UTICA, N.Y. – Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) has signed an agreement with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Elmira, New York, to become a major clinical campus for the medical school, providing clinical rotations for third and fourth year students.
“This partnership creates a pipeline of high-quality, well-trained physicians to meet the current and future healthcare needs of our communities,” said Mark Warfel, DO, program director at St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program. “Through the collaboration with the LECOM Elmira Campus, MVHS will be able to expand its medical education program, engaging many more medical students in clinical training. These students, many of whom will be from the Central New York region, will in turn have access to the new residency programs MVHS is building.” It has been shown that upon completion of training, physicians are often most likely to practice in the geographic area they trained.
This relationship further cements MVHS and the new Regional Medical Center as a significant teaching hospital system and will positively impact our community in tremendous way.
“We are very excited about our partnership with MVHS to facilitate the development of graduate medical education programs and the expansion of undergraduate medical education and clinical rotations,” said Richard Terry, DO, MBA, associate dean of Academic Affairs at LECOM. “Together, LECOM and MVHS will work to significantly improve the physician supply chain and ultimately greater access to healthcare in the Mohawk Valley, Central New York region.”
About Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
LECOM is the nation’s largest medical college and is the only Academic Health Center in the osteopathic profession. Physicians and administrators at the Millcreek Community Hospital saw the growing demand for more physicians and opened LECOM in 1992. With the college and the hospital as the core of a highly innovative medical education system based in Erie, Pennsylvania, LECOM has strived to add to the quality of life of our neighbors by bringing total healthcare to the community. The college brought a new concept in medical fitness and wellness to Erie, built a network of physician offices and has started construction on a senior living center that is introducing a new model of healthcare for older adults. LECOM offers innovative and affordable education in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and dental medicine. From campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and Bradenton, Florida, LECOM provides student-centered pathways to prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.
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