LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring New York Medical College upon the occa-
sion of its 150th Anniversary

WHEREAS, New York State's commitment to education is unparalleled; its
history and stature are secured by the superlative caliber of its educa-
tional professionals and the students they inspire; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those exemplary institutions of higher education within the
State of New York which have achieved world renown and brought pride and
honor to our State and Nation through their traditions of academic
excellence; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor New
York Medical College upon the occasion of its 150th Anniversary and the
signing of its charter on April 12, 1860; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1860 by noted journalist, poet and civic leader,
William Cullen Bryant, New York Medical College has an impressive histo-
ry that chronicles the growth of American medicine and public health,
and stands proudly today as a leader in teaching, research, patient care
as well as service to the community; and
WHEREAS, An institutional landmark of New York City, New York Medical
College's affiliations with some of the most venerable healthcare insti-
tutions in the region, some of which span three centuries, include one
with Metropolitan Hospital, the oldest continuous affiliation between a
private medical school and a public hospital in the nation, and Flower
Free Surgical Hospital, the first teaching hospital owned by a medical
school; and
WHEREAS, Today, the network of hospitals affiliated with New York
Medical College includes large urban medical centers, small suburban
hospitals and regional tertiary care facilities, providing nearly 3,000
students and residents with a wide diversity of learning environments;
and
WHEREAS, At all of its affiliates, New York Medical College maintains
its long standing tradition of patient-focused bedside care and contin-
ues to teach healthcare principles and practices that emphasize sensi-
tivity to and respect for every patient, every culture and every commu-
nity; and
WHEREAS, In the 1970s, New York Medical College was invited to move
its administrative and teaching laboratories north from New York City to
Westchester County by a group of community and business leaders; and
WHEREAS, The more than 35 year affiliation with Westchester Medical
Center is a cornerstone of the academic health center consortium at New
York Medical College; together both institutions work to recruit world-
renowned clinicians and researchers, strengthening their mutual bond and
providing a robust environment for superlative medical care, teaching
and research; and
WHEREAS, With more than 1,200 students and 3,000 faculty members, New
York Medical College educates physicians, scientists and healthcare
professionals who are highly qualified to assume leadership roles in the
fields of health care and biomedical research; advanced degrees are
awarded from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic
Medical Sciences and the School of Health Sciences and Practice; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1860, the New York Medical College School of Medi-
cine is among the oldest of the 130 medical schools in the nation and
has more than 1,300 physicians enrolled in more than 100 sponsored
specialty and sub-specialty residency and fellowship programs; and

WHEREAS, The New York Medical College School of Health Sciences and
Practice has more than 450 students enrolled; the New York Medical
College Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences has more than 200
students enrolled; and
WHEREAS, Throughout its proud history, New York Medical College has
made significant efforts towards advancing women and minorities in medi-
cine; in 1918, it merged with the New York Medical College for Women,
which graduated the first African-American female physician and Canadi-
an-born female physician in the State of New York; it also established
the first scholarship program specifically for minority students in the
nation in 1928; and
WHEREAS, Well known for using fresh approaches to teaching medical
sciences, New York Medical College became the first United States
medical school to present a graded four-year curriculum in 1893 and was
among the first to offer a doctoral level degree in Physical Therapy and
a master of public health degree with a certificate in disaster medi-
cine; and
WHEREAS, New York Medical College has also played a significant role
in expanding the nation's medical assets for defense; it dispatched a
special unit of physicians during World War I, introduced an accelerated
program to help supply needed physicians during World War II, and
several graduates each year enter military service or obtain assignments
in the United States Public Health Corps; and
WHEREAS, The leading academic biomedical research institution between
New York City and Albany, New York Medical College has special strengths
in the areas of cardiovascular disease, cancer, kidney disease, the
neurosciences and infectious diseases, with more than 200 scientists
engaged in these and other vital research activities; and
WHEREAS, Members of the faculty have brought international distinction
upon the college for their dedicated research leading to important
discoveries in influenza vaccine development, Lyme disease treatment and
diagnosis, and the use of adult stem cells in the repair of the heart;
and
WHEREAS, New York Medical College, along with its President and Chief
Executive Officer, Dr. Karl P. Adler; Dean of the School of Health
Sciences and Practice, Dr. Robert W. Amler; Provost and Dean of the
School of Medicine, Dr. Ralph A. O'Connell; Dean of the Graduate School
of Basic Medical Services, Dr. Francis L. Belloni; and the Chairman of
the Board of Trustees, Ronald F. Poe, is deserving of the highest
commendation for its evident commitment to the well-being of its
students; and
WHEREAS, With great admiration, this Legislative Body is proud to pay
tribute to this eminent academic institution which stands at the thresh-
old of the future with its legacy of outstanding achievements and its
impressive body of distinguished faculty and alumni; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor New York Medical College upon the occasion of its 150th Anniver-
sary, fully confident that it will continue to enjoy the same success
which has so characterized its past; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to New York Medical College.