Our Medical School
Establishedin2008,theDonaldandBarbara ZuckerSchoolofMedicineat Hofstra/Northwellwasfoundedbytwoequal partners:HofstraUniversityandNorthwell Health.
TheZuckerSchoolofMedicineisbuiltupon thestrongclinicalandgraduatemedical educationprogramsofNorthwell,aswellas therobustresearchandacademic programsofbothHofstraandNorthwell’s FeinsteinInstitutesforMedicalResearchand ColdSpringHarborLaboratories.
TheZuckerSchoolofMedicinehasbeen rankedamongthebestmedicalschoolsfor researchnationwidefor10years(2016–2025)byU.S.News&WorldReport, achievingtop-tierstatusforthepasttwo years(2024–2025).
Theinstitutioncomprisesmorethan4,000 facultymembersacross25academic departmentsandenrollsadiverse communityofover400students.
Vision & Mission
MISSION VISION
TheSchoolofMedicine,ina cultureofcommunity,scholarship andinnovation,isdedicatedto inspiringdiverse,promising studentstoleadandtransform medicineforthebettermentof humanity.
TheSchoolofMedicineaimsto establishitselfasarevered institutionofhighermedical educationbymeansof accomplishingthefollowing visionaryobjectives:
Tobeapremier"MillennialMedical School"
Tobeamajorcontributortothe redefiningofmedicaleducation
Tohavepositivelychangedthe University,NorthwellHealthandthe community
Tohaveimprovedthehealthofthe region
Strategic Planning
ZuckerSchoolofMedicine
2019–2024StrategicPlan OutcomesReport
TheZuckerSchoolofMedicine(ZSOM)has achievedremarkablesuccessinfulfillingthe objectivesoutlinedinits2019–2024Strategic Plan,andthecollecteddatareflects meaningfulprogressandimpactful achievementsacrossmultipledomains.
Thisreporthighlightsoutcomesthat demonstratetheschool’scommitmentto creatinganenvironmentofexcellencethat fostersinnovation.Theoutcomesaffirmthe school’sdedicationtofosteringadynamic andinclusivemedicaleducationexperience andsetastrongfoundationforfuture strategicinitiatives,ensuringcontinued growthandimpact.
Domains 2019–2024 Strategic
ExcelinResearch&Discoveryto AdvancethePracticeofMedicine UtilizeHofstra
inMedicalEducation ptimize udent perienc stinOur ultyand f
Maintain Academic Excellence inMedical Education
ZSOMiscommittedtofosteringa cultureoflifelonglearningwhere studentsevolveintoleadersand innovatorsintheirfield, achievingthehighestlevelsof clinicalexcellence.
QualityofEducationProgram
ZSOMranksinthetop10%ofmedicalschools inthecountryinstudentsatisfactionwiththe qualityoftheirmedicaleducationprogram.
ResidencyMatchSuccess
100%ofgraduatessecuredresidenciesoverthelastfiveyears,exceedingthe nationalaverageinnearlyallspecialties.
>98%matchedthroughtheNationalResidentMatchingProgram(NRMP), includingearlymatchesinhighlycompetitivespecialtiesofophthalmology, urology,andmilitarybranches,withagrowingpercentageenteringother highlycompetitivespecialties,suchasorthopedicsurgery,otolaryngology, neurosurgery,andcardiothoracicsurgery.
DuringGraduateMedicalEducation(GME)transition,ZSOMgraduates exceedthenationalbenchmarksformeetingoverallexpectationsduring internships.
Increasingnumberofgraduateshonoredwithselectiontobechiefresidents, includingpositionsathighlycompetitiveinstitutionssuchastheChildren’s HospitalofPhiladelphia(CHOP).FromtheClassesof2015–2020,18ZSOM alumwereselectedaschiefresidents.
USMLEPerformance
ZSOMstudentsconsistentlyachievehighermedianperformance(andpass rates)comparedtothenationalaverageonStep1&2exams.
CurriculumInnovation
Yearoveryear,ZSOMistopinthenationatachievingitsgoalofintegrating basicandclinicalsciencesintothecurriculumthroughoutallfouryearsof medicalschool.
SolemedicalschooltorunCPRandEMTtrainingcapstone,MassCasualty IncidentTrainingDay,attheNassauCountyFireServiceAcademy (NCFSA).
