ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald joined leaders from the Associated Medical Schools of New York Friday to announce more than $4.5 million in state funding to increase diversity among physicians.

“Quite frankly we need to have more people in health care who represent different points of view. Healthcare needs to be more diverse. And I think one of the important things to note is that we do see better health outcomes when people feel a connection to your health care provider.”

Following the announcement, the group took a tour of SUNY Upstate Medical University’s simulation center.

https://www.rochesterfirst.com/news/local-news/funding-to-address-physician-diversity-in-new-york/

Total State Investment of $4.89 Million in Diversity Programs Includes Funding to Three Programs at Upstate

Programs and Scholarships Managed by Associated Medical Schools of New York

ALBANY, N.Y. (August 30, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health today announced $432,000 for three Diversity in Medicine programs at Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Additionally, 15 medical school students will receive scholarships this year to cover most of their tuition in exchange for a commitment to practice in underserved areas in New York. This funding is part of a $4.89 million State Health Department investment in Diversity in Medicine programs to support 950 students in 18 programs across New York State. The programs help students become physicians, improve access to care and eliminate health disparities. Additionally, the state will support medical school scholarships for 23 students covering state tuition for a year.

“The investment in the Diversity in Medicine Program affirms the State’s commitment to eliminate health disparities, ensure diversity in the medical profession, expand access to quality health care services and improve health outcomes for all New Yorkers,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “This program builds diversity within the health care workforce and financially supports future medical professionals to have more opportunities to blossom in their careers and pour into their communities.”

“The better our physician workforce reflects the populations served, the greater the health outcomes will be for all New Yorkers,” Associated Medical Schools of New York President and CEO Jonathan Teyan said. “AMSNY is deeply grateful for our three-decades-long partnership with the New York State Department of Health that allows us to continue to innovate and expand the pathways to medical school for students who have demonstrated their commitments to improving health disparities and practicing medicine in underserved communities.”

Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University programs receiving funding include:

• The Public Health Scholars Program supports students who pursue a 42-credit Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at Upstate. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded the MPH degree and are offered matriculation into Upstate’s MD program.
• Distinguishing Docs Program solidifies the academic foundation of current medical students, accelerating students’ academic success by providing individualized support and enrichment, such as test preparation, tutoring, research opportunities and professional development to help them achieve their goals.
• The Medical Scholars Master’s Program is a 30.5-credit Master of Science in Medical Technology program. The curriculum emphasizes clinical laboratory science and includes a thesis and mentoring component.

Research has shown that when patients are cared for by physicians with shared backgrounds and shared languages, it fosters greater trust and communication, resulting in improved access to care, adherence to clinical recommendations, treatment and follow-up care.

“We must diversify the physician workforce to help all New Yorkers achieve better health outcomes,” Assemblymember Pamela Hunter said. “I’m thrilled to have long championed the AMSNY Diversity in Medicine programs and scholarships and am grateful to Governor Hochul and the Department of Health Commissioner for their support. Together we will close the health disparities gap.”

“I am pleased to support a program committed to eliminating health disparities and expanding access to health care services,” Assemblymember Al Stirpe said. “The Diversity in Medicine program provides a unique opportunity for prospective medical students who have overcome adversity. The scholarship is a creative tool to help support the future generations of doctors in our region who look and speak the various languages of the diverse population of NY. I thank the Commissioner for his continued support, Speaker Heastie for his leadership and the Assembly for its commitment to this vital program.”

“We want to thank Associated Medical Schools of New York and New York State for supporting these important programs that create a wider pathway for individuals who want to pursue careers in medicine,” Norton College of Medicine Dean Dr. Lawrence Chin said. “We hear from students how programs such as these have provided that extra element of support and preparation needed to compete and succeed in medical school and other programs leading to careers in medicine. Our medical field is better when it looks like our community.”

