New Harlem Medical School Aims To Recruit Minority Students
The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, a new medical school in Harlem, N.Y., has a mission to recruit more minorities to become physicians and provide primary care services to low-income residents, school officials said, the New York Post reports. The school's first 125 students will begin classes in September (Campanile, New York Post, 1/25). The school has received more than 800 applications so far, though few have been from minority students, Long Island Newsday reports (Talan, Long Island Newsday, 1/25). The school is the first new medical school in New York City in 30 years, according to the Post (New York Post, 1/25). As part of its effort to attract young minority students and inspire them to become doctors, the school will have a "Project Lab Coat" program, where doctors and other providers will visit local schools to build interest among students about the medical profession. In addition, the school will be offering high school seniors the opportunity to enroll in the medical school directly after graduating. Besides having a degree program in osteopathic medicine, the school will be offering a master's degree in medical education. Jay Sexter, CEO of the school, said, "There are enough doctors in New York but not enough serving inner-city populations." Robert Goldberg, the school's associate dean of community medical affairs and chair of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation, said, "We want to train homegrown doctors to treat homegrown patients" (Long Island Newsday, 1/25).
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