State University of New York Upstate Medical University facts for kids
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Former name
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Geneva Medical College (1834-1871) Syracuse University College of Medicine (1871–1950) |
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| Type | Public medical school |
| Established | 1834 |
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Parent institution
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State University of New York |
| Endowment | $260.1 million (2023) |
| Budget | $1.8 billion (2020) |
| Chancellor | John King Jr. |
| President | Mantosh Dewan, M.D. |
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Academic staff
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676 (2017) |
| Students | 1,528 (Fall 2020) |
| Undergraduates | 205 (Fall 2020) |
| Postgraduates | 1,323 (Fall 2020) |
| Location |
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United States
43°02′34″N 76°08′24″W / 43.04278°N 76.14000°W |
| Campus | Urban, 99 acres (0.40 km2) |
| Colors | Navy Blue & Steel Blue |
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The State University of New York Upstate Medical University (often called SUNY Upstate) is a public medical school in Syracuse, New York. It started in 1834, making it one of the oldest medical schools in the United States. It is the only medical school in the middle part of New York State. SUNY Upstate is part of the larger State University of New York (SUNY) system.
SUNY Upstate is a special kind of university. It focuses on health care careers. Students usually transfer here after two years at another college. They can earn degrees in medicine, health professions, nursing, and advanced research.
As one of many medical centers in the U.S., the Upstate University Health System helps over 1.8 million people each year. It includes Upstate University Hospital, which is the only top-level trauma and burn center in the area. It also has a children's hospital and centers for brain, heart, and cancer care. Many teachers at Upstate also work as doctors and do research at the hospital.
SUNY Upstate has been part of the SUNY system since 1950. It is the largest employer in Central New York, providing over 12,000 jobs. The university adds more than $2.5 billion to the state's economy every year.
Contents
History of Upstate Medical University
Geneva Medical College (1834-1871)
Today's Upstate Medical University College of Medicine began as Geneva Medical College. It was founded on September 15, 1834. This college was part of Geneva College, which is now called Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The medical school was in Geneva, New York.
Its first classes were held in February 1835. In 1849, it made history by being the first college to give a full Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree to a woman, Elizabeth Blackwell.
Syracuse University College of Medicine (1871-1950)
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In 1871, Geneva Medical College closed. Its books and other items were given to the new Syracuse University. This led to the creation of the Syracuse University College of Medicine on December 4, 1871.
This medical college was one of the first to offer a step-by-step medical training program. Students first focused on science in labs. Then, they had hands-on training in hospitals. This good way of teaching helped the college get a positive review in the important Flexner Report of 1910.
Becoming Part of SUNY (1950 - Present)
In 1950, the State University of New York (SUNY) decided to add a medical center in Syracuse. They bought the College of Medicine from Syracuse University. This was part of Governor Thomas E. Dewey's plan for Upstate New York.
Over the years, the school changed its name. In 1999, it became SUNY Upstate Medical University. The early 2000s have been a time of growth. New buildings and centers have opened. These include the Institute for Human Performance and the Upstate Cancer Center.
Campus Life
The main campus of Upstate Medical University is in the University Hill area of Syracuse, New York. It is located near Interstate 81. The campus includes the Upstate University Hospital, academic buildings, and student housing.
There is also a smaller campus in Binghamton, New York. Some medical students spend their first two years in Syracuse. Then, about a quarter of them finish their training in Binghamton. Students on both campuses get to learn from doctors in hospitals.
Upstate University Health System
The Upstate University Hospital is a large teaching hospital in Syracuse, New York. It has 752 beds and is the main hospital in the Upstate Health System. Because it's a teaching hospital, it works closely with Upstate Medical University.
This hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in the region. This means it can handle the most serious injuries. Attached to it is the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. This hospital treats babies, children, and young adults up to age 21.
Other important parts of the Upstate Health System include:
- Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital
- Upstate University Hospital Community Campus
- Upstate Cancer Center
- Upstate Brain & Spine Center
- Numann Center for Breast, Endocrine & Plastic Surgery
The hospital also has special centers for:
- Level I Adult Trauma Center
- Level I Pediatric Trauma Center (one of only four in New York)
- Comprehensive Stroke Center
- Clark Burn Center
- Designated AIDS Center
Doctors at Upstate University Hospital perform many types of surgeries. They use advanced tools and offer more specialized procedures than other hospitals in Central New York.
Academic Programs
Upstate is a university that focuses only on health care careers. This means students who want to earn a bachelor's degree here first complete about two years of college elsewhere. Then, they finish their last two years at Upstate. Students in graduate programs already have a bachelor's or master's degree before they start.
The university has about 1,592 students. This includes 699 medical students. There are also over 600 doctors in training (residents and fellows). Upstate has many full-time and part-time teachers.
