New York City Council
Committee on Higher Education
Jan 30, 2025
·
10:00 AM
1 hr 54 min
Summary
A hearing on the newly independent CUNY School of Medicine, focusing on:
- Its transition from City College to the CUNY Graduate Center
- Its holistic admissions process
- Efforts to address healthcare disparities and increase diversity in medicine
Discussions included:
- Space constraints limiting enrollment
- High rates of graduates serving in health professional shortage areas
- Recent NIH grant acquisition
- Student debt challenges
- Potential expansion of pipeline programs with NYC high schools and other CUNY colleges
Features testimony from the CUNY School of Medicine and the public.
Meeting chapters
Read summaries and watch videos for short segments that matter to you.
Council Member Eric Dinowitz opens oversight hearing on CUNY School of Medicine
Council Member Eric Dinowitz, chair of the Committee on Higher Education, opens the oversight hearing on the newly independent CUNY School of Medicine. He provides context on the school's recent …
0:00:39
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3 min
Introduction and CUNY School of Medicine's transition to independence
Dr. Carmen Renée Green introduces herself as the President and Dean of CUNY School of Medicine and announces the school's recent transition to an independent institution within CUNY. She expresses …
0:04:53
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44 sec
Overview of CUNY School of Medicine's programs and initial challenges
Dr. Green provides an overview of CUNY School of Medicine's degree-granting programs and discusses the challenges she faced upon arrival. She emphasizes the school's progress and achievements over the past …
0:05:38
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3 min
Background on medical schools in the US and New York
Dr. Green provides context by discussing the landscape of medical schools in the United States and New York, highlighting the unique position of community-based medical schools like CUNY School of …
0:08:57
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38 sec
History and evolution of Sophie Davis School and CUNY School of Medicine
Dr. Green outlines the history of Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education and its transition into the CUNY School of Medicine, highlighting key milestones in the school's development. - Sophie …
0:09:35
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109 sec
Unique characteristics of CUNY School of Medicine students
Dr. Green highlights the distinctive features of CUNY School of Medicine students, emphasizing their diverse backgrounds and the challenges they face while pursuing their medical education. - Most students commute …
0:11:24
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44 sec
Importance of representation in medicine
Dr. Green emphasizes the critical importance of representation in medicine, highlighting the current disparities and the unique position of CUNY School of Medicine in addressing these issues. - Nearly 80% …
0:12:09
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42 sec
Pipeline programs and pathways to medical education
Dr. Green outlines the various pipeline programs and pathways CUNY School of Medicine offers to encourage and support diverse students entering the medical profession. - The school offers programs for …
0:12:53
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109 sec
CUNY School of Medicine's role in addressing healthcare disparities
Dr. Green emphasizes the crucial role CUNY School of Medicine plays in addressing healthcare disparities in New York City, highlighting the school's unique position and the impact of its graduates. …
0:14:43
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146 sec
Environmental justice issues in New York City
Dr. Green highlights the significant environmental justice issues facing New York City residents and their impact on health outcomes, emphasizing the need for medical professionals who understand these challenges. - …
0:17:10
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51 sec
Physician shortage in New York and its impact
Dr. Green discusses the growing physician shortage in New York State and New York City, emphasizing its disproportionate impact on disadvantaged and underserved communities. - The Association of American Medical …
0:18:03
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160 sec
CUNY School of Medicine's response to COVID-19 pandemic
Dr. Green highlights the school's swift and dedicated response to the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing the commitment of CUNY School of Medicine students to serving their communities during the crisis. - …
0:20:46
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66 sec
$19.3 million NIH grant for New York Center For Minority Health Equity and Social Justice
Dr. Green announces a significant $19.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded to CUNY School of Medicine to create the New York Center For Minority Health …
0:21:53
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3 min
Funding needs and requests for support from City Council
Dr. Green outlines various funding needs for CUNY School of Medicine and requests support from the City Council to help address these needs and enhance the school's programs. - The …
0:25:02
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138 sec
Student debt burden and need for financial support
Dr. Green highlights the significant student debt burden faced by CUNY School of Medicine students, despite the school having the lowest tuition among New York State MD-granting medical schools. - …
0:27:20
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79 sec
Space constraints and need for new facilities
Dr. Green outlines the significant space constraints faced by CUNY School of Medicine and emphasizes the need for new, modern facilities to support the school's growth and competitiveness. - Current …
0:28:40
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117 sec
Stance against discrimination and hate speech
Dr. Green articulates CUNY School of Medicine's strong stance against discrimination, hate speech, and bullying, emphasizing the school's commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful community. - The school community …
