Continuing to expand opportunities for students to develop their clinical skills, NYMC has formed academic affiliations with Westchester Medical Group (Westmed) as well as with Refuah Health Center in Rockland County, New York, designating both as a teaching site for the training and education of undergraduate medical students.
"At NYMC, we take pride in our robust network of affiliated hospitals and ambulatory care sites that offer our students an outstanding range of educational opportunities to further develop their clinical skills. These new partnerships reflect a continual enhancement to the clinical learning environment for our students,” said Jerry L. Nadler, M.D., MACP, FAHA, FACE, dean of the SOM and professor of medicine and pharmacology. “We look forward to working with the leadership and faculty at Westmed and Refuah Health Center as we embark on this endeavor that we are confident will be mutually beneficial for years to come."
The affiliation with Westmed establishes elective rotations in pediatrics, neurology, rheumatology, gastroenterology, cardiology, radiology and obstetrics and gynecology. Westmed is a multispecialty practice, offering more than 60 medical specialties and sub-specialties across 13 locations in Westchester County, New York, and Fairfield County, Connecticut.
The agreement with Refuah Health Center establishes a core clerkship in family medicine. Refuah Health Center uses a patient-centered medical home model in which each patient’s care is overseen by a clinician-led care team that coordinates treatment across multiple specialties at four sites in the lower Hudson Valley as well as in South Fallsburg in upstate New York, and through its mobile medical van program.
“Westmed is a dynamic, general and multi-specialty group that will provide our students with an in-depth experience of how private practice can render caring and up-to-date medical care to their patients. Refuah Health Center provides a unique experience for the students and residents rotating through their facility, which serves a diverse population,” said Martin Katzenstein, M.D.’78, associate professor of pediatrics and chair of the Board of Advisors, who played an integral role in securing both of these new affiliates.
Carly Carlin, SOM Class of 2022, recently completed an elective in rheumatology at Westmed. “I had a great experience at Westmed. For me rheumatology was just something in a textbook until I got to see it in practice and talk to patients about their physical experiences with a wide variety of conditions, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthropathies,” said Ms. Carlin.
“I am really interested in pain management and movement in general, so it was fascinating to see how degenerative autoimmune conditions impact people, especially now during the pandemic when people are pulled from their regular routines. I also really enjoyed seeing the orthopedics side since there was such a different approach to joint and bone pain that crossed over into rheumatology in a way I would not have thought initially. I feel so lucky to have this exposure to both specialties, especially given how COVID-19 is impacting our education.”
Sanjana Marikunte, SOM Class of 2022, completed her clerkship in family medicine at Refuah in November. “The patient population at Refuah is very unique, as they serve one of the largest Hasidic Jewish communities in the U.S. and those of other diverse backgrounds, including Latin American and Haitian populations. Having the opportunity to better understand the health needs of this area has provided me with experiences that I will continue to build upon in my future practice, no matter where I might end up. Seeing the many ways that Refuah has tried to reduce barriers to care has also given me a greater appreciation for how health care systems can adjust to the specific needs of a community. Combined with the large volume of patients, this site gave me a very valuable experience and plenty of opportunities to learn.”