OVERVIEW
The mission of AMSNY is to strengthen medical education, medical care and medical research in New York State through fostering coordination, collaboration and education. The AMSNY Board provides vision and leadership, ensuring the state’s preeminence in the fields of medical education, medical research and patient care.
In fulfilling its mission, AMSNY has developed collaborative relationships with private philanthropy, state agencies and other relevant organizations. Specifically, AMSNY develops and implements projects on behalf of the medical schools, carries on public education activities through distribution of position papers, organizes conferences and strives to play a constructive role in health policy making in the State by making available to legislators and policy makers the expertise that resides in the schools.
Quick links to Committees:
Medical Education Committee
Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Committee
Government Relations Committee
Anatomical Committee
MEDICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE
MISSION
To promote excellence in medical education through collaboration in developing educational methods, devising assessment techniques and sponsoring research initiatives.
BACKGROUND
The Medical Education Committee is a standing committee of AMSNY which meets monthly to address issues that concern the NYS medical schools. Medical education in NYS has a profound influence on the education of physicians and on the state economy. Approximately $1 billion in research grants are brought into NYS each year with an economic impact of over $66 billion/yearly in jobs, construction, tax revenues and new business development. Academic medical infrastructure generates more than 459,000 jobs statewide. The following program abstracts describe AMSNY activities in medical education. The role of AMSNY as a coordinating body is both efficient and effective in a period of diminished resources.
INITIATIVES
Teaching and Assessing Professionalism in NYS Medical Schools
More recently, the committee has been involved with the Professionalism Project, its most important program to date. The goal of this program is to improve teaching and assessment of professionalism throughout the 15 medical schools in NYS. In December 2005, AMSNY hosted its first Professionalism Conference at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. This conference provided a forum for collaboration in development of “best practice models” for the definition, teaching and evaluation of professionalism in undergraduate medical education. Planning is ongoing for a follow-up conference in 2007.
Physician Workforce Shortage
New York State is facing a physician shortage due to a change in the supply of and demand for physicians. It will peak in 2020, when the “baby-boom” generation will have reached retirement age. Factors predicting this shortage include:
- The growing number of people over age 65;
- The retirement by 2020 of one-third of active physicians;
- Flat medical school enrollment from 1980-2005.
In response to the Association of American Medical Colleges call for a 30% increase in production of physicians by 2020, AMSNY will develop a statewide, comprehensive program to combat the problem of attracting and retaining physicians in underserved areas. This program will be comprised of individual modules that embody best practices in specific areas, eg: pipeline programs; the components of a targeted admissions process; and a debt relief program. The long term implementation of the plan is expected to provide improved access to healthcare in underserved areas of NYS.
Institute for Medical Education
The educational mission of medical schools involves curriculum development, evaluation of programs, and the preparation of faculty and residents for their roles as teachers. Nonetheless, in many institutions the educational mission receives far less recognition and support than research or patient care, and as a result, faculty may have inadequate preparation for their role as educators.
Medical schools have begun to respond to problems with initiatives that are designed to improve the status and role of faculty education. The last 15 years has seen the development and growth of academies – independent organizational bodies that are dedicated to education. Several medical schools have developed comprehensive faculty development programs. They are designed to help faculty educators develop a deeper understanding about learning and the theories underpinning education and to renew and/or gain new skills.
The AMSNY Institute for Medical Education combines elements of existing academies and comprehensive faculty development programs. Through the AMSNY Institute, the NYS medical schools will be able to combine resources to create a convenient, cost effective and stable educational home which will strengthen and amplify the skills and effectiveness of educators at the schools while decreasing the burden on individual medical schools to provide this resource in their own environment. AMSNY promotes curriculum improvement, advance educational scholarship, and faculty protected time for educational work.
Clinical Skills Remediation
The Medical Education Committee is the parent committee for the Clinical Skills Consortium. The Consortium has developed a case bank to be utilized by AMSNY member institutions and is working to create a state-wide clinical skills remediation program.
The Education committee was the focal point for AMSNY discussions with the National Board of Medical Education (NBME) about establishing a 6th clinical skills testing center located in New York City. These discussions as well as focus groups concerning the restructuring of the USMLE tests are still underway.