Maintain Academic Excellence inMedical
Education
CurriculumInnovation (continued)
Patient-CenteredExplorationinActive ReasoningandLearningSynthesis (PEARLS)small-group,case-based learningservesasamodelforother medicalschools,andZSOMhostsfrequent visitsfromothermedicalschoolsthatwant tolearnhowtobuildasimilarprogram.
EvolutionofPEARLS’innovativelearningmodel,whichreceivedaneducation innovationawardfromtheNortheastGrouponEducationalAffairs.
Expansionofpoint-of-careultrasoundtrainingandnovelsurgicalskills programforsecond-yearstudents,whichincludestraininginroboticsurgery.
DevelopmentofPainandAddictionCareEducation(PACE)programtotrain third-yearmedicalstudentstoprevent,identify,treat,andsupportthe recoveryofpeoplewithsubstanceusedisorders.
Creationofanewflippedclassroommodelofactivelearning,resultingin ~12-15%improvementinchallengingproblem-solvingquestionsvs. traditionalapproach.
IntegrationofeducationaltechnologyintothecurriculumtoalignZSOM instructionwithmoderntechnologicaladvances.
Creationofhighlyrated,novelGALEN(TheGroupforAnatomicalLearning, Embryology,andNecessaryProceduralSkills)program,whichallowsthirdyearstudentstoreturntostructuralsciencesrelevanttotheirclerkships—a featothermedicalschoolshavenotyetachieved.
Thefirst-yearcurriculumincludes160+hoursofInitialClinicalExperiences, offeringearlier,discipline-specific,andmoreextensive,clinicalexposure thananyotherschoolnationally.
GraduationWithDistinction
Onaverage,12%ofthegraduatingclassreceivesthishonorannuallyfor excellenceinresearchorcommunityengagement.
Maintain Academic Excellence inMedical Education
Diversity&Inclusion
Namedoneofthemostdiversemedical schoolsintheU.S.andrankedfourthin NewYorkStatebyU.S.News&World Report2024.
Steadyincreaseinparticipationofstudentsin MedicalScholarsPipelineProgram(MSPP) matriculationintomedicalschool.
EstablishedCollegePipelineProgram(CPP)andprematriculationprogramtosupportpreparationfor medicalschool.
IncreasedtheattractivenessofZSOMfordiverseapplicantsmeasuredby thematriculationtoacceptanceratio.
CommitteeonAnti-racismandAllyship(CARA)wasestablishedinJune 2020toaddressstructuralracism,promoteallyship,andenhancethe climateofinclusionwithintheZSOMcommunity.
NorthwellHealthMartinLutherKingandAssociatedMedicalSchoolsofNew York(AMSNY)DiversityinMedicinescholarshipssupportUnderrepresentedin Medicine(URiM)students.
Virtualrealitytrainingforfacultyonbiasandracism.
LaunchedandtrackedmentorshipprogramstoenhanceinclusionatZSOM. Launchedfacultyandstaffprofessionaldevelopmentprograms.
Optimize Student Experience
ZSOMseekstooptimizeeachstudent’s academicjourneybyproviding meaningfulextracurricularengagement, financialsupport,andenhancedfacilities.
StudentWell-Being
Identifiedsevendimensionsofwell-being,including emotional,physical,spiritual,financial,occupational, social,andintellectualwellness.Programmingledbythe OfficeofStudentAffairsprovidesopportunities,tools,and servicestocontributetoincreasedstudentwellness.
Openedtelehealthacrossallmentalhealthservices,establishedadedicated BehavioralHealthCollegeProgramstaffmemberforZSOMintakes,and addedtheHeadspaceapp.
CreationofEnhancingStudentWell-Beingelective,developmentoffinancial wellnessseries,andcurricularwellnesssessions,tosupportstudentwellbeing.
Wellnesselectivereceivesconsistenthighratingsfromstudentsbasedupon promotingpeermentorshipandsupportingprofessionaldevelopment.
StudentParticipation&Engagement
92student-rungroups,clubs,andcommittees.
Hundredsofstudent-organizedevents,engagingmorethan3,700 participants,including850communitymembers.
Expandedcommunityservice-learningactivities,includinginterprofessional student-runclinicsandpipelineprogramsforlocalstudents.
Optimize Student
Experience
53%ofMDstudentsreceiveendowed scholarships.
91%ofstudentsreceivefinancial assistance.
