You can find the following information on this page...
About the University                                                      University Hospital and Medical Center
Health Sciences Center                                                  Clinical Affiliates
The School of Medicine                                                 Special Programs
The New Curriculum: Systems Approach to Medicine     Admissions & Procedure
    The first year                                                              Application
    The second year                                                         Financial Information
    The third year                                                             Housing
    The fourth year                                                           Correspondence
Grading and Honors                                                       HSCBulletin
Who's Who in the SOM Admissions Office

About the University...
The University at Stony Brook is a comprehensive university center that is recognized as one of the nation’s finest. As the major research campus in the State University of New York system, Stony Brook offers programs of the highest quality in areas of great public need, including the health sciences, engineering and applied sciences, public policy, marine and environmental sciences, and the arts. Internationally renowned faculty members offer courses from the undergraduate to the doctoral level for more than 17,000 undergraduates enrolled in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Extensive resources and support services help foster intellectual and personal growth.

Located 60 miles from New York City on the north shore of Long Island, the campus is surrounded by a charming, picturesque, and historically rich community which offers some of the finest beaches on Long Island. Stony Brook offers ample opportunity for recreational boating, fishing, diving, and other water sports. In close proximity are Fire Island, the Hamptons, and beautiful Atlantic Ocean beaches.

The University campus provides a wide spectrum of activities. Medical students have ready access to all student facilities, including a new student union, an extensive sports complex with indoor and outdoor tracks, pool, squash and racquetball courts, weight room, athletic fields, and 20 tennis courts. Stony Brook has moved to NCAA Division II (joining the New England Collegiate Conference) on its way to Division I athletics, and competes regularly in football, basketball and lacrosse. The Staller Center for Fine Arts provides an extensive selection of cultural events throughout the year. Professional music, dance, theater, fine art and film are featured, with performances by internationally renowned
musicians, dancers, and actors. Students may take advantage of special discounts on many events.

Health Sciences Center...
The University’s Health Sciences Center was established in 1972 to address the shortage of health care professionals and improve access to the most sophisticated types of medical care for residents of Nassau and Suffolk counties. Today, it is Long Island’s only comprehensive academic health center, with a fourfold mission in education, research, patient care and community service. The center consists of five professional schools (Dental Medicine, Health Technology and Management, Medicine, Nursing and Social Welfare) and the University Hospital, which is the major teaching facility for the educational programs of the center. The center also operates the Long Island State Veterans Home, a 350-bed facility offering residential and day care for veterans, and maintains affiliations with more than 150 hospitals, clinics, and social and public agencies.

The Center for Molecular Medicine is designed to meet the specific needs of the School of Medicine’s thematic research programs. With approximately 14,000 square feet of space, the center offers facilities for transgenic animal experiments, high resolution NMR, x-ray diffraction, and molecular modeling studies, as well as isolation rooms for experiments using pathogenic organisms. A highly advanced informatics system links researchers to scientists throughout the world.

The School of Medicine...
The School of Medicine at Stony Brook, which consists of seven basic science and 18 clinical departments, is responsible for the preclinical and clinical education of students in the five schools of the Health Sciences Center and for the instruction of students in other schools on the campus. The School of Medicine also provides graduate, post-graduate and continuing education.

The School of Medicine at Stony Brook offers excellent research and clinical opportunities and has attracted a faculty of national and international renown. While advancing the most modern concepts of medical education, our faculty participates in joint instructional experiences with faculty in other schools of the Health Sciences Center. Students enjoy the benefits of exposure to this multidisciplinary approach to education.

The New Curriculum
Systems Approach to Medicine...

