Baruch’s Alvi Khan Is First Alumnus Admitted to NIH-Funded MD/PhD Program

June 10, 2026

For Alvi Khan (BS, Biophysics ’26), the path to becoming a physician-scientist is taking shape—making Baruch history along the way.

He is the first Baruch alumnus admitted to Penn State University’s College of Medicine’s prestigious National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program. The highly selective, federally funded program prepares future physician-scientists through an integrated MD/PhD curriculum.

Khan’s acceptance comes with more than $750,000 in funding over eight years, supporting advanced medical and scientific training for a career bridging groundbreaking research and patient care.

Prestigious CUNY Award Recipient

He is also among eight students and graduates from The City University of New York named 2026 Jonas E. Salk Scholars. The award provides $8,000 over four years for graduate or medical education, and Khan was chosen as the student speaker at this year’s Salk Scholarship ceremony.

“I am deeply humbled to have received these awards,” Khan said. “They give me the opportunity to pursue research that targets some of humanity’s most debilitating diseases and the potential to revolutionize healthcare.”

Pursuing Breakthroughs in Neuroscience

Khan plans to pursue a doctorate in neural engineering, developing innovative brain implants or wearable technologies to improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, including stroke, glioblastoma, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. He is also exploring clinical paths in neurology, ophthalmology, or neurosurgery, with the goal of leading a research program that integrates science discovery with patient care.

While attending Baruch, Khan volunteered at hospitals across New York City, where he encountered individuals with incurable medical conditions.

“I met patients with advanced Alzheimer’s disease who could barely remember their own name and had immense difficulty interacting with their loved ones,” Khan explained. “Seeing how there weren’t many treatment options left for them, I became inspired to design my own research focused on understanding the disease at a deeper level.”

That experience led Khan to study how mitochondrial dysfunction—affecting energy production in cells—may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. His research on the relationship between mitochondrial health, calcium signaling, and learning impairment helped him win the Salk Scholarship.

A Distinguished Record

Khan’s undergraduate career was marked by exceptional academic and research accomplishments. He became the first Baruch student to receive the prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship and has presented his work at national conferences.

His research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai also contributed to a paper accepted for publication in Nature, one of the world’s leading scientific journals.

Beyond the laboratory, Khan serves as Head of Data Analytics at Knowing Neurons, a neuroscience platform reaching more than a million readers annually. Additionally, he was recently selected for the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Student Social Media Team, where he will translate cutting-edge developments in neurosurgery to students, trainees, and the broader neuroscience community.

Baruch Mentorship Made a Difference

Khan credits his success to the mentorship and support he received at Baruch.

“Since freshman year, I received outstanding guidance from faculty to encourage my aspirations of becoming a ‘double doctor,’ he said. “Professors Zachary Calamari, Ramzi Khuri, Pablo Peixoto, and Edyta Greer provided longitudinal, personalized support throughout my undergraduate years. They helped me secure research opportunities, gain clinical experiences, and apply for prestigious scholarships.”

As he prepares to begin the next stage of his academic journey, Khan says Baruch provided the foundation that made these achievements possible.

“Baruch gave me the support system I needed to pursue ambitious goals,” he said. “I’m incredibly grateful to the faculty and mentors who believed in me and helped make these opportunities possible.”