Remediation for Returning Physicians
The committee has met with the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) on two projects:
- Faculty development for clinical preceptors in the community
- Improving workforce distribution and remediation
DIVERSITY & MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
MISSION
To facilitate cooperation, coordination and development of activities throughout the educational continuum related to the promotion and support of diversity and multicultural affairs within the 15 NYS medical schools.
BACKGROUND
The Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Committee is a standing committee of AMSNY. Since 1985, AMSNY has been at the forefront of advocating, developing and implementing programs aimed at increasing diversity in medical education throughout the education continuum (from middle school programs for junior faculty). Since 1985, approximately $20 million has been allocated to the schools for this purpose. For the 2006-2007 academic year, we will distribute an estimated $1,650,000 in funding.
INITIATIVES
Programs in Science
AMSNY Science and Technology Entry Programs (STEP) are educational enrichment programs that enhance and strengthen prerequisite math and science skills of disadvantaged high school and undergraduate college students. The goal is to facilitate their entry and graduation from college and health professions schools.
STEP is designed to motivate secondary school students and increase interest in medicine, science, and the health-related professions for students historically underrepresented in the scientific, technical and health-related professions.
Program Highlights:
- Career presentations
- Internships
- Senior lab placement
- College counseling
- Personal counseling
- Academic instruction
- Academic/study skills
- Research projects
- Self-esteem, values and ethics exploration
- Multicultural development
- Social awareness development
- Field trips
- Parents Advisory Council (PAC)
- Commemoration: awards, scholarship & other successes
Grant Sponsor:
New York State Department of Education
Participating Medical Schools:
- Albany Medical College
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
- Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
- New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
- New York Medical College
- New York University School of Medicine
- SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
The Physician Career Enhancement Program at Staten Island University Hospital
The purpose of this program is to guide high school students from educationally or economically underserved areas to the field of medicine. This program provides participants ongoing guidance, support and referral services, as well as workshops on time management, the life of a medical student and what it means to be a physician. In addition, each student is assigned a mentor.
Grant Sponsor:
New York State Department of Health
The Academic Counseling Program at The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education
This program is designed to increase access to medical training for inner-city youths, particularly underrepresented minorities and economically disadvantaged students. The AMSNY grant aids in providing a counselor to the students during their tenure at the school.
Grant Sponsor:
New York State Department of Health
Post Baccalaureate Program
For over 15 years, AMSNY and the University of Buffalo’s School of Medicine and Biomedical Science have sponsored the Post Baccalaureate Program: a joint initiative to provide college students from economically and educationally disadvantaged areas who have applied to medical school one year of individualized post-baccalaureate study to enhance their academic performance before they enter medical school. The program is based on the premise that there is a pool of students with the intellectual ability for medical school, but their academic performance has been compromised for a variety of reasons. The Post-Bac is tailored to provide medical school applicants who would benefit from academic enrichment courses a second opportunity for admission into medical school.
Grant Sponsors:
DOH 2003-2007
Albert Einstein College of Medicine 2005-2007
Josiah Macy Foundation
Health Career Opportunity Program
Participating Medical Schools:
- Albany Medical College
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
- New York Medical College
- SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
- SUNY Downstate Medical Center
- SUNY Health Science Center at Stony Brook
- SUNY Upstate Medical Center
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
The Pathways to Careers in Medicine and Research Program at City College of the City of New York
This program has four main goals:
- to train future MD/PhD and PhD students on the rigors of basic science research
- to enhance research methodology techniques, science and academic skills in preparation for medical, science and other health professional graduates
- to acquaint the students with medical schools through visits to New York medical schools and by offering pre-application discussions with medical school students and faculty
- to sustain a culture of learning
Grant Sponsors:
New York State Department of Health 2005-2006
New York Community Trust 2001-2006
Minority Mentoring Conferences
AMSNY has co-sponsored with the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) and the State Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME), two conferences on mentoring minority medical students. These conferences provided an opportunity for open exchange between students and faculty. It also allowed students to network with their counterparts from other schools.
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
MISSION
To coordinate, develop and advocate on issues that are of importance to medical schools and to medical education, in particular, within the 15 NYS medical schools.