“A diverse healthcare workforce is essential for providing comprehensive and equitable care to all patients,” SUNY Upstate Medical University Associate Dean and Director of Admission & Enrollment Management Robert F. Ruiz said. “By representing the communities we serve, our students can better understand the unique health needs and experiences of diverse populations.”

“The Public Health Scholars program opens doors for students entering medicine from a variety of backgrounds, while offering exactly the combined medical and public health training we would want physicians to have to effectively practice in underserved communities and populations,” SUNY Upstate Medical University Professor and Chair of Public Health and Preventive Medicine Dr. Christopher Morley said.

“For more than a decade, the New York State Department of Health and the non-profit Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) have been supporting our students—helping dozens of diverse students’ progress to careers in science and medicine,” SUNY Upstate Medical University Assistant Professor and Chair of Department of Clinical Laboratory Science Aaron Glass said. “Most of the time, all that’s needed is a little boost for our students to pursue their dreams. Without the support of DOH, AMSNY, and the decision makers here at SUNY Upstate, we couldn’t run these essential programs. Imagine the talent and potential that would be lost from our healthcare system and our research enterprise.”

“These programs provide students who have not been afforded a traditional pathway to medical school the opportunity to demonstrate that they can be the great doctors we need,” SUNY Upstate Medical University Director of Access and Multicultural Programs Nakeia Chambers said.

Diversity in Medicine Programs is managed by AMSNY to increase equitable representation in health professions.

AMSNY Diversity in Medicine Program Awardees 2024-2025 include:

• Bronx Community Health Leaders Program – Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Mentoring in Medicine After School Program – Mentoring in Medicine, Inc
• Expanding the Bridge to Medical School – Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Bridge to Clerkship Program – CUNY School of Medicine
• Supporting, Educating, and Enriching Diversity (SEED) Mentoring Program – NYU Grossman School of Medicine
• Expanded Stony Brook Underrepresented Pre-Med Scholars (eSUPREMES) Program – Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
• Public Health Scholars Program – Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Distinguishing Docs Program – Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Fortifying the Pipeline of Historically Disadvantaged Students to Enhance Medical School Recruitment and Retention Program – New York Medical College
• Next-Gen Leaders of Surgical Health Outcomes Research – School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center
• Office of Equity of Inclusion Program – School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center

The state funding also supports five post-baccalaureate and master’s programs and pipeline programs at City College of New York and the City University of New York. The AMSNY Diversity in Medicine Scholarship will award 23 students in the coming school year. The scholarship covers state tuition for a year, reducing financial barriers to attending medical school. Recipients must commit to working in underserved areas in New York State upon completion of their medical education.

AMSNY launched its first Diversity in Medicine Pathway Programs in 1985 and the State Health Department has provided funding for these programs since 2002. More than 700 practicing physicians have graduated from the AMSNY Diversity in Medicine Programs, many of whom stay and practice in New York State.

State Investing $4.89 Million This Year to Support 18 Programs and Scholarships That Cover Full Cost of a Year’s Tuition

Programs and Scholarships Managed by Associated Medical Schools of New York 

ALBANY, N.Y. (July 17, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health today announced this year’s $4.89 Million investment in Diversity in Medicine programs to support 950 students in 18 programs across New York State. The programs help students become physicians, improve access to care and eliminate health disparities. Additionally, the state is supporting medical school scholarships for 23 students covering state tuition for a year.

“This investment in the Diversity in Medicine Program continues to highlight the State’s commitment to eliminating health disparities, expanding access to health care services and ensuring the medical profession reflects the rich diversity of New York’s communities, all of which are critical components to ensuring better health outcomes for all New Yorkers,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “This program helps those with professional medical aspirations to continue their education in graduate and medical school, to prepare for and remain in those programs and to help financially support education. Ultimately, these scholarships assist with building diversity within the healthcare workforce.”

“For nearly three decades we have partnered with the New York State Department of Health to offer pathways to medical school for students who have demonstrated their commitments to improving health disparities and/or practicing medicine in underserved communities,” Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) President and CEO Jonathan Teyan said. “The increased state funding allows us to expand the breadth of these pathways to medicine and support more students across New York.”

