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Medical Mentors
NYCOM's leaders, past and president, have high hopes for the future.
By Kathi Vieser
There are two truths about change: it is inevitable and it can be good. And the times they are a changin' at NYIT's New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM). In 2000, NYIT President Matthew Schure, a major architect of NYCOM past and present, left to become president of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He was succeeded as NYIT president by then-provost Edward Guiliano, Ph.D.
In July 2002, Dr. Stanley Schiowitz, who enjoys a near-legendary reputation in osteopathic medicine, retired as dean of NYCOM, a position he held for more than a decade. His successor, Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee, officially took the reins as dean of NYCOM in July 2002.
During its first 25 years of operation, NYCOM has seen enormous growth and prosperity under many worthy leaders, including current NYIT Board of Trustees Chairman Stanley Kreitman, NYCOM Board of Governors Chairman G. Bruce Leib and Dr. Schiowitz.
The charge now to NYCOM's current faculty and leaders is to put the school on a path to meet the needs of the changing health care industry for the next quarter century.
Changing Places
Dr. Schiowitz joined NYCOM on August 1, 1977, leaving a full-time medical practice to become head of the department of osteopathic principles and practice, now known as the department of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
After serving as medical director of the Academic Health Care Center, Dr. Schiowitz became dean and provost in mid-1992. In his new role at NYCOM, he will serve as dean emeritus and a part-time consultant for curriculum development.
Dr. Schiowitz "has been a strong advocate of integrating osteopathic principals and practices into our educational process," according to Dr. Douglas L. Wood, president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). "He has dedicated many years of his life to promoting innovation and quality in osteopathic medical education."
Dr. Ross-Lee, formerly dean of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, also has a strong reputation in the medical community. She has been part of NYIT's academic administration since February 2001, when she joined NYIT as vice president for health sciences and medical affairs.
Dr. Ross-Lee's strategy for NYCOM's future will encompass four initiatives:
- unity-providing the means and leadership for NYCOM as an institution to work more closely with both its clinical traiCing partners and its alumni;
- community-encouraging NYCOM students and faculty to find new ways to improve health care services, both on Long Island and in the NY metro area;
- continuity-developing an educational continuum that spans undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education and continuing medical education;
- visibility-creating opportunities that promote public awareness of both NYCOM and the osteopathic profession.
Modus Operandi
Throughout her career, Dr. Ross-Lee has made it a personal and professional goal to raise awareness within the osteopathic profession of reaching out to populations of potential patients who are traditionally underserved-women and minorities, as well as those living in poverty, in remote rural areas and in inner cities.
"By choosing to become osteopathic physicians, we are taking an oath to adhere to a philosophy that puts people first," says Dr. Ross-Lee. "But there are too many people who do not have access to proper health care. Osteopathic physicians need to take the lead in providing care and services to those who have been largely ignored in the past."
Additional areas of interest include educating osteopathic residents in the area of health policy and including technological advances such as telemedicine into overall health care systems.
Dr. Ross-Lee's reputation stretches far beyond NYCOM and touches osteopathic physicians throughout the nation.
"Barbara Ross-Lee is one of the most dynamic leaders we have in the osteopathic profession today," says John B. Crosby, J.D., executive director of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). "If she is able to accomplish in New York half of what she achieved in Ohio, I am certain NYCOM will prosper and grow as never before."
That's quite a statement, considering NYCOM's proud history and Dr. Schiowitz's stellar reputation.
Required Reading
It is safe to say that nearly every current osteopathic medical student is familiar with Dr. Schiowitz's work; he is the co-author of a textbook on osteopathic manipulative medicine that is one of the most widely used in the country.
And he is far from finished with his work at NYCOM. "I want to assist
with NYCOM's goal to become the country's leading research center in osteopathic philosophy and practice," says Dr. Schiowitz.
While extremely proud of the work he and his colleagues have done at NYCOM-"it's nice to know that we built the largest, top-rated osteopathic medical school in the country"-he also sees new challenges ahead. "We must maintain and improve the quantity and quality of the third- and fourth-year clinical rotations."
Known among his colleagues as much for his humility and dry sense of humor as for his dedication to the profession and his patients, Dr. Schiowitz "is truly a Brahmin of the osteopathic profession," says Crosby of the AOA. "His leadership and vision serve as examples we should all strive to achieve."
Still, even Dr. Schiowitz admits that there's more to life than medicine. "My wife has played bridge for more than 20 years," he says. "It's time for me to sit down with her and learn how to play."
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