Sebastian Placide, MS2, was featured on NY1 as one of the first recipients of the Diversity in Medicine scholarship from the Associated Medical Schools of New York. This scholarship is funded through a grant by the New York State Department of Health with two main goals: the diversification of the medical workforce and to provide medical care to underserved areas of New York State, where recipients of the scholarship are required to give two years of service post completion of their training. When fully funded, 40 scholarships will support NY medical students looking to make a difference in our state. We congratulate Sebastian on this achievement, as he and our other wonderful recipient, Ms. Diana Perez (Einstein MS1) had to not only show need but a good moral character and a commitment to serving the underserved in order to be awarded this scholarship. Congratulations!
NY1 Report Diversity in Medicine Scholarship
We, in ODE, are committed to developing a broadly diverse cadre of clinicians, researchers and educators who will promote health and address health disparities in our local community, in the nation and abroad.
During June, the LGBTQ+ community around the world celebrates Pride. June 28 marks the 50th anniversary of the first Gay Pride march in U.S. history, originally called Christopher Street Liberation Day. It was held in recognition of the first anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, when police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village. Such raids were frequent and often resulted in physical and psychological violence to the patrons and employees of queer establishments. These abuses reflected the era’s homophobic attitudes: it was illegal in most states to be gay.
The SNMA is the nation’s oldest and largest student-run organization focused on the needs and concerns of students of color. We advocate for culturally sensitive healthcare services and education, as well as increasing and maintaining the number of underrepresented minorities in the medical profession. We organize many events during the year, including lecture series, community service events and study breaks.
Contact: einstein-snma@einsteinmed.org
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The EMSA serves as a formal support system for underrepresented students in the Sue Golding Graduate Division of Medical Sciences. We promote unity, friendship, intellectual challenge and encouragement. We also serve as a forum for the expression of concerns, suggestions and problems of the underrepresented student body. All Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students who attend Einstein are welcome to join as formal members.
Contact: Margarette Mariano
Our priorities are to increase the number of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in medicine, provide educational opportunities to support the Einstein community in providing sensitive, informed and culturally competent care to Latinx and underserved communities, and to enhance the social support network of Latinx and other URM medical students at Einstein. Our members are MD and MSTP (MD/PhD) students.
Contacts: Einstein-LMSA@einsteinmed.org
Contacts: einsteinwc4bl@gmail.com
Einstein PRIDE seeks to create a healthy, welcoming, inclusive community among LGBTQIA students, faculty, staff and allies. We organize social events on campus and engage in community events to learn more about the surrounding LGBTQIA community, in addition to working to foster conversations about navigating careers as LGBT individuals. As an organization based in New York City, PRIDE has had the unique opportunity to collaborate with other activism organizations, both on and off campus, to promote positive change for the LGBTQIA community and other marginalized communities within New York.
Contact: Einstein-PRIDE@einsteinmed.org
The Muslim Students Association seeks to be a supportive, connected community for Muslim students at Einstein. Furthermore, we hope to educate the greater Einstein community on Islam and its intersection with medicine and science.
Contact: Einstein-MSA@einsteinmed.org.
The Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) Chapter at Albert Einstein College of Medicine is a student group committed to addressing the unique health challenges of Asian and Pacific Islander American (APIA) communities. APAMSA serves as a forum on campus for student to engage these health issues and to participate in projects addressing those needs. We aim to promote the health of the APIA community in the Bronx and to help students understand how to care for APIA patients in a culturally sensitive manner. We seek to be an important venue for medical students to develop personally and professionally through mutual mentorship and cultural exchange. Contact: Einstein-APAMSA@einsteinmed.org
Einstein is dedicated to providing critical pipeline programs for racial/ ethnic minorities and socio-economically disadvantaged students, beginning in high school. These programs promote the educational advancement of underserved, economically and educationally disadvantaged students, giving them an opportunity to pursue and succeed in rigorous academic programs in the health professions. Hundreds of students benefit from Einstein’s pipeline programs each year.
