Med Center honored for service
he Medical Center was honored with the 2004 Outstanding Community Service Award by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) at its annual meeting in Boston on November 6. This prestigious award is presented annually to a medical college that has developed a comprehensive approach to improving the health of the community in which it resides, utilizing a unique combination of research, teaching, and clinical care resources.
According to AAMC President Jordan Cohen, the award is not intended to honor any one specialized service program or individual, but rather to recognize an institution that develops a variety of programs and initiatives which are responsive to community and social needs.
"The University of Rochester Medical Center is to be commended for its commitment to produce culturally competent, compassionate physicians," says Cohen. "The entire institution's community involvement has had a profound impact on the medically underserved residents of Rochester."
In accepting the award, David Guzick, dean of the School of Medicine and Dentistry, commented, "This award reflects the durability of the commitment to community health that has been made by faculty throughout the Medical Center. Community health has become embedded as the fourth mission of the Medical Center across all of its departments. As such, it is not an afterthought but is interwoven into the fabric of all of our research, patient care, and education activities."
In 2003, more than 20 departments within the Medical Center led more than 70 community outreach programs. Additionally, 159 Rochester community-based research projects, funded at $39 million, are ongoing in the community.
In winning this award, Rochester joins the ranks of other national medical centers such as Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, New York City's Montefiore Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, and the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
"Community service and outreach have long been a tradition at the Medical Center," says C. McCollister Evarts, Medical Center CEO. "In fact, when the Medical Center's major benefactor, George Eastman, was initially approached for funding, he agreed to provide the seed money, but with a caveat: to use the skills and talents within the Medical Center to create the world's healthiest community in Rochester. We believe that addressing health issues for the community, especially high-risk children and families, is perhaps one of our most important economic and social obligations.
"We will continue to work in partnership with the Rochester community to bridge the gap between the health care system, public health, and the educational system as we continue on our journey to deliver on Eastman's vision of making Rochester the healthiest community in the nation."
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