Based upon the Systems Approach to Medicine, the curriculum has sparked enthusiastic response from students. By interweaving the basic and clinical sciences, subjects including biochemistry, genetics and microbiology are structured into single topic areas, such as the cell. The systems approach reduces the amount of lecture time per week by strengthening the organization of course material and decreases the burden imposed by competing examinations.

the first year...
The first year curriculum consists of basic science courses and introductory courses related to patient care. Basic Science Courses: Molecules; Genes and Cells; The Body, Neurosciences; The Organs; Pathology Other Required Courses: Medicine in Contemporary Society (Social Issues in Medicine; Ethics, Law and Health Economics); Preventive Medicine; Introduction to Human Behavior; Basic Life Support (includes CPR); Introduction to Clinical Medicine; Nutrition

the second year...
Continuing with the Systems Approach to Medicine, the second year curriculum focuses study on organ pathophysiology. The course consists of integrated presentations of basic and clinical science which includes neurosciences, blood, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, renal, reproductive, and respiratory systems. Courses in pharmacology and microbiology are also given. Medicine in Contemporary Society and Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM) continues in the second year. ICM focuses on the patient interview, examination and correlative skills as the student acquires additional knowledge in physiology, pathology, and the natural history of diseases in the systems course. Students take Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) at the end of the second year. Passage of USMLE, Step I, is a requirement for graduation.

the third year...
The third year curriculum is patient focused and consists of  a 12-week clerkship in medicine, eight week clerkships in  surgery and pediatrics; six-week clerkships in obstetrics-gynecology and reproductive medicine, and primary care; a four week clerkship in psychiatry and two-week rotations in emergency medicine and radiology. Medicine in Contemporary Society is part of each clerkship.

the fourth year...
During the fourth year, the medical student assumes greater patient care responsibilities and continues to acquire clinical and laboratory skills. The curriculum includes:  a one-month subinternship (medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, or general surgery), a one-month didactic course (emergency medicine, laboratory medicine, or clinical therapeutics), a one-month neurology experience, a two week psychiatry in medicine course, a choice of two or four weeks of  Medicine in Contemporary Society, and electives. The total study time encompasses eight and one-half months.
Note: All students must successfully complete an exercise with standardized patients designed to evaluate clinical competency.

Grading and Honors...
Grades for each program in the curriculum of the School of Medicine have been determined as Honors, Pass or Fail. The faculty has determined that a successful candidate for the M.D. degree must pass each unit of the curriculum. Waivers of units of curriculum are offered only to those who, because of prior experience, are able to place out through examination. The student’s acquisition of necessary clinical and laboratory skills requires attendance and demonstrated competence with patients, as well as in cytology and dissection laboratories.

A chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha, the national honor medical society, was established at the School of Medicine in 1985. The society’s purpose is to recognize and perpetuate excellence in the medical profession. Each year, member chapters elect outstanding medical students, graduates, faculty, and honorary members to its ranks.

Clinical Training & Special Programs...

University Hospital and Medical Center...
Stony Brook’s University Hospital and Medical Center is a 504-bed tertiary care hospital that is diverse, forward-looking and succeeds at delivering a broad range of tertiary, urgent and primary care services to a broad patient base. The hospital cares for more than 25,000 inpatients and treats more than 47,000 people in its emergency department each year. Close to 3,500 babies are born here yearly and nearly 510,000 patients visit the medical center for physician care, and ambulatory diagnostic and treatment services. With extensive laboratory services, sophisticated instrumentation and computerized physiological monitoring systems, Stony Brook offers the most highly specialized diagnostic and treatment programs available.

Clinical Affiliates...
The Health Sciences Center and its schools have established affiliations with many institutions and agencies. Of these, four affiliates serve as major resources for the educational, research and clinical programs of the schools.

Nassau County Medical Center includes a 615-bed acute care facility integrated with a network of ambulance primary care and specialty sites, and an 889-bed long-term care facility. Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Northport is a tertiary facility currently operating 508 hospital beds with an additional 190 nursing home care beds.
Winthrop-University Hospital is Long Island’s oldest voluntary hospital (non-profit). At 591 beds, it provides patient care, medical education and research.  Brookhaven National Laboratory Clinical Research, Medical Department is exclusively a component research institution of the Brookhaven National Laboratory and sponsors basic and applied research
dedicated to the improvement of human health.

Special Programs...
The School of Medicine offers several enrichment programs which enhance a student’s professional and personal development.

