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 Local 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 local 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 outcomes and doctor shortages.
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 and participants honored were Dean Steier, Distinguished Leadership Award; Dr. John Palmer, TouroCOM Harlem former Director of Community Affairs, Community Impact Award; and Dr. Sowmya Gadey, DO Class of 2011, TouroCOM Alumni Board Chair, Alumni Award.
Also in attendance and participating were the Hon. David Paterson, New York State’s 55th governor and vice president of community engagement 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, 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; and Harlem-born actor Hisham Tawfiq.
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 address areas of need in medicine, we have seen any of our Harlem campus graduates stay local to serve in or near the Harlem community,” the president said.
Dr. Kadish also noted the school’s 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, Dean 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 various 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 outcomes, TouroCOM’s partnerships in Harlem, and future strategies for developing the physician workforce.
Touro Provost Dr. Patricia Salkin presented the three awards: The Distinguished Leadership Award to Dean Steier for outstanding contributions to the school and the field of osteopathic medicine; the Community Impact Award to Dr. Palmer for initiatives that strengthened the bond between TouroCOM and Harlem; and the Alumni Award to Dr. Gadey, a primary care practitioner and inaugural chair of the Alumni Board, for building alumni programming and serving her community 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 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 students interested in medicine but who may lack the high standardized test scores demanded by most medical schools.
Paterson highlighted how Hardy and Eaton embody the TouroCOM values that every person deserves a fair shot at success.