Norton College of Medicine
The Norton College of Medicine is one of the oldest medical schools in New York and the United States. It offers degrees like the Master of Public Health (MPH) and the Doctor of Medicine (MD). Students can also earn joint degrees, such as MD/MBA or MD/PhD.
This college gets the most funding within the university. Its graduates do very well in getting into good residency programs. They also pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 at a high rate. Students here use modern research labs, classrooms, and clinical training centers.
All medical students spend their first two years in Syracuse. For their third year, about a quarter of the class moves to the Binghamton Clinical Campus. The rest stay in Syracuse.
Most doctors at Upstate University Hospital also teach at the College of Medicine. This shows their dedication to training new doctors. They also work with other universities like Syracuse and Cornell on research.
The College of Medicine works with several hospitals and clinics in Central New York. These include:
- Syracuse Veteran Affairs Medical Center
- Crouse Hospital
- Upstate Community Hospital
In 2021, the College of Medicine was renamed the Alan and Marlene Norton College of Medicine. This was to honor a large gift from Alan and Marlene Norton.
College of Graduate Studies
The College of Graduate Studies offers Ph.D. and M.S. degrees. These are in different areas of biomedical research. The college is known for its science education and research. It started offering master's and PhD degrees in biochemistry in 1947. Today, it has programs in many fields, like biochemistry, microbiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology. It also offers a joint MD/PhD program with the College of Medicine.
College of Nursing
To help with the shortage of nurses, SUNY Upstate Medical University started a nursing program in 1959. The College of Nursing was officially created in 1986. It now offers bachelor's, master's, and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degrees.
College of Health Professions
The College of Health Professions began in 1971. It offers programs in nine health care fields. These include Cardiovascular Perfusion, Medical Biotechnology, Medical Imaging Sciences, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Radiation Therapy, and Respiratory Therapy.
Each year, over 130 students are accepted into these programs. The college has many full-time and part-time teachers. It also has over 240 clinical and adjunct faculty who help with teaching.
Research at Upstate
Upstate Medical University does a lot of research on common human diseases. These include cancer, diabetes, heart disease, nervous system problems, vision issues, and infections. Their goal is to find new treatments and cures.
Upstate has built new facilities for research. The Upstate Cancer Center opened in 2014 and expanded in 2018. The Nappi Longevity Institute, a large health and wellness complex, is expected to be finished in 2023. New York State has named Upstate a Center of Excellence for Alzheimer's disease.
Upstate Medical also developed a top-ranked COVID-19 saliva test. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it was one of the most sensitive tests for finding the virus early.
In 2021, Upstate opened a special Biocontainment Lab. This lab researches infectious diseases that are a big risk to public health. These include Coronavirus, Lyme, West Nile, Zika, and Dengue. The lab even has a "Human Challenge Room." Here, a person can get a mosquito bite to help scientists understand diseases better.
In 2022, Upstate Research Foundation, Quadrant Biosciences, and Penn State Research Foundation received a patent. It was for a new saliva test for autism. This test can help tell if someone has autism by looking at tiny levels in their saliva.
Working Together on Research
Upstate Medical University often works with other universities. In 2013, they partnered with SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), Syracuse University, Cornell University, and others. They received a grant to get a powerful research instrument called an NMR spectrometer. This machine is the only one of its kind in Central and Western New York.
Upstate and Syracuse University also offer joint degree programs. These include a Master of Public Health and a PhD in biomedical engineering. Their campuses are right next to each other in Syracuse. In 2021, their research on detecting Alzheimer's disease using Artificial Intelligence won an award.
How Hard is it to Get In?
In 2021, over 7,000 people applied for only 160 spots in the MD program. This was a big increase from the year before. The students who got in had high grades and good scores on the MCAT.
The College of Medicine has a 97% pass rate on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1. Also, 97% of its graduates got a residency position in 2021. This is higher than the national average for U.S. medical schools. U.S. News & World Report ranked the Norton College of Medicine 31st among all public medical schools for research.
Other programs at Upstate are also highly ranked. The Physician Assistant (PA) program was ranked #46 nationally. The Physical Therapy (DPT) program was ranked #57. The Master of Public Health (MPH) program was ranked #104.
Famous Alumni
Many notable people have graduated from Upstate Medical University:
- Elizabeth Blackwell, M.D. - The first woman in the United States to earn a medical degree.
- Sarah Loguen Fraser, M.D. - Believed to be the fourth African-American woman to become a licensed doctor in the U.S.
- Patricia Numann, M.D. - Founder of the Association of Women Surgeons.
- Mary Edwards Walker, M.D. - The first female surgeon in the U.S. Army and the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor.
- Sid Watkins, M.D. - A professor who later became the head of the medical team for Formula One racing.
- Frank E. Young, M.D. - Served as the Commissioner of Food and Drugs.