MSTP program
The Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), a combined M.D./Ph.D. Program which can be completed in six to eight years, is offered. It is one of 39 programs nationwide which is supported by the NIH. Collaborative research relationships exist with other biomedical research institutions on Long Island, including Cold Spring Harbor, and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Studies may also be conducted at Plum Island Laboratory and the Picower Institute.

MD with Recognition
The school offers separate programs leading to the M.D. with Recognition, M.D. with Recognition in Medical Humanism, and M.D. with Recognition in Primary Care. These programs can be completed within the regular four year curriculum. Interested applicants should follow the conventional medical school admissions procedure. Applications to the MD with Recognition program are accepted mid-year during the first year of medical school.

Institute for Medicine in Contemporary Society is a unit in the Division of Medicine in Society, Department of Preventive Medicine. The Institute was established in 1990 to develop interdisciplinary programs that explore the complex relationships between medicine and contemporary culture. The Institute sponsors lectures, visiting fellowships, and artists in residence whose focus is to foster the human and creative dimensions of health care; and also publishes a quarterly journal, Contexts: A Forum for Medical Humanities.

Health Sciences Center Library & Barry S. Coller, MD, Learning Center serves the educational, clinical and research information needs of the faculty, staff and students. It also functions as a regional resource assisting health care professionals throughout Long Island. In addition to an expansive collection of medical texts and periodicals, the library houses the complete Medline database covering abstracts from virtually all of the medical literature since 1966. Contained in its microcomputer learning center are 74 work stations, and two classrooms with a total of 72 work stations. Students can access information from the internet, run highly specialized computer programs, and access electronic mail.

The State of New York requires that all students admitted will have completed at least two years of college; however, few applicants without a baccalaureate degree are successful. Premedical course requirements include one year each of biology, physics, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry (all with lab), and one year of English. A basic course in biochemistry is helpful, but not required. The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) must be taken no later than the year prior to the year for which the student seeks admission. Foreign applicants must have completed at least one year of study in an American college or university.

The Committee on Admissions carefully examines each candidate’s preparation and promise for creative work in medicine, regardless of the candidate’s area of concentration prior to medical school. Applications from a wide variety of students with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and academic interests are encouraged, as well as from groups that have been historically under-represented in medicine. The majority of Stony Brook’s applicants are residents of New York, and the entering class reflects this fact. New York residents are given first priority in the application review and selection process.

The School of Medicine expects that each student admitted will complete the full curriculum of required courses and electives under the established School policies. Academic requirements for each year of medical school are available on the Office of  Academic Affairs Webpages. Grades, MCAT scores, letters of evaluation, and extracurricular and work experiences are carefully examined. The candidate’s motivation and personal qualifications, as indicated in the application, letters of evaluation, and a personal interview, also contribute greatly to the admissions assessment.

Prospective students are advised to consult the current edition of Medical School Admission Requirements, available at a cost of $25.00 plus $5.00 for postage and handling from:

 Association of American Medical Colleges
 Publications Department
 2450 N Street, NW
 Washington, D.C. 20037

Since competition for any one school is keen, prospective applicants will profit from reading this book’s overview of the medical school admissions process, as well as a description of the educational program of all accredited medical schools in the nation, including Stony Brook.

Application...
Applications should be submitted early in the application season, which begins on June 1 and closes on November 15. Stony Brook participates in the American Medical College Service (AMCAS). Applications to this service are available from the premedical advisor at the applicant’s school or by writing directly to:

 Association of American Medical Colleges
 Section of Student Services
 2501 M Street, NW, Lobby-26
 Washington, D.C. 20037-1300

Applicants can also download AMCAS-E from the AAMC website: http://www.aamc.org.

In addition to the AMCAS application, applicants must submit a supplementary Stony Brook application. A letter of evaluation from the applicant’s premedical advisor is also required. If no such official exists, letters from two instructors, one of whom is in a science field, should be submitted. No other letters are solicited. However, the Committee on Admissions also welcomes letters from others who may provide important information about the candidate.

All application material should be submitted as early as possible. Candidates for admission to the 2001 entering class are required to take the MCAT no later than August, 2000.