Research has shown that when patients are cared for by physicians with shared backgrounds and shared languages, it fosters greater trust and communication, resulting in improved access to care, adherence to clinical recommendations, treatment and follow-up care.

“The Diversity in Medicine Program is crucial to providing aspiring physicians a chance to pursue their dreams of a career in medicine and ensuring that our health care system is inclusive and equitable,” Albert Einstein College of Medicine Dean Dr. Yaron Tomer said.  “Albert Einstein College of Medicine is proud to be a part of a program that is making a tangible impact on the future of medicine, and we are grateful for the continued support from Governor Hochul and the State of New York.”

“Programs like the Bronx Community Health Leaders Program are critical to building a sustainable pathway to health care careers for people in our borough and across the state,” Albert Einstein College of Medicine Associate Professor Dr. Juan Robles said. “The impact extends beyond the individual students who participate. They have the potential to elevate their families and communities, making for a brighter and healthier Bronx and New York.”

“The commitment of the State Department of Health to supporting pathway programs sends an important message to our young people from underrepresented backgrounds that a career in medicine is within their reach,” President Emeritus and co-visionary of Mentoring in Medicine Dr. Lynne Holden said. “At Einstein and Mentoring in Medicine, this support has bolstered our efforts, allowing us to help more students and make a profound impact on the profession and thousands of lives.”

“I am more than just proud to support the AMSNY Diversity in Medicine programs,” Senator Jamaal Bailey said.” Since being elected to the Senate, I have been a staunch advocate for this program as it makes a major difference in our communities. I believe that advocacy for these initiatives helps to create a future where students can be part of a supportive community conducive to learning and growth- and provide medical services to communities that customarily do not see doctors who look like them.” 

“The Assembly Majority remains committed to taking all necessary steps to reduce healthcare disparity and better patient outcomes across the state,” New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said. “But the first step in transforming the healthcare landscape of our underserved communities is supporting the young men and women ready to help. This funding will ensure more students than ever, from all walks of life, can achieve their dreams of attending medical school without cost concerns.”

“Diversity in our medical field allows patients access to care by familiar faces, which is known to have positive outcomes not just in patient-provider relationships and trust, but also in health outcomes,” Assemblymember Michael Benedetto said.  “I applaud the Governor’s funding of these programs and for strengthening our medical workforce.”

Diversity in Medicine Programs are managed by the Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) to increase equitable representation in health professions. 

AMSNY Diversity in Medicine Program Awardees 2024-2025 include:

• Bronx Community Health Leaders Program-Albert Einstein College of Medicine
• Mentoring in Medicine After School Program- Mentoring in Medicine, Inc
• Expanding the Bridge to Medical School- Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Bridge to Clerkship Program- CUNY School of Medicine
• Supporting, Educating and Enriching Diversity (SEED) Mentoring Program- NYU Grossman School of Medicine
• Expanded Stony Brook Underrepresented Pre-Med Scholars (eSUPREMES) Program- Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
• Public Health Scholars Program- Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Distinguishing Docs Program- Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Fortifying the Pipeline of Historically Disadvantaged Students to Enhance Medical School Recruitment and Retention Program- New York Medical College
• Next-Gen Leaders of Surgical Health Outcomes Research- School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center
• Office of Equity of Inclusion Program- School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center

The state funding also supports five post baccalaureate and master’s programs and pipeline programs at City College of New York and the City University of New York.  The AMSNY Diversity in Medicine Scholarship will award 23 students in the coming school year. The scholarship covers state tuition for a year, reducing financial barriers to attending medical school. Recipients must commit to working in underserved areas in New York State upon completion of their medical education.

AMSNY launched its first Diversity in Medicine Pathway Programs in 1985 and the State Health Department has provided funding for these programs since 2002. More than 700 practicing physicians have graduated from the AMSNY Diversity in Medicine Programs, many of whom stay and practice in New York State.

