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Q&A
Concerns about potential cuts to federal funding for CUNY School of Medicine
1:25:01
·
179 sec
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 the school's commitment to its mission and willingness to advocate for its students and programs.
- Dr. Green stresses that the school earned the NIH grant and will fight to maintain it
- The school is committed to staying the course on its mission, regardless of political changes
- Dr. Green acknowledges the challenging times but chooses not to operate from a place of fear
Eric Dinowitz
1:25:01
I I wanna just touch on this, National Institute of Health grant and other federal grants and federal policies.
1:25:16
I guess, big picture, we have now a president who has threatened to cut or has attempted to cut, funding, federal funding for various reasons.
1:25:28
We have a nominated right now going through hearings, secretary for health and human services, who may be confirmed, who is trying to cast doubt on things like vaccines, which work and save people's lives.
1:25:48
Whether related to the funding, is there any fear of funding being cut off from the National Institute of Health?
1:25:54
And just to be clear, this is the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, and we know the president has already cut off funding for DEI initiatives.
1:26:03
Is there any fear of that funding being cut, being restricted in any way?
1:26:09
And is there any fear among the staff or the students of how you're gonna be approaching education when the potential secretary of health and human services is casting doubt on things in the medical field?
Carmen Renée Green
1:26:24
Well, thank you.
1:26:29
We're living in challenging times, disturbing times in some respects.
1:26:34
We worked really hard for that grant.
1:26:36
We earned it.
1:26:37
No one gave us anything.
1:26:39
We earned it.
1:26:40
The science is pretty clear.
1:26:42
What we're doing is, is fantastic.
1:26:46
We believe that we can deliver on that potential.
1:26:48
On behalf of these people, these New Yorkers, on behalf of our students.
1:26:55
And I we will fight for our students.
1:27:00
Our moral compass, our North Star is pretty clear.
1:27:04
Which direction this school is going.
1:27:06
So, you know, The people who have voted and spoken, I respect that.
1:27:18
I'm a military kid.
1:27:20
With that being said, we will advocate for the things that we think are important.
1:27:26
We will be taking guidance day by day.
1:27:28
We talk to our national and even our regional colleagues about, things that are sort of upcoming.
1:27:37
We have never, as it looks, you know, the fact that we have such a diverse class, our class is mission congruent with this city, right?
1:27:47
Consistent with our mission.
1:27:50
We will stay that course.
1:27:52
We don't look at race and ethnicity.
1:27:54
We look at those who are historically underrepresented in medicine and who wanna serve the underserved.