Meet the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholars
In 2021, the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholars Program was established at MSK to support the translational science initiatives of talented early-career physician-scientists across multiple specialties. Get to know the newest cohort and learn about their work.
About the program
In 2021, the Louis V. Gerstner, Jr. Physician Scholars Program was established at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) to support the translational research initiatives of outstanding early-career physician-scientists across multiple specialties. Reflecting Mr. Gerstner’s lifelong belief in the power of innovation and investing in future generations of leaders, the program continues to be a lasting testament to his vision and generosity.
This highly competitive program provides physician-scientists with critical support at a pivotal stage in their careers, enabling them to pursue transformative research that bridges scientific discovery and patient care. Through their work, these scholars are helping to advance the innovation and excellence that define MSK and carry forward Mr. Gerstner’s remarkable legacy.
2026 Recipients
Eric Bent, MD, PhD
Department: Radiation Oncology and Medicine (joint appointment)
Current Position: Assistant Attending, Radiation Oncology and Genitourinary Oncology Service
Mentor: Charles Sawyers, MD
Project Title: Defining and overcoming resistance to PSMA radioligand therapy through DNA-damage repair and immune modulation
Ziad El Bakouny, MD, MSc
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Instructor, Genitourinary Oncology Service
Mentors: Craig Thompson, MD, and Ed Reznik, PhD
Project Title: Mitochondrial DNA mutations as drivers of metabolic, epigenetic, and immune reprogramming in renal cell carcinoma
Daniel Kim, MD, PhD
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Fellow, Medical Oncology/Hematology
Mentor: Dana Pe’er, PhD
Project Title: Dissecting metastatic ecosystems and organotropism in colorectal cancer
Robert Stanley, MD, PhD
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Instructor, Leukemia Service
Mentor: Omar Abdel-Wahab, MD
Project Title: Spatial determinants of clonal progression and immune remodeling in myelodysplastic syndromes and precursor states
2025
Brinda Alagesan, MD, PhD
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Fellow, Medical Oncology/Hematology
Mentor: Scott Lowe, PhD
Project Title: Defining the role of type I interferon signaling in response to RAS inhibition
Philip Choi, MD, PhD
Current Position: Medical Director, Regeneron
Mentor: Piro Lito, MD, PhD
Project Title: Investigating the function of PI3K pathway alterations in KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer
Alexander Goglia, MD, PhD
Department: Radiation Oncology
Current Position: Fellow, Radiation Oncology
Mentor: Ross Levine, MD, PhD
Project Title: Characterizing and targeting therapy-related clonal hematopoiesis
Quinlan Sievers, MD, PhD
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Instructor, Lymphoma Service
Mentor: Omar Abdel-Wahab, MD
Project Title: Defining and therapeutically targeting BTK’s scaffolding function in normal and malignant B cells
2024
Duaa Al-Rawi, MD, PhD
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Instructor, Gynecologic Medical Oncology Service
Mentors: Scott Lowe, PhD, and Sohrab Shah, PhD
Project Title: Interrogating the mechanisms of chromosomal instability (CIN) induced oncogene activation in ovarian cancer development
Andrew Cornish, MD
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Instructor, Genitourinary Oncology Service
Mentors: Ming Li, PhD, and Dana Pe'er, PhD
Project Title: Immunotherapeutic targeting of tissue-resident innate lymphocytes for renal cell carcinoma
Michael Gormally, MD, PhD, MPhil
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Assistant Attending, Cellular Therapy Service
Mentor: Christopher Klebanoff, MD
Project Title: Immunologic targeting of undruggable TP53 hotspot mutations though T cell receptor gene therapy
Sandeep Raj, MD
Department: Medicine
Current Position: Assistant Attending, Adult Bone Marrow Transplant Service
Mentors: Roni Shouval, MD, PhD; Benjamin Greenbaum, PhD; and Miguel-Angel Perales, MD
Project Title: Deciphering interactions between host and tumor in CAR T cell therapy
Alumni
2023
Kimon Argyropoulos, MD, PhD
Project Title: Characterization of neural and neuroepithelial niches and their role in the regeneration of the thymus after acute and chronic injury
Sarah Eskreis-Winkler, MD, PhD
Project Title: Understanding and eliminating bias in breast imaging artificial intelligence algorithms: A key step toward equity in outcomes for patients with breast cancer in the 21st century
Karlo Perica, MD, PhD
Project Title: Overcoming resistance to CAR T cells for multiple myeloma using novel synthetic receptor
2022
Susan De Wolf, MD
Project Title: Harnessing endogenous T cell immunity in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia
Juan Osorio, MD
Project Title: Role of Fc receptors in the therapeutic activity of antibodies targeting the CD47-SIRP-alpha axis
Samir Zaidi, MD, PhD
Project Title: Reversion of lineage plasticity and restoration of drug sensitivity in prostate cancer: role of Janus kinase (JAK) and fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)
Morgan Freret, MD, PhD
Project Title: Choroid plexus and the cancer stem cell niche in leptomeningeal metastasis
