On September 22, 2021, the Joan and Sanford I. Weill Center for Metabolic Health officially opened with introductory comments by Dr. Laura Alonso, the Center’s Director and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Dr. Tony Hollenberg, Chair, Weill Department of Medicine, and Dean Augustine Choi, Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine. Also in attendance were Dr. Lou Aronne, Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center, and a vaccinated, masked and socially distanced room full of enthusiastic members.
The Center’s opening ceremony took place in person in the Belfer Research Center. Following energizing comments by Dean Choi and Dr. Hollenberg, the vision, goals and planned activities for the new Center were reviewed by Dr. Alonso. A keynote lecture was given by Domenico Accili, M.D., Russell Berrie Foundation Professor of Diabetes in Medicine, Chief of Endocrinology Division, Director of Diabetes Research Center, at Columbia University, entitled, “The ABCC of beta cell failure in diabetes.” Following the keynote lecture, the group adjourned to an outdoor reception.