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The Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) supports A.49 (Rosenthal)—S. 3552
(Breslin) which provides for the licensing of genetic counselors and creates the state board for
genetic counseling.

AMSNY is the consortium of the public and private medical schools in New York State and
works in partnership with its membership to advance healthcare through education,
collaboration and advocacy. Our member medical schools employ genetic counselors for both
clinical care and research, and strongly support licensing these providers in New York.
Genetic counselors are integral to the healthcare workforce. Genetic counselors help patients
make medical decisions about how to manage their genetic health risks, select the appropriate
genetic testing and communicate these health realities with their families and loved ones. They
also engage in research through the academic medical centers to advance scientific
knowledge and develop treatments for patients.

There are also economic and legal benefits for genetic counseling; according to a study
published by Associated Regional and University Pathologists (ARUP) Laboratories in 2014,
genetic counselors working at a diagnostic laboratory revised 26% of the test orders over 21
months, leading to healthcare savings of nearly $1.2 million, and this level of appropriate
testing also reduced waste and potentials for fraud.

New York has been at the forefront of genetic counseling education for 45 years, with training
programs at many AMSNY member institutions. However, New York State does not have an
official licensure process for the profession, which is a significant disincentive to those who
might seek employment as genetic counselors in the state. Despite educating a large number
of the country’s genetic counselors, New York faces a shortage of these same providers
working in our state.

Licensure will help ensure that qualified and board-certified genetic counselors are providing
the highest quality care to patients and will lead to better recognition by health care insurers,
including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This helps ensure adequate
reimbursement for essential genetics services and access for historically underserved
populations by enabling the hiring of additional genetic counselors. Licensure creates clear
educational, certification and continuing education standards for all genetic counselors in the
state.

For the reasons above, AMSNY strongly supports licensure for genetic counselors and urges
the Legislature to consider and pass A.49 (Rosenthal)—S. 3552 (Breslin). If you have any
further questions or concerns, please contact me at 212-218-4610 or
jonathanteyan@amsny.org.

-$4.89M Investment Funds Largest Cohort of Medical Students Receiving Scholarships-

Jonathan Teyan, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Associated Medical Schools of New York, which represents the state’s medical schools, issued the following statement in response to the New York State FY25 Budget:

“AMSNY is immensely grateful to Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature for once again demonstrating their strong commitment to addressing healthcare disparities in New York by investing in a diverse physician workforce. The Governor’s $3.644M investment in AMSNY’s Diversity in Medicine programs will support more than 950 students who are committed to becoming physicians and who have overcome adversity on the path to medical school. The Legislature’s increased funding in AMSNY’s Diversity in Medicine Scholarship, which brings the total investment to $1.25 million, will allow us to support the largest cohort of medical students ever. Reducing the financial barriers for more medical students ensures a larger pipeline of physicians who will practice in underserved communities in New York State. Research has clearly demonstrated that patients treated by doctors from shared backgrounds have better health outcomes, which makes diversifying the state’s physician workforce imperative to improving the overall health of New Yorkers and addressing health disparities. With Governor Hochul and the Legislature’s support, we will continue to make significant strides towards a physician workforce that represents all New Yorkers.”

The budget also includes:

• $10M in new funding for the New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent Program (NYFIRST). The NYFIRST medical school grant program provides capital funding to recruit and retain exceptional life science researchers focused on translational research by supporting the establishment or upgrading of the researchers’ laboratories. The funds in this program are matched 2:1 by the medical schools and this investment will help New York continue to be a leader in biomedical research.

• Full funding restoration for the Empire Clinical Research Investigator Program (ECRIP) at $3.445M. ECRIP provides Center awards to New York State teaching hospitals in order to make these institutions more competitive for federal funding. 

