Message from the Dean

Steven J. Scheinman, MD
Dean, College of Medicine

When I was told that one of our students had praised the College of Medicine by saying "initiative is rewarded here," I was pleased.

We encourage that at Upstate. Students often have good ideas that we can put into action. Take Medical Spanish, for example. Elizabeth Dawson and Danielle Yerdon from the class of '09 petitioned me to establish a course in Medical Spanish. They saw a need, because our students use Spanish at Latino health fairs and the Migrant Workers Clinic, as well as with patients in the hospital and in outpatient settings. Many of our students also volunteer at clinics and schools in Central and South America through our Global Health outreach.

Listening to students and valuing their ideas ties into what I call the "Upstate family." Our students tell applicants that there's a sense of caring about this place and for each other.

The students in our College of Medicine are already remarkable in many ways. As faculty, what we try to do is instill in students the ability to develop patterns of self-instruction that can carry them through their careers. Facts will change, even while they're in medical school, but what is absolutely essential is that they are motivated to be a lifelong learner, motivated by the goal of serving the patient.

We look for a special kind of student—self-starters with high standards and expectations. Students like this enrich our institution and are able best to grow and develop professionally, during medical school and throughout their careers. Our graduates typically get their first choice of residency well above the national rate, often landing positions at prestigious medical institutions, including our own.

I'll leave you with the words of another recent student, Danielle Weinman, who is going on to an Emergency Medicine residency at Jacobi Medical Center. She says: "I want prospective students to know that you can do ANYTHING as an Upstate graduate. Academically and clinically, I was prepared to obtain residency in a competitive specialty. We have some of the best specialists in the world at Upstate. They not only love to teach, they are exceptional at it."