The EEP is a New York state–funded Science & Technology Entry Program (STEP) that offers grade 7-12 students opportunities to excel in the sciences and exposure to careers in medicine. The 15-week curriculum includes hands-on learning such as ambulance-bay prep, seminars, test-prep classes and more. Among our graduates are M.D.s, physician assistants and nurses. To qualify, students must demonstrate high academic school performance, good school attendance, and an interest in pursuing careers in health, medicine and/or science. The program runs approximately fifteen weeks each fall and spring semesters, and students over the age of 16 have the option of attending our five-week summer program.
Contacts: Alicia Martinez, Ed.D, MS, alicia.martinez@einsteinmed.org Janet Dwamena, MS, janet.dwamena@einsteinmed.org Rebecca Solivan, MS, rebecca.solivan@einsteinmed.org
The Einstein Enrichment Program Extension (EEPx) offers alumni of the Einstein Enrichment Program a continuation of services such as counseling, career assessments and test prep support including MCAT and GMAT prep. EEPx hosts a Pre-med Symposium & Reunion for EEP alumni in addition to a 6-week summer program for alumni currently pursuing undergraduate degrees, or recent undergraduate degree recipients who are continuing on a medical career track. The program consists of a medical science class, luncheon seminars, career counseling and over 96 hours of clinical or research site placements with distinguished faculty. All participants will develop an abstract and present a poster on a topic related to medical science at Einstein at the end of the program.
Contact: Alicia Martinez, Ed.D., M.S., alicia.martinez@einsteinmed.org and Janet Dwamena, M.S., janet.dwamena@einsteinmed.org
DSSROP gives college sophomores and juniors an opportunity to do biomedical research in a mentored program. DSSROP is a part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Program directed by Einstein’s Graduate Division in the Biomedical Sciences. The eight-week program consists of laboratory research, lectures by faculty, discussions on “hot topics,” and training in writing and oral presenting research work. Students conduct research under the direction of a faculty member. Research assignments will be made based upon availability of research opportunities and according to the mutual interests of the faculty sponsors and student participants.
Contact: Nilda I. Soto, MS-Ed, nilda.soto@einsteinmed.org
HCOE SUMP is a six-week summer program for college sophomores through recent college graduates. Our goals are to motivate students to pursue careers in medicine, build confidence and foster working mentorship relationships. The program provides students with shadowing and mentorship opportunities with Montefiore and Einstein physicians, workshops, lectures and research experience.
Contact: Cara Stephenson-Hunter, Ph.d, M.S., HCOE.SUMP@gmail.com
Monte-HOP is a summer program that promotes, educates and encourages rising college freshmen through rising college juniors to pursue careers in health fields. Students gain valuable knowledge and professional skills through interactive workshops, mentorship by physicians, observation of physician-patient interactions, lecture activities and independent learning.
Contact: Carol Whittaker, cwhittak@montefiore.org
The Bronx Community Health Leaders is a mentoring, and community outreach groups run in conjunction with the Family Health Center of Montefiore Medical Center. Created in 2014, and entirely student led, BxCHL offers pre-health scholars the opportunity to volunteer in a multitude of community based clinical initiatives, provide and participate in near-peer and faculty mentoring, in addition to facilitating leadership and scholarly opportunities. BxCHL seeks to devise strategies that attract socially and economically disadvantaged scholars to pursue a career in medicine, and thus further promote the inclusion of underrepresented minorities in Primary Care.
Contact: Juan Robles, MD, theleadership.fhc@gmail.com
Irene Blanco, M.D., M.S. Pronoun: She/Her Associate Professor of Medicine Associate Dean, Office of Diversity Enhancement Rheumatology Fellowship Program Director
Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1300 Morris Park Ave, Belfer 507 Bronx, NY 10461
718.430.3091 irene.blanco@einsteinmed.org
A rheumatologist by training, Dr. Blanco has a particular interest in connective tissue diseases, most notably systemic lupus erythematosus and how it affects underserved populations. Her research currently focuses on addressing health disparities in rheumatology through developing structured didactics within the rheumatology fellowship curriculum. At the medical school, Dr. Blanco focuses on further diversifying both the medical and graduate school, with the end goal of having Einstein graduates at the upper echelons of research and healthcare nationally and internationally.