0:30:39
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41 sec
Vision for CUNY School of Medicine as a freestanding academic medical school
Dr. Green concludes her testimony by outlining the vision for CUNY School of Medicine as a freestanding academic medical school and its potential impact on medical education and healthcare in …
0:31:21
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154 sec
CUNY School of Medicine's transition to independence and its benefits
Dr. Carmen Renée Green discusses the motivations and benefits of CUNY School of Medicine becoming an independent institution within CUNY. She explains how this transition allows for expanded programs, more …
0:34:17
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148 sec
Current enrollment numbers in CUNY Medicine's programs
Dr. Green provides information on the current enrollment numbers in CUNY School of Medicine's programs, including the BS/MD program and the MS in Physician Assistant Studies program. - There are …
0:36:46
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47 sec
Space constraints limiting CUNY School of Medicine's program growth
Dr. Green explains how space constraints are limiting the growth of CUNY School of Medicine's programs, particularly for the Physician Assistant program. - The PA program is limited to 38-39 …
0:37:34
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75 sec
CUNY School of Medicine's search for expanded physical space
Dr. Green discusses the ongoing search for expanded physical space to accommodate the growth of CUNY School of Medicine's programs and address current limitations. - Conversations have begun about capacity …
0:38:50
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4 min
CUNY Medicine's efforts to address doctor shortages in underserved areas
Dr. Green explains CUNY School of Medicine's commitment to addressing doctor shortages in underserved areas and their strategies for increasing their impact. - The school's primary focus is on areas …
0:43:15
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178 sec
Distribution of CUNY Medicine graduates in New York City
Dr. Green provides information on where CUNY School of Medicine graduates end up working, highlighting their impact on the local healthcare workforce. - 75% of CUNY School of Medicine graduates …
0:46:13
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152 sec
CUNY School of Medicine's success in admitting and graduating underrepresented students
Dr. Green highlights CUNY School of Medicine's exceptional performance in admitting and graduating underrepresented students in medicine. - The school has a fourfold difference in graduating underrepresented minority students compared …
0:48:45
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39 sec
Addressing institutional racism and sexism in medicine
Dr. Green discusses the challenges of institutional racism and sexism in medicine, drawing from her personal experiences and the progress made in the field. - When Dr. Green attended medical …
0:49:24
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102 sec
Importance of diversity in medical education and the healthcare workforce
Dr. Green emphasizes the critical role of diversity in medical education and the healthcare workforce, highlighting its benefits and the progress made at CUNY School of Medicine. - Representation matters …
0:51:06
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3 min
Impact of a diverse medical workforce on patient care
Dr. Green explains how a diverse medical workforce positively impacts patient care and health outcomes in communities. - Research shows that having even one Black physician in a county improves …
0:54:22
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5 min
Distribution of primary care graduates in New York City
Council Member Brewer inquires about the distribution of CUNY School of Medicine's primary care graduates, particularly in New York City. Dr. Green explains that while it's difficult to provide exact …
1:00:21
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42 sec
Housing challenges for CUNY School of Medicine students
Dr. Green discusses the significant housing challenges faced by CUNY School of Medicine students, emphasizing the impact on their studies and well-being. The lack of nearby affordable housing affects students' …
1:01:04
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3 min
Potential solutions for CUNY School of Medicine student housing
Council Member Brewer and Dr. Green discuss potential solutions to address the housing needs of CUNY School of Medicine students. They explore various options and resources that could be leveraged …
1:04:11
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74 sec
Potential linkages between CUNY School of Medicine and Macaulay Honors College
Dr. Green discusses the current lack of a strong pipeline from Macaulay Honors College to the CUNY School of Medicine, but expresses enthusiasm for developing future collaborations. The school's new …
1:05:25
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61 sec
Collaboration opportunities with CUNY Graduate Center and School of Public Health
Dr. Green discusses the opportunities for collaboration between the CUNY School of Medicine and other CUNY institutions, particularly the School of Public Health and the Graduate Center. These partnerships are …
1:06:27
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43 sec
Council Member Bottcher's introduction and personal connection
Council Member Erik Bottcher opens by thanking Chair Eric Dinowitz and congratulating Dr. Green on having Karen Cara Berkowitz on her staff. He mentions a personal connection, having been interviewed …
1:07:18
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40 sec
Discussion on the cost of transition to a freestanding medical school
Council Member Bottcher inquires about the cost of transitioning CUNY School of Medicine into a freestanding medical school. Dr. Green explains that the exact cost is difficult to determine, as …
1:08:00
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64 sec
Budget constraints and prioritization of student needs