• $8.5M for the New York State Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (NYS SCIRP). NYS SCIRP has supported neurological spinal cord injury scientific research projects from leading New York State researchers to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.

• Full funding for the Committee on Physicians Health (CPH) at $990K. The Committee on Physicians Health provides non-disciplinary, confidential assistance to physicians, residents, medical students, and physician’s assistants experiencing problems from stress and difficult adjustment, emotional, substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders, including psychiatric problems that may arise as a result of medical illness.

About AMSNY

The Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY), the consortium of public and private medical schools in New York State, launched its first diversity in medicine pathway programs in 1985 and has continually provided opportunities to students to prepare for and enter medical school. The state Department of Health has provided funding for these programs since 2002 to help broaden the demographics of people entering the medical profession in New York.  AMSNY member schools include:

• Albany Medical College

• Albert Einstein College of Medicine

• Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

• CUNY School of Medicine

• Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

• Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY

• New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

• New York Medical College

• Norton College of Medicine at Upstate Medical University

• NYU Langone Health

• Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

• SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

• Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

• University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

• Weill Cornell Medicine

• Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

For more information on AMSNY, please visit: www.amsny.org

Updated: Mar. 18, 2024, 9:00 a.m.| Published: Mar. 18, 2024, 8:30 a.m.

By Sean Ryan & Al Stirpe | NYS Legislature members

Sen. Sean Ryan represents the Buffalo area in the New York state Legislature. Assemblymember Al Stirpe represents Cicero. They are both Democrats.

New York State’s medical schools graduated 2,628 students in 2022, the greatest number in any state across the country. California and Texas followed with roughly 1,700 and 1,900 graduates, respectively.

These academic institutions do more than produce future physicians. They are huge drivers of economic development that bring in millions of dollars in research funding and create high-paying jobs.

New York state is the third-largest recipient of federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with $3.6 billion supporting nearly 6,500 research projects in 2023. Of that total, $2.5 billion — more than 70% — was awarded to scientists at New York state medical schools. Superstar scientists not only drive breakthroughs in their own labs — often leading to new patents, spinout companies and licensing deals with bio-pharmaceutical companies — they also spur collaboration, elevate the productivity of their colleagues, teach and inspire the next generation of researchers at the state’s medical schools.

But New York state must do more to maintain its position as a leader in scientific research. The state’s commitment to attracting and retaining top scientific talent lags behind its competitors, making it harder for New York institutions to compete in recruiting talent.

In 2020, California invested $5.5 billion in the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, bringing the total investment to $10.5 billion. In 2019, Texas invested a new $3 billion in its Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), bringing its total investment to $6 billion. Since 2009, CPRIT has awarded $854 million to support out-of-state recruitments. Meanwhile, in 2021, New York terminated the Empire State Stem Cell (NYSTEM) program, which funded many early-career scientists, creating a potential brain drain in stem cell research.

Most funding is awarded to scientists, not academic institutions. If those scientists leave New York for opportunities elsewhere, their funding follows them out of state. That’s why the Associated Medical Schools of New York launched the New York Fund for Innovation in Research and Scientific Talent (NYFIRST) program in 2018. Using State funding, NYFIRST supports New York’s medical schools by providing a maximum grant of $1 million to eligible schools to modernize, renovate and upgrade labs to help attract and retain world-class scientists.

The state’s $1 million investment is matched by the medical schools 2-to-1. On average, every dollar invested by New York state in NYFIRST has resulted in an additional $3.72 in economic activity. In total, NYFIRST has helped New York’s medical schools bring in more than $86 million in new funding to the state and created 186 new jobs with an average salary of $74,058, all from the initial $15 million state investment allocated in 2018.

However, with that initial funding nearly depleted, New York state risks losing all of these benefits if we do not commit to funding NYFIRST once again in this year’s state budget. By allocating another $25 million to this successful program, we can continue to enjoy a huge return on investment for a small fraction of the state budget.

