Mount Sinai Health System recently announced a significant leadership transition at the Icahn School of Medicine. Dennis S. Charney, MD, who has served as Dean for 18 transformative years, will step down from his position on June 30, 2025. His departure marks the end of one of the longest tenures for a medical school dean in the United States, underscoring a remarkable era of innovation, growth, and academic excellence that has firmly positioned the Icahn School of Medicine as a global leader in biomedical research and education. While he steps down as dean, Dr. Charney will continue his influential research and teaching activities as a faculty member, ensuring his lasting impact on the institution and the broader field of neurobiology.
Dr. Charney’s research contributions have been pivotal in advancing our understanding of complex psychiatric disorders. As a neurobiologist specializing in the molecular bases of anxiety, fear, depression, and resilience, his work has yielded groundbreaking insights that have directly informed the development of novel therapeutic interventions. Notably, Dr. Charney was recognized as one of the 2025 TIME 100 Health Most Influential People in Health, a testament to his innovative approach and success in creating breakthrough treatments for depression. His research into the neurochemical pathways involved in mood regulation has helped usher in new pharmacological agents that offer hope to millions suffering from mental health conditions.
Under Dr. Charney’s visionary leadership, the Icahn School of Medicine embarked on a profound journey of expansion and scientific discovery. He actively cultivated a multidisciplinary environment by recruiting top-tier faculty across various fields such as biomedical sciences, computational biology, and information technology. This convergence of disciplines fostered an ecosystem of scientific risk-taking and resource sharing that challenged conventional boundaries within academic medicine. The school’s commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration led to the establishment of over two dozen research institutes dedicated to cutting-edge investigations in cancer, cardiovascular diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, and psychiatric illnesses, highlighting the school’s broad impact in multiple medical domains.
A defining hallmark of Dr. Charney’s tenure was the dramatic increase in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which soared to an unprecedented $500 million annually by 2024. This influx situates the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as the 11th highest recipient of NIH funding among all U.S. medical schools and places it in the 99th percentile for research funding among private institutions. This financial support has empowered the school to advance its research infrastructure, recruit leading scientists, and train the next generation of medical innovators. Moreover, the expansion of the graduate medical education program under Dr. Charney’s leadership created the largest residency and clinical fellowship cohort in the nation, now exceeding 2,600 trainees.
Dr. Charney also forged strategic partnerships with technological and academic powerhouses such as the Hasso Plattner Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the State University of New York at Stony Brook. These collaborations have been instrumental in developing digital health tools that advance precision medicine—a rapidly emerging field that leverages data analytics, machine learning, and personalized biological insights to optimize patient care. One historic advancement co-invented by Dr. Charney is ketamine, an FDA-approved rapid-acting antidepressant marketed as SPRAVATO™. Ketamine’s novel mechanism of action has revolutionized treatment paradigms for resistant depression, offering patients fast and effective relief where traditional antidepressants often fail.
In addition to pharmacological innovations, Dr. Charney is a pioneer in the digital therapeutics space, having co-developed Rejoyn, the first FDA-approved prescription digital therapeutic for major depressive disorder (MDD). This technology employs computer-guided behavioral therapy and data-driven patient engagement strategies that complement traditional medical treatments. Such digital interventions epitomize the future of mental health care, blending psychological science with software engineering to expand accessibility and efficacy. Dr. Charney’s dual achievement in both chemical and digital therapeutics exemplifies his comprehensive and forward-thinking approach to mental health research and treatment.
His scientific excellence has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, cementing his status as a leader in psychiatric research. Dr. Charney was inducted into the National Academy of Medicine in 2000, a distinction reserved for individuals who have made profound contributions to medical science. His accolades include the Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorder Research awarded in 2019 and the Rhoda & Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health from the National Academy of Medicine in 2023. These honors highlight his sustained commitment to understanding and addressing the biological underpinnings of mental illness.
The Mount Sinai Health System leadership has lauded Dr. Charney’s transformational impact on the school and health system. Brendan G. Carr, MD, and Kenneth L. Davis, MD, praised his ability to assemble a world-class team and secure the necessary resources that will sustain the school’s trajectory of excellence. They emphasized his unique leadership qualities that blend innovative thinking with steadfast dedication. Similarly, Kenneth L. Davis reflected on Dr. Charney’s “outside-the-box” leadership style, which defied traditional constraints and forged a culture strong enough to elevate the Icahn School of Medicine into a premier institution for biomedical education and research.
Echoing this sentiment, Richard A. Friedman and James S. Tisch, Co-Chairs of the Mount Sinai Health System Boards of Trustees, referred to Dr. Charney as a visionary transformative leader who successfully implanted an entrepreneurial spirit within the school. By fostering an environment conducive to innovation and risk-taking, Dr. Charney created a dynamic academic culture that continues to push the boundaries of biomedical research and patient care. His strategic direction is seen as a cornerstone of the institution’s success and future potential.
In the wake of this leadership transition, Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, has been appointed as Interim Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine. Dr. Nestler is a distinguished molecular neuroscientist known for his work on the mechanisms underlying addiction and depression. He has served as Dean for Academic Affairs since 2016 and as Chief Scientific Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System, with a prolific publication record of over 750 papers and five books. His election to the National Academy of Sciences—the highest honor for original scientific research—underscores his stature in the biomedical community and promises continuity in the school’s scientific mission.
Mount Sinai Health System itself stands as a pillar of comprehensive care and biomedical innovation in the New York metropolitan area. Employing 48,000 staff across seven hospitals, over 400 outpatient practices, and more than 600 research and clinical laboratories, it is among the largest academic medical systems in the region. The Health System’s integrated model combines cutting-edge scientific research, education, and clinical care to address complex health challenges using novel technologies including artificial intelligence and informatics. Its hospitals routinely receive accolades from Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, reflecting their excellence in healthcare delivery.
The Icahn School of Medicine’s ever-expanding research footprint and educational programs have played an essential role within this ecosystem. Taking advantage of state-of-the-art facilities and a comprehensive network of healthcare providers, faculty and students are uniquely positioned to translate scientific discoveries into tangible health improvements. The synergy between research and clinical enterprises fuels innovations that continue to broaden treatment options for a wide spectrum of diseases, from cancer and heart disease to psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders.
Looking ahead, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is poised to build on the foundation laid by Dr. Charney’s leadership. The school’s emphasis on cross-disciplinary collaboration, augmented by strategic partnerships and cutting-edge digital health innovations, positions it as a global leader ready to tackle the evolving challenges of medicine. As Dr. Nestler steps into his interim role, the institution’s vibrant culture of research excellence and education stands insured, ensuring that the next generation of physicians and scientists will carry the torch forward.
Subject of Research: Neurobiology of mood disorders, mechanisms of depression and anxiety, development of novel pharmacological and digital therapeutics.
Article Title: Not explicitly provided in the source content.
News Publication Date: May 13, 2025
Web References:
https://time.com/collections/time100-health-2025/7279649/dennis-charney/
Keywords: Health and medicine, neurobiology, depression, anxiety, resilience, ketamine, SPRAVATO™, digital therapeutics, Rejoyn, biomedical innovation, academic medicine, precision medicine.
