Dr. Antonio Gotto, provost for medical affairs for Cornell University and the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of the Medical College, presented his seventh report on the "State of the Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences" to faculty, students and staff on June 10, in Uris Auditorium.
In his presentation, Dr. Gotto shared information in regard to students; faculty affairs; facilities; the Physician Organization; the financial status of the Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences; the Strategic Plan; the status of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar; and other administrative issues. Following is a partial recap of his presentation.
Medical College Students
Dr. Gotto said that the Medical College's entering class of 2002 had an increasing number of applicants, the first time since 1996. Additionally, the men-to-women ratio is approximately 50-to-50 and the number of underrepresented minority students remained high in comparison with the rest of the country.
In reference to residency matches, all Weill Cornell Medical College graduates pursuing Post Graduate Year One (PGY1) positions successfully obtained them. Additionally, a significant number of students matched at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and System affiliates.
Dr. Gotto said, "One of the definitive pieces of evidence showing that our students like their clinical experience is the fact that such a large proportion of them stay within our System. Twenty of them are staying here at the NewYork Weill Cornell campus, and of these, the largest number are going into internal medicine."
In total, 34 graduates are pursuing PGY1 or PGY2 slots at NYPH (Weill Cornell and Columbia campuses) and System hospitals.
Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
During the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) 2003 self-study and site visit, Weill Medical College was found to have the following strengths: dean's leadership; caliber of students; new curriculum implementation; sound financial status; strategic planning process; fund-raising efforts; and modern clinical facilities. The areas which were found to be in need of improvement were a provision of mid-course feedback to students; development of a coordinated training program for residents who supervise or teach medical students; and development of standards for the admission of handicapped students, to name a few.
The LCME accredits the educational programs leading to the M.D. degree at medical schools in the United States and Canada every seven years, based on the comprehensive review of a database and an institutional self-study (ISS). This review culminates in a four-day site visit and report by medical educators from other medical schools.
Dr. Gotto added, "It's not enough for us to know that our various teaching sites are comparable and that the students give back favorable reports. We have to document that they're comparable. Then, we have to implement a coordinated training program throughout the entire Medical College for the training of residents to teach medical students."
Student-Faculty Mentoring Program
"We have a program in place for mentoring and counseling students about academic matters and about their careers, but students wanted something beyond this—they wanted a buddy, a faculty member with whom they could bond and establish a relationship that extended beyond academic matters and counseling," Dean Gotto said.
Subsequently, last September, a reception for students and faculty was held to announce a partnership between medical student leadership and faculty. As part of this new mentoring program, first-year students are paired with a faculty member and they meet 2 or 3 times a year, for the purpose of encouraging closer contact between medical students and faculty.
International Medicine
"For over 50 years, Cornell University (Ithaca) and Weill Cornell have been leaders in international medicine," Dr. Gotto said. Thirty-eight Weill Cornell students who recently graduated had studied abroad, and there are currently 45 visiting international students representing 21 countries and 68 electives. Weill Cornell exchange programs with Argentina, Denmark, Germany and Sweden are also going well.
Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
"Dr. Hajjar has done a superb job with the Graduate School," Dr. Gotto remarked. The number of enrolled students has steadily increased, from approximately 235 students in 2001 to 280 students in 2003. G.R.E. scores of students entering the class of 2003 are higher in comparison with those of its peer institutions (Columbia and Rockefeller).
Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program
The Gateways to the Laboratory Program
The Gateways to the Laboratory Program, a unique summer program for freshmen and sophomores who are members of underrepresented minority groups and are considering pursuing combined MD-PhD training, was listed as one of "the top 10 programs for underrepresented minority students" by the NIH.
Other News
In other areas of interest, Dr. Olaf Andersen, program director of the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program and professor of physiology, biophysics and molecular medicine, was recently elected president of the National Association of MD-PhD Program directors. In addition, the Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program received a competitive renewal of the National Institutes of Health Medical Scientist Training Program.
Establishment of Endowed Professorships
Dr. Gotto briefly talked about three recently established professorships: The Charles and Margaret Dyson Professorship in Ophthalmology Research; the Nancy C. Paduano Professorship in Pediatrics; and the Marjorie J. Topkins, M.D.-Alan van Posnak, M.D. Distinguished Professorship in Anesthesiology.
In addition, the following faculty recently received appointments to endowed professorships: Dr. B.J. Casey, the Sackler Professor of Developmental Psychobiology; Dr. Gerald Loughlin, the Nancy C. Paduano Professor in Pediatrics; Dr. Stephen Thomas, the Marjorie J. Topkins-Alan van Posnak Distinguished Professor in Anesthesiology; and Dr. Harel Weinstein, the Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Physiology and Biophysics.
Appointments of Department Chairs
Dr. Gerald Loughlin (Pediatrics, Sept. 1, 2002)
Dr. Thomas Sculco (Orthopaedic Surgery, May 1, 2003)
Dr. William Stubenbord (Acting Chair, Department of Surgery, Nov. 1, 2002)
Dr. Harel Weinstein (Physiology and Biophysics, Oct. 1, 2002)
Advancing the Clinical Mission
Dr. Gotto also talked about the "Advancing the Clinical Mission" campaign for the Medical College and the $750 million investment in 37 new clinical programs; faculty recruitment; endowment for students and young faculty; and a new ambulatory and education building. The clinical initiatives will cover the areas of the aging; the brain; children; the heart; specialty care; and women's health.
Goals of the campaign are to develop new programs and continue at the leading edge of biomedical science and patient care; sustain and grow the academic mission of the clinical faculty and the Medical College; strengthen the business and operations of the clinical enterprise; and introduce the "We Care" initiative.
Conclusion
After presenting several other exciting new developments and projects pertinent to the Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Dean Gotto ended with a few famous quotations:
"Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it."—Marian Anderson
"American philanthropic custom owes much to leadership by business and professional people."—Robert L. Payton
"Opportunities multiply as they are seized."—Sun Tzu
"By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may eventually get to be boss and work twelve."—Robert Frost.
Photo by Weill Cornell Art & Photo.