Progression of Neoplasia in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Studies at Mount Sinai are examining clinical and pathological risk factors to help better understand the factors that promote progression from inflammation to precancerous and cancerous lesions in the colon in patients with IBD. Dr. Itzkowitz is the PI on a new registry that will follow patients with IBD and a past history of cancer who are treated with immune modulating medicines for their IBD, in order to determine whether these medications are associated with the development of recurrent or new cancers.
Developing non-invasive colon cancer screening tests
Dr. Itzkowitz's team was part of a national study that demonstrated the utility of stool DNA testing for detecting colon cancer and precancerous polyps in the general population. He is now leading a national study that is testing a modified version of the stool DNA test in patients with IBD who are at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer.
Mechanisms of inflammation-associated carcinogenesis
Laboratory investigation is exploring the profile of intestinal microbiota in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who have primary sclerosing cholangitis - conditions that predispose to colon cancer.
Reducing disparities in screening colonoscopy
Dr. Itzkowitz helped spearhead community outreach efforts to enhance awareness of colon cancer in East Harlem. He and his colleagues have demonstrated the effectiveness of new strategies to improve the completion rates of screening colonoscopy among minority individuals by employing patient navigators within an open access referral system. This model has now been accepted by most medical centers and ambulatory clinics.
Cancer Risk in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Many patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) take medicines that affect their immune system. Most of these drugs were initially tested in patients with IBD who did not have a past history of cancer for fear that these agents might promote a recurrence or development of a new cancer. But a recent study by Dr. Itzkowitz and coworkers indicates that even in those patients with IBD who have a history of cancer, taking immune modulating medicines did not predispose them to a recurrence of their cancer or the development of a new cancer. Dr. Itzkowitz is now heading a multicenter registry to follow patients with IBD who have a history of cancer to track their rates of new or recurrent cancer in a prospective fashion.
Education
MD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Residency, Internal Medicine, NYU Hospitals Center
Residency, Internal Medicine, NYU Hospitals Center
Fellowship, Gastroenterology, University of CA at San Francisco School of Medicine
Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine
Honors & Awards
2013
Excellence in Teaching Award
Institute for Medical Education; Mount Sinai School of Medicine
2013
Patient Advocacy Award
East Harlem Health Outreach Project (EHHOP)
2012
Faculty Award
Arnold P. Gold Foundation for Humanism
2011
Academic Achievement Award (Senior Faculty)
Faculty Council, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
2008
Faculty Award
Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies, and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Itzkowitz during 2023 and/or 2024. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Consulting or Other Professional Services Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership
Exact Sciences Corporation
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.
Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies, and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.
Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Itzkowitz during 2023 and/or 2024. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.
Consulting or Other Professional Services Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership
Exact Sciences Corporation
Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.