Empire State Development and the state’s academic institutions are already investing in building infrastructure to support and expand our capacity in biomedical research and life sciences. These major capital investments will require a highly skilled and talented workforce to maximize the potential of these facilities. NYFIRST supports the recruitment and retention of global leaders in their fields — precisely the sort of talent that can drive breakthroughs and establish New York state as a global powerhouse in biomedical research and life sciences.

New York state must rise to the occasion and act to maintain its critical position as a leader in research. Supporting and leveraging its academic institutions for economic development through NYFIRST has proven to be successful and a pathway for the future. If we do not continue to invest in NYFIRST, a modest investment in the current budget, New York State will lose its momentum in bringing crucial research talent, scientific facilities and jobs to the state.

https://www.syracuse.com/opinion/2024/03/lawmakers-invest-in-attracting-top-scientists-to-ny-state-guest-opinion-by-sean-ryan-al-stirpe.html

By Shakia Miller

I’m 26, and have lived virtually my whole life in Hempstead. I’ve seen a lot of health-related issues — low-income people of color, like me, suffering from chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and untreated mental illness. Often they haven’t been able to receive proper treatment for their conditions. I wanted to do something about it, and soon I will be able to, because I’m on my way to becoming a doctor.

There was a one-in-a-million chance that I would ever reach this goal. I’m an African-American woman from a low-income neighborhood, raised in a single-parent household. My father was incarcerated by the time I knew what it meant to have one, and remains imprisoned to this day — though he’s using this time to reflect and to continue his education. My mother, a crossing guard, worked extremely hard to provide for my brother and me, but there were days when the money she made didn’t seem like enough to put food on the table, or ensure that we would keep a roof over our heads, or keep us from falling victim to the violence that plagued our community.

I had to fight every step of the way to become the person I wanted to be. I graduated from Hempstead High School in 2015 in the top 1 percent of my class, and then, thanks to Stony Brook University’s Economic Opportunity Program, I graduated in 2019 with a double major in biology and psychology, and went on to earn a master’s in physiology and biophysics. I was the first person in my family to go to college, so there was no blueprint to follow but the one I created along the way.

I got jobs in the health care field, but becoming a doctor seemed out of reach until I was selected for the Diversity in Medicine pipeline program sponsored by Associated Medical Schools of New York. This post-baccalaureate program at SUNY Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is life-changing. There are classes to prepare me for the rigors of medical school, and a stipend I can use for living expenses so I can focus on my studies. I have mentors to turn to for help.

Most important, if I successfully complete the one-year program, I will go to medical school in the fall, and could be selected to receive AMSNY’s Diversity in Medicine Scholarship to help defray the cost. This amazing program is 100 percent state-funded.

Pipeline programs like this are needed to help diversify the physician workforce. Research has shown that patients are more likely to visit and follow the instructions of doctors who understand their language and culture, resulting in better health outcomes. Yet in New York state, where more than 30 percent of the population identifies as Black or Hispanic, just 13 percent of the state’s doctors come from those groups.

Physicians from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented are more likely to go into primary care and practice in under-served communities, where they are desperately needed. I have seen 30 to 40 people waiting, endlessly, to see a doctor; minor symptoms that were left untreated develop into chronic disease; and people with mental illness who are homeless, unable to pay for the care they need and jaded by past interactions with the health care system. People in these communities do not trust that system. I want to be a doctor who can change that, and earn their trust.

Growing up, I never saw a doctor who looked like me. Now I am one of 24 future physicians in this year’s AMSNY program who want to give back to our communities. I am immensely grateful to our state representatives and Gov. Kathy Hochul for making that possible.

In the past two years, the state’s investment in Diversity in Medicine programs has tripled. This funding must continue, and even increase, so more people like us can become doctors and leaders of change for our communities.

Shakia Miller is scheduled to complete the AMSNY Diversity in Medicine program in May.

Read the article online at https://www.liherald.com/stories/our-communities-need-more-doctors-who-look-like-me,206513?