BACKGROUND
The Government Relations Committee is a standing committee of AMSNY. Through the committee, AMSNY has been able to effect statewide policy changes for the state’s medical schools. Its accomplishments include:
- In the 1980’s, AMSNY advocacy led to the imperative that healthcare practitioners must treat people with AIDS. NYS was the first in the nation with such a mandate.
- AMSNY was also instrumental in obtaining $4 million in State funding for the development and implementation of an ambulatory care curriculum for medical students in School Based Health Centers.
- More recently, Governor Pataki and State Senate President Joseph Bruno, proposed $260 million for biomedical research due to AMS’ initiative.
ISSUES – 2007 POSITION PAPERS
AMSNY provides public and community leaders with the knowledge and expertise of its members to constructively contribute to health care policy making. AMSNY has written position papers on the following (all in Microsoft Word format):
State Issues
State Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine
Graduate Medical Education (GME)
Post-Baccalaureate Program
Science Technology & Entry Program (STEP)
Medical Education & Technology
School Based Health Centers (SBHC)
Insurance Coverage for Clinical Trials
Non-Profit Insurance Conversion
Federal Issues
Federal Stem Cell Research & Regenerative Medicine
Title VII Health Professions Funding
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Issues
Physician Payment
Medicare/GME
ANATOMICAL COMMITTEE
Life
The Most Precious Gift
The human body is the most precious source of knowledge in all of medical science. Amidst medicine’s dazzling array of technology, nothing can equal the human body in giving students of medicine their fundamental knowledge of anatomy. Thus, literally becomes the gift of life.
The study of anatomy provides an understanding of body structures, how they function and how they relate to each other. Such understanding is the physician’s most important tool. All medical learning and research stems from this understanding.
Throughout the centuries, anatomy study of the human body has led to many major advances in medicine. For example, a surgical team at a New York medical school saved a teenage girl from severe deformity because the physicians were able to perfect a new technique on a human cadaver before operating on the girl.
At another medical school, researchers have compiled an atlas for radiologists to interpret CAT scans based on extensive study of cross sections of the human body.
This atlas plays a vital role in the early detection of breast cancer and other diseases.
Human cadavers donated to medical schools have also been of enormous value in research related to diabetes and heart disease.
Many people view the donation of their body to medicine as a way of continuing to serve humanity even after they die. Others see it also as a way of relieving their surviving family members of the financial burden of funerals. In addition to permitting the use of research, anatomical donations permit both skin and eye transplants to be made, and such donations may also be made, by those who are unable to make organ donations due to age.
The Associated Medical Schools of New York, through its Anatomical Committee, serves as a clearinghouse for information on anatomical donations and receives pledges for donations.
Any individual over 18 yeas old many donate his or her body to a medical, dental or other health professions school for the purpose of research and education. The next of kin of a recently deceased person may also make such a donation.
Since an anatomical donation is a gift to the Institution, donors or their families never receive money for making a donation pledge.
Donors may select a particular institution to receive their gift. However, many permit the Associated Medical Schools to make that determination to provide an equal distribution of donations.
Donors may specify final disposition, which will, in all cases, be honored by the institution that receives the anatomical gift. Most schools will assume the cost of final disposition unless the donor asks that their remains be returned to families for funeral ceremonies.
Donors are free to change their minds at any time.
How to Pledge
Those interested in pledging a donation may contact a school directly (a list of contacts is available here). Associated Medical Schools of New York will also forward your request for further information. Please email: Eberle Schultz and let us know if you have a preference for:
Albany Medical College
Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Columbia University College of Physicians
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine
New York Medical College
SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
SUNY- Downstate Medical Center
SUNY- Health Science Center at Stony Brook
SUNY- Upstate Medical University
Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
AMSNY will then forward your name to the School selected. The school, in turn, will send you a donor card and any additional Information needed. The card is to be carried on your person, and the information sent from the school will explain the procedure That will be followed in the event of your Death.
Each anatomical donation helps to ensure the future of high quality medical care and innovative research. The gratitude expressed by the medical profession to each donor cannot be over emphasized.
To obtain further information, please contact:
Associated Medical Schools of New York
10 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1120
New York, New York 10020
eberleschultz@amsny.org (212) 218-4610
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