A Celebration Marking Two Decades of Partnership Between TouroCOM and Harlem Community
Community Leaders Gather for Fundraiser at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine to Honor Commitment to Educate Underrepresented Students and Improve Healthcare in Harlem
Over 100 Harlem community leaders, alumni and faculty gathered at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) Harlem on December 12 to celebrate nearly two decades of partnership. The evening honored distinguished individuals and highlighted the collective commitment to educating underrepresented students and improving healthcare in the community.
Sponsored by Peapack Private Bank & Trust and NYC Health + Hospitals Harlem, the event included awards for leadership, community impact and alumni dedication, and a “Fireside Chat” with community leaders and alumni that addressed health disparities and doctor shortages in underserved communities.
Over $60,000 was raised for student scholarships and to advance the school’s mission.
“By supporting this event and our students, you are helping to improve the healthcare of our community and save lives,” observed Dr. Kenneth Steier, TouroCOM executive dean and chief academic officer.
Among the community leaders participating and honored were the Hon. David Paterson, New York State’s 55th governor and vice president of diversity, inclusion and belonging at Touro University; Georges H. Leconte, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals Harlem; Dr. Maurice Wright, CMO, New York City Health + Hospitals Harlem; Dr. Hazel Dukes, president, NAACP New York State Conference; Dr. Icilma Fergus, director of cardiovascular disparities at Mount Sinai Medical Center and a professor of medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center; C. Virginia Fields, until recently president and CEO, National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS; Jackie Rowe-Adams, founder of Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E.; Clayton Banks, CEO of Silicon Harlem; Harlem-born actor Hisham Tawfiq; and Dr. John Palmer, former TouroCOM director of community affairs.
Making a Difference
In welcoming remarks, Touro University President Dr. Alan Kadish noted TouroCOM cannot solve the nation’s doctor shortage alone, but in Harlem the school is making a difference. He applauded contributions of the Harlem Chamber of Commerce and the school’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) and its scholarship fund.
“Since we opened in 2007, with our mission to increase the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine, we have seen more than 800 underrepresented individuals graduate from our Harlem campus. Many of these doctors are now working in or near the Harlem community,” the president said.
Dr. Kadish also noted the school gives preferential admissions to applicants from Harlem and other underserved communities and lauded the school’s award-winning afterschool STEM program for high school students – MedAchieve – which recruits from the Harlem community and introduces the students to medicine and other health sciences as career paths.
“We expect if they start here, there’s a much greater chance they will stay here,” the president said. “While they are studying, our DO students are fully immersed in the Harlem community. They enthusiastically volunteer their time at community health fairs and related events and make a difference during times of crisis. We are consistently mindful of opportunities to promote healthcare in Harlem.”
“Bridging the Gap”
At the Fireside Chat, Dr. Steier moderated a conversation on the topic “Bridging the Gap: Addressing Health Disparities and Doctor Shortages in Underserved Communities” with Drs. Palmer, Gadey and Wright.
The panelists explored the impact of healthcare workforce shortages on underserved communities, specifically Harlem, and how institutions like TouroCOM can play a vital role in fostering change. Their talk centered on innovative approaches to address health disparities, TouroCOM’s partnerships in Harlem, and future strategies for developing a diverse and dedicated workforce.
Touro Provost Dr. Patricia Salkin presented three awards: Dean Steier received a Distinguished Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to the school and the field of osteopathic medicine; Dr. Palmer received a Community Impact Award for initiatives that strengthened the bond between TouroCOM and Harlem; and Dr. Sowmya Gadey, a primary care practitioner and inaugural chair of the Alumni Board, received the Alumni Award for building alumni programming and serving underserved populations in Norwalk, Connecticut.
In a memorial presentation, Gov. Paterson paid tribute to Michael Hardy, formerly a CAB member and executive vice president and general counsel of the National Action Network; and Geoffrey Eaton, formerly director of community affairs & diversity for TouroCOM and Touro College of Pharmacy; a founding member of the CAB; and a staunch supporter of the school’s master’s in biological sciences program.
The M.S. program is a stepping stone to the DO program for many bright, talented and motivated minority students interested in medicine but who may lack the high standardized test scores demanded by most medical schools.
Paterson announced a CAB scholarship in Hardy’s and Eaton’s names. “The scholarship embodies the values they championed: representation, community and the unwavering belief that every person deserves a fair shot at success. Through this scholarship, their work continues,” he said.
