Talia H Swartz, MD, PhD

Talia H. Swartz, MD, PhD, FIDSA, is a tenured Professor of Medicine, Medical Education, and Graduate Education at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She serves as System Co-Chief for Research in the Division of Infectious Diseases, Senior Associate Dean for MD-PhD Education, Director of the NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), and Founding Director of the Mount Sinai Academy of Physician-Scientists.

Dr. Swartz is an infectious diseases physician-scientist whose research investigates how HIV alters immune-cell metabolism and inflammatory signaling to promote viral persistence and tissue injury. Her NIH-funded laboratory has identified roles for purinergic receptor signaling, mitochondrial metabolism, and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in HIV pathogenesis. Her research extends from human lymphoid tissue to the central nervous system, where she investigates mechanisms of HIV persistence and neuroinflammation using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia, humanized mouse models, and single-cell transcriptomic and epigenomic approaches. Her research program is supported by sustained NIH funding, including multiple R01-level awards.

Dr. Swartz is also a national leader in physician-scientist education and biomedical workforce development. As Senior Associate Dean and MSTP Director, she oversees the training of approximately 100 MD-PhD students and has developed programs to strengthen mentorship, research training, and career development. She founded the Mount Sinai Academy of Physician-Scientists to support physician-scientists across the career continuum, from medical and graduate training through early faculty development. She has held elected national leadership positions within the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), including Co-Chair of the Group on Research, Education, and Training (GREAT) Steering Committee, Chair of its MD-PhD Section, and inaugural Immediate Past Chair of the Biomedical Research Advancement, Training, and Oversight Group.

Dr. Swartz has received numerous honors for her contributions to research, education, and mentorship, including the Oswald Avery Award from the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Mount Sinai Distinguished Scholar Award, and the Terry Ann Krulwich Physician Scientist Alumni Award. She is a Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and has mentored more than 120 trainees and early-career investigators.