Nilda Soto, MS-Ed Assistant Dean, Office of Diversity Enhancement Director, Einstein Enrichment Program
Belfer 507 718.430.3091 nilda.soto@einsteinmed.org
A native of the Bronx, Ms. Soto has been a member of Einstein's administration since 1990. In her role as assistant dean of diversity enhancement, Ms. Soto administers and supervises all minority student activities at the medical school and is involved in the recruitment, admission and retention of individuals underrepresented in medicine. She serves as director of both the Einstein Enrichment Program and the Minority Students Summer Research Opportunity Program. Ms. Soto served on the New York State Minority Health Council through March 2010. She currently serves as Vice President of the Association of Hispanic Healthcare Executives, as a member of the Board of Friends of the Double Discovery Center at Columbia University, and as Chair of the LeGrand Newman Scholarship Committee for the Northeast Region of the National Association of Medical Minority Educators, Inc.
Alicia Martinez, Ed.D., M.S. Program Manager Einstein Enrichment Program Community Based Service Learning Program
Belfer 407 alicia.martinez@einsteinmed.org
Dr. Martinez joined Einstein in November of 2017 as the Program Manager for the Einstein Enrichment Program and Community Based Service Learning Program. Prior to Einstein, she worked within higher education for 18+ years in various capacities including Assistant Dean of Students and Campus Operating Officer. Dr. Martinez has extensive experience in curriculum and leadership development, as well as event management and assessment. She has facilitated numerous workshops, seminars, and conferences related to emotional intelligence, leadership development, mentoring, college transition, and service learning. Dr. Martinez has an educational doctorate degree in higher education administration from Saint Peter’s University and a Masters in Organizational Leadership from Nyack College. She is a member of the national honor society in education, Kappa Delta Pi (KDP), the Association for Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) and Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education.
Maddy Ebanks, BS-HSA Administrative Assistant Office of Diversity Enhancement
Belfer 507 718.430.3091 madeline.ebanks@einsteinmed.org
A native of Nueva Gerona, Cuba and a product of New York City's public school system, Ms. Ebanks learned to speak English thanks to bilingual education classes that also allowed her to remain with her cohort. Ms. Ebanks majored in healthcare administration in college and holds a Bachelor of Science degree. As a public education advocate in East Harlem, she helped raise awareness of the needs of public schools and collaborated with elected officials, parents, pedagogical staff and community members to procure resources for education. Ms. Ebanks has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare administration. She is familiar with the accreditation standards governing graduate medical education and the accreditation and privileging standards governing healthcare organization operations and professional affairs.
Janet Dwamena, M.S. Program Assistant Einstein Enrichment Program Community Based Service Learning
Belfer 407 718.430.4166 janet.dwamena@einsteinmed.org
Ms. Janet Dwamena serves as the program assistant for the Einstein Enrichment Program. She first joined the EEP team in 2018. She received her bachelor’s of science degree in communications and journalism from Suffolk University, and is currently pursuing her masters in Childhood Education at Fordham University. Ms. Dwamena functions as a liaison between students, parents and the EEP administration. She works very closely with the students on all aspects of the program and maintaining pertinent paperwork. She is very passionate about working with minority students from underrepresented populations and is dedicated to offering support and guidance as they persist to program completion, high school graduation and college entry.
Rebecca Solivan, M.S. Vocational Counselor Einstein Enrichment Program Community Based Service Learning
Belfer 407 718.430.4166 rebecca.solivan@einsteinmed.org
Miss. Rebecca Solivan joined Einstein in November of 2020 as the vocational counselor for the Einstein Enrichment program. She recently graduated from New York University with her Masters in School Counseling. Miss Solivan serves as an integral member of the Einstein Enrichment Program (EEP) and Einstein Enrichment Program Extension (EEPx) Teams by providing counseling services and group sessions to students enrolled in both programs. Miss Solivan exposes students to various medical and health careers and guide seniors with college preparation including the application and financial aid application filing process. In addition, she serves as the main contact for EEP Alumni and will also manage and maintain social media platforms for EEP and EEPx.
Office of Diversity Enhancement Albert Einstein College of Medicine 1300 Morris Park Ave, Belfer 507 Bronx, NY 10461
718.430.3091 718.430.2146 diversity.enhancement@einsteinmed.org
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