery of pediatric patients. Lal specializes in pediatric and adult dermatology, laser surgery, soft tissue filler augmentation, body sculpting, melanocyte keratinocyte transplant surgery for vitiligo and hypopigmentation, and pigmentary abnormalities of the skin. He enjoys treating patients from birth onwards. He is an expert in atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, melasma, psoriasis, and hidradenitis and has worked in specialty clinics among experts. He is the only board-certified pediatric and fellowship-trained cosmetic dermatologist in the country. Lal is often featured in the media and has been quoted in ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Huffington Post, Romper, NBC news, and Marie Claire. He is currently a member of the DEI work group for the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery and has a passion for treating the medical and cosmetic needs of patients from all different backgrounds. SponsorshipsPlatinum Sponsor – $25,000Includes two tables of 10 Full-page color journal tribute Acknowledgment in New York Tech alumni communications and on website Prominent signage at the event Acknowledgment by the master of ceremonies and in the event press release The fair market value of goods is $3,200. Your donation to NYITCOM is $21,800 and is tax deductible.Become a Sponsor (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-sponsorship-registration)Dean's Table Sponsor – $15,000 (one available)Includes eight tickets to sit with Dean Wadsworth Full-page color journal tribute Acknowledgment in New York Tech alumni communications and on website Prominent signage at the event Acknowledgment by the master of ceremonies and in the event press release The fair market value of goods is $1,280. Your donation to NYITCOM is $13,720 and is tax deductible.Become a Sponsor (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-sponsorship-registration)Cocktail Hour Sponsor – $10,000 (one available)Includes four tickets Special signage at the cocktail hour reception Full-page color journal tribute Acknowledgment in New York Tech alumni communications and on website Prominent signage at the event Acknowledgment by the master of ceremonies and in the event press release The fair market value of goods is $640. Your donation to NYITCOM is $9,360 and is tax deductible.Become a Sponsor (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-sponsorship-registration)Menu Sponsor – $7,500 (one available)Includes name or company logo printed on menus during sit-down dinner Full-page color journal tribute Acknowledgment in New York Tech alumni communications and on website Prominent signage at the event Acknowledgment by the master of ceremonies and in the event press release Your donation to NYITCOM is $7,500 and is tax deductible.Become a Sponsor (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-sponsorship-registration)Gold Sponsor – $7,500Includes six tickets Full-page color journal tribute Acknowledgment in New York Tech alumni communications and on website Prominent signage at the event Acknowledgment by the master of ceremonies and in the event press release The fair market value of goods is $960. Your donation to NYITCOM is $6,540 and is tax deductible.Become a Sponsor (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-sponsorship-registration)Silver Sponsor – $5,000Includes four tickets Full-page color journal tribute Acknowledgment in New York Tech alumni communications and on website Prominent signage at the event Acknowledgment by the master of ceremonies and in the event press release The fair market value of goods is $640. Your donation to NYITCOM is $4,360 and is tax deductible.Become a Sponsor (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-sponsorship-registration)Bronze Sponsor – $2,500Includes two tickets Half-page color journal tribute Acknowledgment in New York Tech alumni communications and on website Prominent signage at the event Acknowledgment by the master of ceremonies and in the event press release The fair market value of goods is $320. Your donation to NYITCOM is $2,180 and is tax deductible.Become a Sponsor (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-sponsorship-registration)Electronic Journal Ads $1,000 full-page ad; $750 half-page ad. Become a Sponsor (https://alumni.nyit.edu/events/com-events/2026-nyitcom-alumni-awards-sponsorship-registration)Electronic ad specifications are available. Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors Platinum     Bronze              

Come stop by, play some Dance Dance Revolution, shoot some pool, and enjoy a fun Mayfest afternoon of games including LED ping pong, foosball, air hockey, and darts.Register (https://cglink.me/2rJ/r382812)

A panel of alumni and faculty involved in drug development and research will discuss their careers, provide an introduction to the field, and share career opportunities at this career education event. Questions and answers will follow. Panelists include Nanda Lahiri, Ph.D. (B.S. '05), senior scientist at Novartis, and the moderator is Harsh Shah, Ph.D. (M.B.A. '18), GTM lead at Dassault Systèmes. The event concludes with light refreshments and networking. All alumni and students are welcome.Register (https://site.nyit.edu/aux/event_rsvp?e=xU89eI93BsVl70pS63BZX%2FSW35m7JmqnoCHs1SZAWMTO2%2BR6WESixoaW0m4o0RChArGNCRl%2F4fVLTJ4TpNeAZ5so2r2H8mtJhCDDCBAm8Qx1FObaysL%2F0xDVaXOoFQpOuEfzpYD83auMyH3d6AJJAprwuLXzqF2WbM5mL646pQ%2BcmDSrTica6714wQwhiCNp0QSqDnKlxMK3rZvs4kdCHBdkv12fn8BRcJ3vekkipdgIvGA06CXEPXxbqj1eZD1NlDYt5neG%2B1UC6kTG%2Fsd5Yg%3D%3D)