The Big Picture
A Look at Some of the Events That Made 2008 One of the Most Memorable Years in Hofstra History

School of Medicine Announces Appointment of Dean and $25 Million State Grant

Chairman of the North Shore-LIJ Health System Board of Trustees Saul Katz, North Shore-LIJ Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Dowling, Dean of the Hofstra University School of Medicine Lawrence G. Smith, then Chair of the Hofstra’s Board of Trustees John Miller, and Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz signed the agreement that moved plans forward for the Hofstra University School of Medicine.

Plans for the Hofstra University School of Medicine in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System moved forward in 2008 with the appointment of the school's first dean and the announcement of a $25 million capital grant.

First announced on October 16, 2007, the Hofstra University School of Medicine in partnership with North Shore-LIJ Health System will be as significant for New York state as it is for both Hofstra and North Shore-LIJ. It will be the first allopathic medical school in Nassau County, and the first on Long Island in more than 35 years. The medical school plans to offer an M.D. program beginning in fall 2011, subject to preliminary accreditation from the Liaison Committee for Medical Education and New York state approval.

On March 26 Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz and North Shore-LIJ Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Dowling announced the appointment of Lawrence G. Smith, M.D., North Shore-LIJ's chief medical officer, as the first dean of the Hofstra University School of Medicine. Dr. Smith has since worked to move the accreditation process forward and shape the educational framework of the school.

President Rabinowitz said of Dr. Smith, "His vision for the future of medical education and his ability to recruit scientists and other medical scholars will ensure that the School of Medicine will be an innovative academic institution, positioned to lead in educating the next generation of physicians and health care professionals. His continuing role as chief medical officer of the health system will ensure a seamless integration of classroom and clinical education for our medical students."

"With a formal agreement approved and a dean in place, North Shore-LIJ and Hofstra can now focus our time and energy on building the framework for a school of medicine that will ultimately enhance our region's medical research and improve its overall quality of health care," said Mr. Dowling.

Dr. Smith said creating a medical school from scratch offers a unique opportunity. "We won't build a medical school that looks like old ones. ... We can identify what does work and then create a unique medical school on Long Island -- and set a precedent for the future in medical training."

On May 30 President Rabinowitz joined New York State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Dean Skelos and Senate Health Committee Chair Kemp Hannon to announce a $25 million capital grant that will provide the initial funding necessary for the state-of-the-art facilities needed for the School of Medicine. "This New York state capital funding provides us with the seed money we need to get our capital campaign started," said President Rabinowitz.

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