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Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Medical School

Mailing Address
1300 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx, New York 10461
Phone
(718) 430-2000
School Information
"Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a research-intensive medical school. For more than 60 years, our diverse faculty and staff have set the standard for excellence in medical and graduate education and patient-centered clinical care, and have made major contributions to scientific research enhancing human health in our communities and beyond. Our mission is to prepare a diverse body of students to become knowledgeable, compassionate physicians and innovative scientific investigators, and to create new knowledge. "Einstein is affiliated with both Montefiore Health System and Yeshiva University." The college has over 1,900 full-time faculty, 732 M.D. students, and 190 Ph.D. students. It offers 7 educational programs. (Source: https://www.einsteinmed.edu/about/)
General Information
In 2020, the college said that it will appoint a "course director for a new curriculum on structural determinants of health and racism in medicine, which begins this academic year for first-year medical students." That same year, the college announced that it will be, "Initiating a graduate school task force (Cultural Awareness and Research Curriculum Working Group) to determine how to incorporate anti-racism and social justice into the Ph.D. curriculum." See developments below:

Actions Taken

Admissions Policies
  • In 2020, the college said it will, "Require the M.D., Ph.D., and MSTP programs to report to the Council for Diversity and Inclusion on the demographics of applicants, and people who are offered interviews, are accepted, and matriculate into each of these programs" and "Develop plans for cultural awareness training for the admissions committees of the M.D., Ph.D., and MSTP programs."
Anti-Racism, Bias, and Diversity Training
  • In 2020, a university official said of the curriculum, "All medical students must take at least an introduction to implicit-bias mitigation training during orientation."
  • In 2019, the school announced a faculty development event titled, "Implicit Bias: Understanding the Impact of Our Unconscious" and is described as follows: "The impact of implicit bias has been noted in almost every field, and healthcare is no exception. By the end of the session, participants will be able to: - Understand the origins of implicit bias and recognize physicians' susceptibility to its influence."
Curriculum Changes and Requirements
  • In 2020, the college said that it will appoint a "course director for a new curriculum on structural determinants of health and racism in medicine, which begins this academic year for first-year medical students."
  • In 2020, the college said that it will be, "Initiating a graduate school task force (Cultural Awareness and Research Curriculum Working Group) to determine how to incorporate anti-racism and social justice into the Ph.D. curriculum."
  • The school's Facebook page reads, "In response to major shifts in the practice of medicine and the unprecedented upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Albert Einstein College of Medicine is transforming its medical education curriculum. New and enhanced elements include: compressing the pre-clerkship 'basic science years' to 18 months; an expanded course in healthcare delivery and health equity; a mandatory service-learning component; and more focused training to prepare students for their rotations and residencies. "
  • In 2020, the school's administration responded to a letter from Einstein's Chapter of "White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL)." which addresses concerns of the influence of systemic racism at the medical school. The administration's letter outlines its actions and goals including: "Appointing Dr. Oladimeji Oki as course director for a new curriculum on structural determinants of health and racism in medicine, which begins this academic year for first-year medical students," and "Initiating a graduate school task force (Cultural Awareness and Research Curriculum Working Group) to determine how to incorporate anti-racism and social justice into the Ph.D. curriculum."
  • On September 8, 2020, the school published an article entitled "Einstein Welcomes New Class of Medical Students and Introduces Innovative Curriculum Changes" which discusses curriculum changes at the medical school. The article states, "Einstein has also introduced a new course, Health System Science and Health Equity, for first-years. The course addresses a range of important social issues: population health; social justice in medicine; health equity and disparities; nutrition 'food deserts' and their impact on health; and community engagement. In response to feedback from a series of town halls focused on diversity, a 'racism in medicine' two-hour educational activity was added to the course and is also mandatory for second-years."
Disciplinary Measures
  • In 2020, the college said it will, "Develop and communicate to the student body a clear process for reporting misogynistic, racist, homophobic, or off-hand derogatory comments about the Bronx and its population that may occur during classes, in laboratories, or at clinical training sites."
Resources
