American Pediatric Society Announces Bruce D. Gelb, MD, as Recipient of Its Prestigious 2026 APS John Howland Award
The American Pediatric Society (APS) has selected Bruce D. Gelb, MD, Gogel Family Chair and Director of The Mindich Child Health and Development Institute and Dean for Child Health Research at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as the recipient of the 2026 APS John Howland Award, the highest honor given in academic pediatrics.
Established in 1952 to honor the legacy of clinician-scientist John Howland, MD, the award recognizes individuals whose contributions have had profound impact on child health and pediatrics. The award will be presented at the APS Presidential Plenary during the 2026 Pediatric Academic Societies Meeting in Boston, Friday, April 24, through Monday, April 27.
Dr. Gelb, one of the nation’s preeminent pediatric cardiologists and geneticists, has advanced the field by uncovering the genetic underpinnings of congenital heart disease (CHD) and related developmental disorders. Since joining Mount Sinai in 1991, he has built a world-leading genomics and gene-discovery program in CHD, including key breakthroughs in Noonan syndrome and other RASopathies—a group of genetic disorders caused by mutations in genes that affect a critical molecular pathway that controls how cells grow, divide, and develop.
“It’s an incredible honor to receive the John Howland Award,” said Dr. Gelb. “This recognition reflects not just my work, but the collective effort of many talented scientists, clinicians, and trainees dedicated to improving the lives of children born with heart defects and developmental disorders. I’ve been fortunate to build my career at Mount Sinai, where collaboration and innovation are part of our DNA.”
A recent landmark study from Mount Sinai, co-led by Dr. Gelb, identified novel gene-pair interactions (digenic inheritance) contributing to congenital heart disease—significantly expanding the scientific understanding of CHD and opening new avenues for diagnostic approaches.
At Mount Sinai Health System, one of the largest academic medical centers in the New York metro area, Dr. Gelb has served as a visionary leader and mentor. Under his direction, The Mindich Institute has grown into a multidisciplinary hub of child-health research, spanning precision genetics, AI, clinical trials, and health-services innovation.
“Dr. Gelb exemplifies the highest ideals of physician-scientists,” said Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, the Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “His work has redefined how we understand congenital heart disease and the genetics of childhood disorders. Just as importantly, he’s built an enduring culture of mentorship, scientific excellence, and compassion that continues to shape the future of pediatric medicine.” Dr. Nestler is also Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System.
Throughout his career, Dr. Gelb has also served in national leadership roles dedicated to advancing pediatric research and advocacy. He is a past President of both the American Pediatric Society and the American Society of Human Genetics, and was the inaugural President of the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Board, where he helped establish the organization’s governance and mission to unify pediatric research communities. Dr. Gelb is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, a private, nonprofit institution that works outside government to provide objective advice on matters of health.
Mount Sinai celebrates Dr. Gelb’s achievement as a reflection of the institution’s enduring commitment to advancing children’s health through discovery, collaboration, and compassionate care.
About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the nation’s leading integrated academic health systems and one of the largest in the New York metropolitan area. Its comprehensive system includes seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, over 600 research and clinical laboratories, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, and the Mount Sinai Phillips School of Nursing. Together, the Health System comprises approximately 48,000 employees, more than 9,000 physicians, and 8,600 nurses.
As a leading learning health system, Mount Sinai combines clinical expertise with scientific discovery to improve patient care while training the next generation of health care and biomedical leaders. The Health System provides care across every stage of life, from prenatal care through geriatrics, while advancing personalized medicine through artificial intelligence, data science, and biomedical research.
Mount Sinai is consistently recognized among the nation’s leading academic health systems for patient care, research, and education. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 1 in New York by Newsweek and No. 5 on the magazine’s World’s Best Hospitals list. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ranks No. 11 among U.S. medical schools and No. 1 among freestanding medical schools for National Institutes of Health funding, reflecting the strength of its scientific enterprise and leadership in biomedical research.