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Q&A
CUNY School of Medicine's search for expanded physical space
0:38:50
·
4 min
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 at City College, but it's clear that more space is needed
- The school has been creative in using available space, including creating study areas in hallways
- Current facilities are not fully ADA compliant, limiting accessibility for students with disabilities
- The school has a 50-year history in Harlem but is open to considering other locations that align with their mission to serve underserved communities
Eric Dinowitz
0:38:50
And how how far along is the school, miss, in in finding how far along are you in finding physical space?
Carmen Renée Green
0:38:58
Well, that's a great question.
Eric Dinowitz
0:39:01
I only ask great questions.
0:39:02
So
Carmen Renée Green
0:39:02
Well, that's what I heard.
UNKNOWN
0:39:05
I I
Carmen Renée Green
0:39:05
you know, I heard that about you.
0:39:07
Yeah.
0:39:10
Some conversations have begun in regards to just whether or not we have the capacity in City College.
0:39:15
And it's pretty clear to us.
0:39:18
We do great things in a very constrained space.
0:39:23
87,000 square feet is really incredibly small.
0:39:28
When you guys come to visit, which I hope you will, I mean, Hosanna, she's gonna help you get you here.
0:39:35
You know, we've actually expanded into the I know that you're leaving, but, you know, I know who runs this place.
Eric Dinowitz
0:39:41
Your last name
Carmen Renée Green
0:39:41
is for
Eric Dinowitz
0:39:42
me to get me a visit to the school.
Carmen Renée Green
0:39:45
But we've actually because we've been challenged with student study spaces, our students are always playing.
0:39:50
In fact, that's one of the issues in which the LCME, you know, has concerns about.
0:39:54
But they have concerns across the country in this space.
0:39:56
We've actually created spaces in the hallways.
0:40:01
We've tried to be really creative.
0:40:04
But yeah, no.
0:40:05
We need the space.
0:40:06
And we limitations for both the P.
0:40:09
A.
0:40:09
And the MD is the number of chairs.
0:40:13
And it's about a 100 that we can get up to, probably 98 considering, you know, if he has someone with a disability.
0:40:19
We cannot educate somebody who has a who's in a wheelchair.
0:40:23
Well, so that's really the major limitation.
0:40:27
And so we look forward to finding additional space in place.
Eric Dinowitz
0:40:32
That's ADA compliant.
0:40:33
Pardon?
0:40:34
That's ADA compliant, I would
Carmen Renée Green
0:40:36
Well, right.
0:40:36
So we're an old building.
0:40:37
Right?
0:40:38
Yeah.
0:40:38
So we don't have to buy that doesn't make it right.
Eric Dinowitz
0:40:41
Yeah.
Carmen Renée Green
0:40:41
It doesn't make it right, but, you can't retrofit it.
0:40:45
The other thing, that I would say is that, our MD school Our MD program, B.
0:40:53
S.
0:40:53
MD program, we've actually When I got there, we were taking about 60 to 70 students a year.
0:40:59
I've expanded that to 96 or 90 90 4 or 96 students.
0:41:06
Which is pretty much the maximum as an undergraduate, you want.
0:41:09
So there's about 3 100 of those guys floating around.
0:41:13
And then we have the MD program.
0:41:15
So the combined between the BS and the MD is about 600 to 650.
0:41:20
We have students who often will go on, you know, leaves for research or research or for other reasons.
0:41:26
But it's a lot to accommodate in a pretty small space.
Eric Dinowitz
0:41:29
And, and the space you're looking for, I is you wanna remain in Harlem, or how far out away from that original area are you looking for your physical space?
Carmen Renée Green
0:41:38
So some of this is above my pay grade.
0:41:41
Okay?
0:41:41
I'm not the architect, but I am the dean.
0:41:45
You know, we have 50 years of, established service and commitment to Harlem.
0:41:51
Mhmm.
0:41:53
But we've done it in a unique space and we you know, there's some value added to being part of the Harlem Renaissance or the New York City Renaissance.
0:42:00
We are active in every single borough.
0:42:04
For instance, I'm gonna pick on you, the Bronx.
0:42:09
I'm that stupid woman.
0:42:12
You know, the We have the Richard Escherdo School.
0:42:16
We're in the St.
0:42:17
Barnabas Hospital.
0:42:18
You know, we're in, Jacobi North Central Bronx.
0:42:23
Rich partnerships there.
0:42:25
Working with Urban Health, which I think you you know, they're fairly qualified health centers.
0:42:30
That's the place and space we want.
0:42:31
We wanna be in safety net spaces.
0:42:35
So we create leaders who know how to take care of the underserved.
Eric Dinowitz
0:42:38
So I I I actually wanna talk about that because we know there are doctor shortages.
0:42:43
There are shortages of medical professionals in areas like the Bronx Mhmm.
0:42:49
In especially the outer boroughs.
0:42:51
We have you mentioned Jacobi.
Carmen Renée Green
0:42:54
That's in that's in the Bronx.
0:42:55
Correct?
Eric Dinowitz
0:42:56
Yeah.
0:42:56
Okay.
0:42:57
Just checking.
0:42:57
You got it.
0:42:58
You got it.
0:42:58
It.
0:42:59
Good job.
0:43:00
I gotta check.
0:43:01
In in the Bronx, although if if, you know, there was a major contract dispute in part due to staffing concerns.
0:43:09
I met you know, there are staffing concerns at Montefiore Hospital, which is in my district.
Carmen Renée Green
0:43:15
Mhmm.