  • The college's D. Samuel Gottesman Library has an "Anti-Racism Resources" guide, which includes Ibram X. Kendi's "Stamped from the Beginning : The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America."
  • The college has an event titled, "Reimagining Medical Education through Structural Competency - A Framework for Anti-Racism Series Part I: Introduction to Structural Competency and Revising Existing Curricula."
  • The newsletter sent by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion included the college's "Anti-Racism Library Guide," Anti-Racism Primer, and an "Anti-Racism Presentation."
  • On April 25, 2019, the school's publication "The Doctor's Tablet blog" published an article titled "The Movement to Include Teaching About Implicit Bias in Healthcare Education" and discusses implicit/unconscious bias testing and research. The author states, "How can implicit bias awareness and training translate to better patient care and advance health equity among our patient population? It is clear that this is an area of medical education that is growing rapidly with a great focus on making a difference. The entire continuum of health professions education—undergraduate, graduate and faculty development—need to be trained in order to ensure sustained impact for our patients."
Symbolic Actions
  • The college appointed a "senior associate dean for diversity and inclusion."
  • In 2020, the college said it will be, "Establishing a committee on Graduate School Diversity and Inclusion Efforts, which meets regularly to work on and implement important changes."
  • The college said it will, "Draft a policy on anti-racism."
  • The school's Facebook page announced that a researcher "received a grant in conjunction with colleagues at several other New York City research institutions to address the low participation of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in cancer clinical trials. The $6 million grant is part of Stand Up To Cancer's (SU2C) initiative to improve health equity in cancer."
  • The school's Facebook page announced, "This month, Einstein is launching a new training program for principal investigators to give them the tools they need to become better mentors for their graduate students and postdoctoral fellows -- especially those from groups underrepresented in science and medicine. Topics will include addressing equity and inclusion, promoting mentee research self-sufficiency, and cultivating ethical behavior. A similar training will be offered to Einstein medical students and their mentors."
  • The school's Facebook page reads, "Einstein received a five-year, $4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support the New York Regional Center for Diabetes Translation Research (NY-CDTR). One of only seven such centers in the country and the only one in the Northeast, the NY-CDTR promotes collaboration and research on effective strategies to improve diabetes prevention, care, and self-management, with an emphasis on health equity."
  • The school posted a video of an alumnus sharing his "5-step approach for making health systems #antiracist in his presentation, 'The Urgency of Now: Sustaining Antiracism in Academic Medicine.'"
  • On September 8, 2020, the school published an article entitled "Einstein Welcomes New Class of Medical Students and Introduces Innovative Curriculum Changes" which discusses curriculum changes and a new class oath written by new students. The oath states in part, "I will practice cultural humility as I advocate for both individuals and communities—recognizing, understanding, and dismantling disparities to create a more equitable healthcare landscape."
  • On February 23, 2023, it was announced that Albert Einstein College of Medicine received the HEED Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity.
  • On April 4, 2023, it was announced that “Albert Einstein College of Medicine has named Reginald Leon Hayes, BS, BMus, MDiv, as the Assistant Dean for Diversity Enhancement.”
  • On June 30, 2023, the college signed on to the Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision regarding race-conscious admission policies, which stated the following: "The consortium of the 17 medical schools of New York State, is profoundly concerned that the United State Supreme Court decisions in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina will diminish opportunities for talented students pursuing careers in medicine and science. These decisions reject a longstanding precedent that recognized the compelling interest of ensuring diversity in higher education and may undermine recent advances to address inequities in medical education and research."
  • On June 29, 2023, the college published its response to the Supreme Court's decision regarding race-conscious admission policies which stated the following: "Albert Einstein College of Medicine is deeply disappointed by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFAI) v. President and Fellows of Harvard and SFAI v. University of North Carolina, which overturned more than four decades of precedent. Their decision, which eliminates consideration of race in admissions, removes an important tool used to limit segregation and diversify the medical and scientific workforce. Increasing the number of students from groups historically underrepresented in these fields has been instrumental in driving innovation, improving care, and advancing equity."
Last updated November 16th, 2023
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