Dr. Green elaborates on the school's approach to budget management, emphasizing the prioritization of student success and support services. She highlights the unique challenges faced by their student population and …
1:09:05
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88 sec
Faculty recruitment and retention challenges
Dr. Green discusses the challenges faced by CUNY School of Medicine in recruiting and retaining high-quality faculty members. She highlights the disparity in salaries and benefits compared to other institutions. …
1:10:35
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74 sec
Funding sources and recent grant acquisition
Dr. Green elaborates on the various funding sources for medical schools and highlights CUNY School of Medicine's recent success in securing a $19.3 million grant. She emphasizes the school's efforts …
1:11:50
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99 sec
Request for continued support and advocacy
Council Member Bottcher acknowledges Dr. Green's points and encourages continued communication with local city council members and the speaker's office. Dr. Green takes the opportunity to request further advocacy on …
1:13:30
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33 sec
Council Member Feliz praises CUNY system and shares personal connection
Council Member Oswald Feliz begins by expressing his admiration for the CUNY system, describing it as the best public higher education system in the country. He highlights CUNY's role in …
1:14:23
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40 sec
Discussion of space constraints at CUNY School of Medicine
Council Member Feliz inquires about the space issues mentioned earlier, and Dr. Carmen Renée Green elaborates on the challenges faced by the CUNY School of Medicine due to limited space. …
1:15:04
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179 sec
Potential collaboration between CUNY School of Medicine and other CUNY colleges
Council Member Feliz inquires about the possibility of the CUNY School of Medicine expanding to multiple campuses, and Dr. Green discusses the school's openness to collaboration with other CUNY institutions. …
1:17:49
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3 min
Suggestion to consider Lehman College for CUNY School of Medicine expansion
Council Member Oswald Feliz suggests Lehman College as a potential site for the CUNY School of Medicine's expansion, and Dr. Carmen Renée Green responds to the idea. - Feliz highlights …
1:21:22
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112 sec
Concerns about potential cuts to federal funding for CUNY School of Medicine
Council Member Eric Dinowitz expresses concerns about potential cuts to federal funding, particularly the NIH grant for the CUNY School of Medicine. Dr. Carmen Renée Green addresses these concerns, emphasizing …
1:25:01
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179 sec
Addressing potential conflicts between federal policies and evidence-based medical education
Council Member Dinowitz raises concerns about potential conflicts between federal policies and evidence-based medical education. Dr. Green responds, emphasizing the school's commitment to science and evidence-based practices. - Dr. Green …
1:28:01
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5 min
Upholding the physician's oath and patient-centered care amid political changes
Dr. Green emphasizes the importance of the physician's oath and maintaining patient-centered care regardless of political changes. She stresses the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship and the commitment to providing …
1:34:00
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123 sec
Addressing concerns about government overreach in doctor-patient relationships
Council Member Dinowitz expresses concerns about potential government overreach in doctor-patient relationships, particularly in areas like abortion care and gender identity. Dr. Green reaffirms the school's commitment to patient care …
1:36:04
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125 sec
Further discussion on federal funding concerns and advocacy efforts
Council Member Dinowitz revisits the topic of potential federal funding cuts, particularly concerning the NIH grant. Dr. Green addresses these concerns and discusses the school's approach to advocacy and navigating …
1:38:08
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3 min
Recruitment efforts and pipeline programs for the CUNY School of Medicine
Council Member Dinowitz inquires about the CUNY School of Medicine's recruitment efforts and pipeline programs. Dr. Green discusses the school's approach to recruitment and partnerships with other CUNY schools. - …
1:41:11
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51 sec
Existing programs for high school students and potential expansion
Dr. Green discusses the CUNY School of Medicine's existing programs for high school students and the potential for expansion. She highlights the school's commitment to creating pathways for underrepresented students …
1:42:03
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3 min
Exploring potential collaboration with the NYC Department of Education for recruitment
Council Member Dinowitz inquires about potential collaboration between the CUNY School of Medicine and the NYC Department of Education for recruitment efforts. Dr. Green discusses the school's interest in such …
1:45:22
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4 min
Council Member Dinowitz's closing remarks on the importance of CUNY School of Medicine
Council Member Eric Dinowitz offers closing remarks, expressing his excitement about the CUNY School of Medicine's independence and its potential impact on the city and underserved communities. He emphasizes the …
1:49:33
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51 sec
Dr. Green's final reflections on CUNY School of Medicine's mission and future plans
Dr. Carmen Renée Green offers final reflections on the CUNY School of Medicine's mission, emphasizing the school's role in making dreams a reality for aspiring healthcare professionals from diverse backgrounds. …
1:50:26
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4 min