Application Fee...
An application fee of $75 should be forwarded with your completed supplementary application materials. Checks should be made payable to SUNY Stony Brook, Medical Application Fee. Any request for a fee waiver must be accompanied by a recommendation from the financial aid advisor at your school or a copy of the AMCAS fee waiver.

Interviews...
Personal interviews are an essential part of the admissions process for any student in which the school has a serious interest. Invitations for interviews are initiated by the Committee on Admissions. Whenever possible, appointments are scheduled at the convenience of the applicant. A visit of the campus is encouraged when invited for an interview.

Transfer Students...
Stony Brook will only consider students who are currently enrolled and in good standing at other United States M.D. granting schools of medicine. Students interested in transfer information should write to the Committee on Admissions, Attention: Transfer.

Scholars for Medicine program...
The Scholars for Medicine Program is an integrated eight year B.A./M.D. course of study offered to exceptional high school students. While completing undergraduate studies, students participate in medical school classes and activities. Admission to the medical school is contingent upon achieving a minimum G.P.A. of 3.4, and above average MCAT scores. Students interested in this program must apply through the Honors College at S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook.

Financial Information...
Tuition at all medical schools of the State University of New York is $10,840 per academic year for New York residents, and $21,940 per academic year for non-residents. Tuition may be subject to change. Miscellaneous fees are approximately $2,650 per academic year which include health insurance and microscope rental fees. The cost of supplies, equipment and books is approximately $1,500 for the first year and includes a computer. Expenses for succeeding years are correspondingly lower. Incurred expenses (room, board, travel, etc.) are estimated at $15,950 per year.

Tuition at the University at Stony Brook is considerably less than the cost of attending a private institution. Financial aid is available to students with documented need. In addition, New York State residents may qualify for the Tuition Assistance Program administered by the state. Loans and other funds administered by the school are allocated to all students (regardless of residence) whose financial status warrants the allotment of available support. Admission to the school is determined by the candidate’s qualifications and not by the ability to be self-supporting. Once admitted, students may
apply for aid. The amount each applicant receives will represent a fair apportionment of aid resources available among the continuing and newly admitted students in the school.

Housing...
During the first two years, when much of the instruction takes place at Stony Brook, most students choose to live on campus or in nearby communities. Stony Brook is largely comprised of single family homes which students often share. Access to an automobile may be an important consideration, especially while pursuing clinical clerkships at geographically dispersed sites. Public transportation in the area is limited.

Correspondence...
All applications are acknowledged and applicants are informed when their application file is complete. It is not possible, however, to acknowledge receipt of the many items of supportive documentation as they arrive. When a final decision is reached, the applicant will receive an announcement of that decision. If accepted, a $100 deposit fee is required to hold a place in the class. This fee is applied to tuition and is refundable prior to May 15, 2001. All correspondence pertaining to an application should reference the candidate’s proposed year of entry. Correspondence should be addressed to:

 Committee on Admissions
 School of Medicine
 Health Sciences Center, Level 4
 State University of New York at Stony Brook
 Stony Brook, N.Y. 11794-8434

 Telephone: 631.444.2113/Fax: 631.444.6032
 e-mail: admissions@dean.som.sunysb.edu

The State University of New York at Stony Brook is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. If you require a disability-related accommodation, please contact the School of Medicine at 631.444.2113. This publication can be available in alternative format.

Who's Who in the School of Medicine Admissions Office

Jack Fuhrer, M.D.
Associate Dean for Admissions
Associate Professor of Medicine
Clinical Director of the AIDS Center

As Associate Dean for Admissions for the School of Medicine, Dr. Fuhrer serves as an academic leader for the Committee on Admissions and is responsible for student recruitment and admissions.

Grace Agnetti
Assistant Dean for Admissions

Ms. Agnetti directs the Admissions Office in its daily operations. She is the principal source of advising for prospective applicants to the School of Medicine as well as those who were unsuccessful in gaining admission.

Dr. Fuhrer and Ms. Agnetti can be contacted at:

School of Medicine
Office of Admissions
Health Sciences Center, L4
SUNY at Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY 11794-8434
Telephone: 631.444.2113
FAX:  631.444.6032
email:  admissions@dean.som.sunysb.edu
 
 

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