Two Weill Cornell Medicine physician-scientists, Dr. Semra Etyemez and Dr. Jesse Platt, have been honored with prestigious early-career awards from the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) for 2026.
The ASCI is one of the nation’s oldest nonprofit medical honor societies, which is comprised of more than 3,500 physician-scientists from all medical specialties. It recognizes and supports the scientific efforts, educational needs and clinical aspirations of physician-scientists to improve the health of all people. ASCI’s early-career awards are designed to encourage and inspire physician-scientists by engaging them with the ASCI community, while honoring their research achievements.
Dr. Etyemez, a research associate in obstetrics and gynecology and in psychiatry, received the ASCI’s Emerging-Generation Award, which recognizes post-MD, pre-faculty appointment physician-scientists who are meaningfully engaged in immersive research. Her research focuses on the biological mechanisms underlying perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, with the goal of identifying biomarkers and developing strategies to treat and prevent perinatal mental illness.
Dr. Semra Etyemez
“As a psychiatrist, I have been fascinated with the biological changes that occur during the perinatal period and their effect on the mental state of women,” Dr. Etyemez said. “This award is a tremendous honor that highlights the importance of studying perinatal mental health. It serves as meaningful encouragement to continue pushing this work forward, particularly given that perinatal mood and anxiety disorders affect so many women, and we know so little about the biological pathways involved.”
Dr. Platt, an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, received the ASCI’s Young Physician-Scientist Award, which recognizes physician-scientists who are early in their first faculty appointment and have made notable achievements in their research.
Dr. Jesse Platt
“In my research lab, we ask a simple, but powerful question: How do changes in the cell’s internal organization reshape the biology of human disease?” Dr. Platt said. By probing the mobility of protein within cells, his research laboratory is uncovering fundamental processes that drive disease biology with the potential to inspire new treatments for metabolic and other diseases. “It’s wonderful to receive this award at this stage of my career and validating for my work to be appreciated by established physician-scientists,” he said.
Dr. Etyemez and Dr. Platt will accept their awards at the ASCI annual meeting in April, where they will have the chance to network with other physician-scientists who are conducting outstanding research in other medical specialties. As early-career award recipients, they will also have opportunities throughout the year to take part in ASCI leadership development workshops, engage in topical panel discussions with distinguished ASCI members, and benefit from scientific, career-focused networking and mentorship.