Mohawk Valley Health System partners with LECOM to become a clinical campus

UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) announced it has signed an agreement with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Elmira to become a “major clinical campus” for the medical school.

In the partnership, MVHS says it is providing clinical rotations for third and fourth-year students.

The relationship also “further cements” MVHS and its upcoming downtown Utica hospital as a “significant” teaching hospital system.

“This partnership creates a pipeline of high-quality, well-trained physicians to meet the current and future healthcare needs of our communities,” Dr. Mark Warfel, program director at St. Elizabeth Family Medicine residency program, said in a release. “Through the collaboration with the LECOM Elmira campus, MVHS will be able to expand its medical education program, engaging many more medical students in clinical training. These students, many of whom will be from the Central New York region, will in turn have access to the new residency programs MVHS is building.”

It has been shown that upon completion of training, physicians are “often most likely” to practice in the geographic area they trained, MVHS contends.

“We are very excited about our partnership with MVHS to facilitate the development of graduate medical education programs and the expansion of undergraduate medical education and clinical rotations,” Dr. Richard Terry, associate dean of academic affairs at LECOM, said. “Together, LECOM and MVHS will work to significantly improve the physician supply chain and ultimately greater access to healthcare in the Mohawk Valley, Central New York region.”

About LECOM

LECOM is described as the “nation’s largest” medical college and is the only academic health center in the osteopathic profession.

Launched in 1992 and based in Erie, Pennsylvania, LECOM offers education in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, and dental medicine.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com