News and Events

The Westchester Institute for Human Development, one of 67 university-affiliated centers in the nation dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through education, service, and research, announced on Wednesday it was awarded a $376,826 grant from the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program to replace a van which brings dental services directly to people with developmental disabilities.

“The Westchester Institute for Human Development is thrilled to have received this grant to replace our nearly-obsolete mobile dental clinic which serves individuals with severe disabilities who have significant barriers to proper and regular access to dental care. By replacing our aged mobile dental clinic, we hope to be able to serve up to 30 more individuals per week, provide more consistent and reliable scheduling of visits, and better meet the complex dental care needs of this population,” said Dr. Susan Fox, President and CEO of WIHD.

NYMC Faculty: Susan W. Fox, Ph.D., associate professor of health policy and management and director of the Center on Disability and Health

The Touro College of Dental Medicine (TouroCDM), one of the nation’s newest dental schools, has appointed Ronnie Myers, DDS, its dean. Myers joined the school as its senior associate dean for academic and administrative affairs in June 2016, just prior to the entrance of the inaugural class of 2020. For the past year, he has been developing the new curriculum and educational program.

TCDM Leadership: Ronnie Myers, D.D.S., dean of the Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College

Dr. Ronnie Myers has been named dean of the year-old Touro College of Dental Medicine in Valhalla. He succeeds Dr. Jay Goldsmith, the school’s founding dean, who was named dean emeritus. Their appointments were announced by Dr. Alan Kadish, president of the Touro College and University System, which includes New York Medical College in Valhalla.

NYMC Leadership: Alan Kadish, M.D., president of Touro College and University System and New York Medical College

TCDM Leadership: Ronnie Myers, D.D.S., dean of the Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College

A story is told about Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862), the great American naturalist and philosopher, who went off to live in the woods near Walden Pond in Massachusetts. Thoreau stopped reading the newspapers during his sojourn in the woods. An acquaintance heard that, after a few years, Thoreau had resumed reading the newspaper. “What have you learned by reading the newspapers again?” the friend asked. Thoreau replied, “The verbs are all the same as they were a few years ago. Only the nouns have changed.” As a medical historian interested in the history of racial, religious, and gender discrimination in medicine, I note that time is circular. We just keep repeating history. The nouns are different from what they were in the past, but the verbs are the same.

NYMC Leadership: Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer

The Westchester Institute for Human Development, one of 67 university-affiliated centers in the nation dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through education, service, and research, announced it was awarded a federal grant of $547,000 for medical research, training and education of human services professionals, and innovative program development. 

“We are grateful that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have secured funding for our University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities here at the Westchester Institute for Human Development. Due to this funding, we will be able to continue our work to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families through education, service, and research. We look forward to being able to better support those in our community through continuing to provide information and assistance to the people we serve, training current and future professionals, conducting cutting edge research, and cultivating our relationship with federal agencies so that we may effect meaningful change in our region and beyond.” said Dr. Susan Fox, President and CEO of the Westchester Institute for Human Development.

NYMC Faculty: Susan W. Fox, Ph.D., associate professor of health policy and management and director of the Center on Disability and Health

Touro College and University System announced July 10 it named Dr. Ronnie Myers as dean of the Touro College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Myers joined the dental school as the senior associate dean for academic and administrative affairs in June 2016, just prior to the entrance of the inaugural class of 2020.

NYMC Leadership: Ronnie Myers, D.D.S., dean of the Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College

The Westchester Institute for Human Development, one of 67 university-affiliated centers in the nation dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities through education, service, and research, announced today it was awarded a federal grant of $547,000 for medical research, training and education of human services professionals, and innovative program development. “We are grateful that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have secured funding for our University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities here at the Westchester Institute for Human Development. Due to this funding, we will be able to continue our work to improve the lives of people with disabilities and their families through education, service, and research. We look forward to being able to better support those in our community through continuing to provide information and assistance to the people we serve, training current and future professionals, conducting cutting edge research, and cultivating our relationship with federal agencies so that we may effect meaningful change in our region and beyond.” said Dr. Susan Fox, President and CEO of the Westchester Institute for Human Development.

NYMC Faculty: Susan W. Fox, Ph.D., associate professor of health policy and management and director of the Center on Disability and Health

When spending time outdoors this summer, it seems almost unavoidable that ticks will attach themselves to pants, socks and clothes. However, sometimes these pests find skin, and when they do, an array of medical problems can soon follow. Most common of tick-borne illnesses is Lyme disease. Carried by deer ticks, Lyme can cause flu-like symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aching and nausea in those bitten by a contaminated tick. In more extreme cases, facial drooping and neurological disorders may also develop. If left untreated or misdiagnosed, Lyme disease can cause symptoms to become chronic, and make daily life difficult. In order to prevent contracting the disease, following the CDC’s guidelines on preventing tick bites is an important first step, said Dr. Gary P. Wormser, chief of Infectious Diseases at Westchester Medical Center, the flagship of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. Using DEET repellant and conducting full-body tick checks after being outdoors are simple yet effective ways to prevent and identify tick bites.

NYMC Faculty: Gary P. Wormser, M.D., professor of medicine, chief of Division of Infectious Diseases and vice chairman of Department of Medicine