Gov. Hochul Announces Major Expansion for CUNY School of Medicine as It Becomes Independent College

CUNY School of Medicine Becomes Freestanding Institution, Enhancing Healthcare Access Across NYC

Founded in 1847 as the first free public higher education institution, The City University of New York (CUNY) is the largest urban public university in the U.S. Serving over 233,000 students across its 25 campuses, the university awards 50,000 degrees annually and plays a key role in social mobility by helping many low-income students. Over 80% of its graduates stay in New York, contributing significantly to the city's economy. Notably, the alumni and faculty have earned prestigious honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 26 MacArthur "genius" grants, all while continuing the university’s mission to provide quality education to all. The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education was established in 1973 at CCNY with the goal of recruiting underrepresented students into the medical field and expanding primary care in underserved communities. In 2016, the school transitioned into the CUNY School of Medicine, becoming the only public medical school in Manhattan and the first new medical school in the city since 1860.

The CUNY School of Medicine in Harlem stands out for its diverse student body and commitment to accessibility. The school uses a holistic admissions process that does not require the MCAT. Building on the 50-year legacy of the Sophie Davis Biomedical Education program, it became an MD-granting institution in 2016, offering a 7-year BS/MD program. The school also has one of the nation’s oldest Physician Assistant programs, ranked 3rd in New York State, and under Dean Carmen Renée Green, the school is expanding its programs into underserved neighborhoods, with 53% of students identifying as Black or Latinx, compared to 16% nationally. The CUNY School of Medicine will transition to the CUNY Graduate Center, a move that will elevate the school to a graduate-level institution, offering master's, doctoral, post-graduate residency, and other medical programs, aligning it with medical schools nationwide.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the establishment of the medical school at CUNY as an independent institution and the move aims to enhance its impact, streamline accreditation, and fulfill its mission of training diverse medical professionals while providing quality healthcare to underserved communities in New York City, where over half of the residents are Black or Latino, yet only 16% of physicians come from these communities. She emphasized that making higher education more affordable is a priority, citing expanded tuition assistance and record investments in SUNY and CUNY schools. Moreover, the creation of the independent School of Medicine is a crucial step in providing high-quality, affordable education for New Yorkers.

Since its transition, the CUNY School of Medicine has become a model of inclusive excellence, offering an accelerated seven-year BS/MD program that exceeds the national residency match rate and uses a holistic admissions process that excludes the MCAT. Dean Dr. Carmen Renée Green expressed pride in the recognition from New York State, the City, the Chancellor, and the NIH, further emphasizing that becoming an independent institution will strengthen the school’s mission to address healthcare disparities and set a national example for public medical schools.

The university’s Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez stated that since its inception, the medical school at CUNY has been increasing the number of doctors from historically underrepresented communities and addressing long-standing inequities in education and medicine. He noted that it is now time to expand the school's reach and impact, and elevating it to an independent institution will ensure that medical careers and healthcare services are accessible to people from all backgrounds and communities throughout New York City. The CUNY School of Medicine’s commitment to health equity was reinforced with a $19.3 million NIH grant to create the New York Center for Minority Health Equity and Social Justice. This center, the only NIH facility in the Northeast focused on racial and ethnic health disparities, will serve Harlem and the South Bronx. The grant follows a historic $4 million investment from New York State in the 2024-2025 State Budget.

Nearly 80% of U.S. medical students come from affluent families, but most CUNY School of Medicine students are first-generation immigrants, with 86% qualifying for need-based aid and 83% being bilingual. Nearly 70% of entering students are Black or Latino, more than triple the national average, and the school trains one in five Black M.D. students in New York City. After graduation, 75% practice locally, with nearly 40% serving in healthcare-shortage areas, and they are twice as likely to work in underserved communities. The Class of 2020 even graduated early to help during the COVID-19 pandemic.

New York is facing a critical shortage of physicians, especially in primary care, with 2 million people in the city living in health professional shortage areas. Disparities in access are evident, with Manhattan having 22 primary care physicians per 10,000 people, compared to just nine in the Bronx. NIH data shows that Black patients are 43% more likely than white patients to rely on emergency rooms for care. Experts believe that as an independent institution, the CUNY School of Medicine will be better equipped to address these issues and increase the number of culturally competent doctors to meet the city’s healthcare needs.

The CUNY School of Medicine continues to lead in addressing healthcare disparities by training diverse, culturally competent medical professionals. Its transition to an independent institution will enhance its impact on New York's healthcare system, particularly in underserved communities.

Editor's Note:

The creation of the New York Center for Minority Health Equity and Social Justice at the CUNY School of Medicine is an important step in addressing healthcare gaps. With a $19.3 million NIH grant, the center will focus on research and outreach to underserved communities in Harlem and the South Bronx. By tackling racial and ethnic health disparities, it aims to improve public health and make health equity a priority in medical education and care. 

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