By Shoshanah Marcus, News Editor
In an announcement on the YU News Blog on January 19, 2021, the President of Yeshiva University, Dr. Ari Berman, and the President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, Dr. Philip O. Ozuah, reportedly signed a new agreement launching a joint Yeshiva University-Albert Einstein College of Medicine B.A./B.S.-M.D. program. This program is intended to be “for highly qualified high school graduates ensuring their path to an excellent medical education and an impactful career in health care.”
In addition to the creation of this joint program, the announcement included that “Yeshiva University and Einstein have also created a task force to study creating joint academic and career-related programs in health care and health sciences.”
Both Dr. Berman and Dr. Ozuah are excited for the fruition of this joint program. “I am pleased to partner with Dr. Ozuah as our vital institutions expand our collaborative efforts and advance Yeshiva University, Montefiore and our beloved Albert Einstein College of Medicine forward with strength and purpose,” said Dr. Berman in the announcement. Similarly, Dr. Ozuah stated, “I have enjoyed working with Dr. Berman to lay the groundwork for an exciting new chapter for Montefiore Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Yeshiva University.”
Yeshiva University has had fluctuating ties with Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM) for many years. In 2015, AECOM transferred the financial and operational rights from Yeshiva University to Montefiore, after 60 years of YU control. Moreover, in 2018, Einstein gained authority to grant its own degrees and YU was no longer the degree granting institution.
There is not much specific information about the program itself that is publicly available. Dean Bacon shared with the YU Observer, “The program will not begin until 2022 and the details still need to be worked out. Once that is done, we will have information to share with everyone.”