Talia H Swartz

Talia H Swartz, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases and Medical Education) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She also serves as Senior Associate Dean for MD-PhD Education and Director of the MD-PhD Program. Her dual focus includes HIV/AIDS research and advancing physician-scientist training. Dr. Swartz holds certifications in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases from the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Education: PhD and MD from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, followed by residency in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Research Interests: Mechanisms of HIV-driven inflammation, particularly in the brain, and the role of cannabinoids in reducing HIV-associated neuroinflammation. Her work also explores translational therapies combining antiretrovirals with immunomodulatory agents. Additional focus areas include severe COVID-19 pathogenesis and the role of inflammasome signaling.

Publications: Over 68 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work emphasizing HIV immunopathogenesis, physician-scientist workforce development, and translational research strategies.

Awards: Recipient of the 2024 Terry Ann Krulwich Physician-Scientist Alumni Award, 2020 Distinguished Scholar Award, and multiple teaching and leadership recognitions. Active in national organizations including the AAMC GREAT Group and the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Advocacy & Leadership: Leads initiatives to diversify the physician-scientist pipeline, including curriculum reforms, recruitment strategies, and support for underrepresented trainees. Chairs committees focused on equity and work-life balance for early-career researchers.

Labs/Teams: Directs a NIH-funded research lab investigating inflammatory signaling pathways in HIV and co-leads institutional efforts to enhance MD-PhD training programs.