The Center for Disaster Medicine (CDM) at New York Medical College (NYMC) held a different sort of groundbreaking ceremony for its new Simulation and Educational Facility in Valhalla. Instead of having a line of dignitaries plunge gold-plated shovels into a pile of soil to be scooped up, those attending the ceremony took hold of a sledge hammer and chopped into a wall to create an opening into the space where the new facility will be located adjacent to the existing CDM space.
The expansion is being made possible by funding provided by New York state including a State and Municipal Program grant of $250,000 through the Assembly and $200,000 in capital spending through Sen. Peter Harckham.
From left: Ronnie Myers, dean of Touro College of Dental Medicine; Andrea Stewart-Cousins; David S. Markenson; Alan Kadish; Peter Harckham; Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky; State Sen. Shelley Mayer; Robert Amler.
CDM already provides simulation training to help both students and professionals in the community undergo learning experiences in medicine, emergency preparedness, emergency response, and organizational systems. Simulation has been shown to improve safety, performance, and efficiency in a multitude of professions, including healthcare, aviation, the culinary arts, manufacturing, organizational business performance, and military science. The new Simulation and Educational facility will enable CDM to enhance the training it provides.
“I am proud of all the work being done at NYMC’s Center for Disaster Medicine, which has world-class capabilities in terms of medical strategies for emerging threats,” Harckham said. “Its disaster training programs benefit first responders across the state, making our communities safer as a result. More than ever, our medical research and education centers need strong support, which is why I worked to secure grant funding for the center’s expansion and its new simulation training facility.”
Alan Kadish, president of NYMC and Touro University said that the CDM is continuing to develop programs that would help deal with severe effects if climate change such as floods and intense storms.
“Unless we think we can massively change behavior on a global scale in a short period of time, the possibilities we’ll have to deal with the adverse effects of global warming are real and we need to be ready for it,”Kadish said.
State Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins praised NYMC and Touro University for its growth and vision as reflected in the CDM expansion.
David S. Markenson, director and medical director of the Center for Disaster Medicine said that the expanded training space will tremendously expand CDM’s ability to prepare first responders, hospitals, schools and local businesses for any number of potential emergencies or disasters.
“The vast expertise within our center positions us as the optimal resource to provide this essential training and education across the entire state,”Markenson said.
Robert W. Amler, dean of NYMC’s School of Health Sciences and Practice; and vice president for government affairs, pointed out, “Today’s event literally opened the wall into exciting new spaces and opportunities to expand the center’s impact in preparing resilient communities across New York state.”
