Department History

• 1873 - 1908
• 1909 - 1942
• 1942 - 1952
• 1952 - 1976
• 1973 - 1993

The history of the Dermatology Department at New York Medical College begins in 1873 with Dr. P. E. Arcularius as special lecturer on Dermatology at New York Homeopathic Medical College and Flower Hospital. Flower Hospital was also the first hospital affiliate for the department. In 1893, Dr. Henry Dearborn became lecturer and professor at the College. Dr. Dearborn held clinics at Metropolitan Hospital beginning in 1896, which also began a long history of affiliation between New York Medical College and Metropolitan Hospital which continues today. In 1909, Dr. Dearborn began serving on the Medial Board of Metropolitan Hospital. In the fifty-seventh annual announcement of the Department of Education of the New York Homeopathic Medical College, Dr. Dearborn and Dr. Withington are formally listed as the faculty members of the Department of Dermatology in 1916. And finally, in 1927, Dr. Dearborn became the head of the Dermatology Department.

Dr. Dearborn’s long history with the Dermatology Department continued until 1940 with the appointment of Dr. Van Alstyne H. Cornell, M. D. listed as the head of the Dermatology Department; and in 1943, Dr. Dearborn became Professor Emeritus. In 1948, Dr. Eugene Frederick Traub, M. D; became the Director of the Dermatology Department and also Director of Dermatology Service at Metropolitan Hospital, and Dr. Van Alstyne H. Cornell became Professor Emeritus as well. In 1956, Dr. Dearborn became a member of the Board of Trustees of the New York Medical College and Flower and Fifth Avenue Hospital. And in the same year, Dr. Joseph L. Morse, M. D. became Director of the Department of Dermatology.

Dr. Morse continued as Director of the Department until 1968 when Dr. Edward Mandel, M. D. became Director and Clinical Professor of the Department. In 1971, classes were held in Westchester and New York City. In 1972; Dr. Mandel formally became the Chairman of the Dermatology Department. Over the years, hospital affiliations for the department expanded to include Bayley Seton Hospital and Lincoln Medical Center. In 1985, Dr. Morse, became Professor Emeritus. In 1987, after the passing of Dr. Mandel, Dr. Richard H. Lever, M D; who was also Chairman of the Department of Medicine, became the Acting Chairman of the Department of Dermatology. Dr. Lever continued as Acting Chairman until 1991 when Dr. Maureen B. Poh, M. D. became Acting Chairman of the department.

Dr. Maureen Poh remained the Acting Chairman until 1993 when Dr. Bijan Safai, M. D. was selected to be the Chairman of the Department. 1n 1995, the Dermatology Department no longer associated with Lincoln Medical Center, in 2003, Bayley Seton Hospital closed its doors, and in 2005, Westchester Medical Center was also no longer a participant hospital of the department. Today the Dermatology Department holds affiliations with Metropolitan Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center-North. For more information on the history of the Dermatology Department at New York Medical College, please view the history timeline.