Tuitionandfeesrankwithinthelowest15% ofprivatemedicalschoolsnationwide.
Graduateborrower’sdebtis35%lessonaverage thanotherprivatemedicalschools.
AlumniEngagement
Monthlynewsletters,reunions,andnetworkingeventsfosterstrong alumniconnections.
Enhancementofalumniengagementtrackingthroughalumnidatabase.
FacilityEnhancements
ModernizedaudiovisualsystemsinStructureLabandlargegroup classroomtosupportflexible,high-qualityteachingandlearning.
Expandedandimprovedoutdoorrecreationalandgatheringspaces.
Upgradedandexpandedstudentloungeandsharedstudentspaces.
Enhancedbuildingfoodserviceoptionsandoperations.
Improveddedicatedstudyandsecurestoragespaceatclinicalsites.
in Our
Faculty and Staff
ZSOMiscommittedtorecruiting, retaining,anddevelopingadiverse, highlyqualifiedfacultyandstaff whilepromotingtheirwell-being andprofessionaldevelopment.
Faculty&StaffDevelopment
70+facultydevelopmentprogramswith7501,000participantsannually.
99facultymembersacceptedintotheAcademy ofMedicalEducators,whichincludesfundingto supportevolvingmedicaleducationandpractice.
Quarterlyprogrammingforstaffdevelopmentonleadershiptraining, personalityassessments,andgivingandreceivingfeedback.
Forward-thinkingfacultyappointmentandpromotionprocessthatrewards facultymembersforteaching,clinicalexcellence,aswellastraditional academicpursuits.
Morethan90%offacultyseekingpromotionaresuccessful,andmentorship isavailableforfacultywhodonotyetmeetthecriteria.Promotionsfrom 2019–2024:AssociateProfessor–245;Professor–107.
WellnessInitiatives
TheZSOMWellnessCommitteesupportsfacultyandstaffacrossseven wellnesspillars:physical,nutritional,intellectual,financial,emotional, environmental,community,andsocial,viaevents,challenges,personaland professionalworkshopsandseminars,aswellassocialaffairs.
Establishedwellnessprogrammingandannualwalkingchallengethat98% ofparticipantsreportmotivatedthemtobemoreactive.
ParentingGroupestablishedanddevelopedinitiativestohelpsupport facultyandstaffcaregivers.
FacilityEnhancements
Designedandconstructedtwonewprivatefacultyandstaffloungespaces.
Establishedapermanent,dedicatedlactationspace.
Excel in
Research & Discovery
to Advance the Practice of Medicine
ResearchGrowth
ZSOMremainsdedicatedto pioneeringresearchthatadvances medicaleducationandpatientcare.
NationalRecognition
Oneofonly16U.S.medicalschools recognizedintheTopTierforBestMedical SchoolsforResearchbyU.S.News&World Report2024.
Ninthconsecutiveyearofrecognitionfor researchexcellencebyU.S.News&World Report(2016–2024).
FeinsteinInstitutesforMedicalResearchisaleaderingenetics,oncology, brainresearch,mentalhealth,andautoimmunity,andistheglobal scientificleaderinbioelectronicmedicine.Itcomprises50researchlabs, 3,000clinicalstudies,andmorethan5,000researchersandstaff.
17,700+facultypublicationsofjournalarticlesandbooks/chaptersshowing anoverallgrowthof64%.
Improvedcurationoffacultypublicationstocapturethescopeofpublished literatureandawardedgrants.
StudentEngagement
Notablestudentachievementsincludeawards,suchastheSarnoff Fellowship,NRSAF30Fellowship,andAANS/CNSNeuro-OncologyTrainee Award.
90%ofstudentsparticipateinresearch(20%growth).
80%ofstudentsfocusonclinicalortranslationalstudies.
23%increaseinpublicationsinoneyear(149to183peer-reviewedarticles).
33%increaseinpublicationsinhigh-impactjournals(impactfactor>7).
Increasednumberofstudentspresentingatregional,national,and internationalmeetings.
Utilize Hofstra & Northwell Resources to
Engage the Community
ZSOMactivelycontributestothe healthandwell-beingofits surroundingcommunitiesthrough education,outreach,andservice.
CommunityPartnershipand Engagement
EstablishedroleforAssistantDeanforCommunity Engagementandexpandedcollaborationswith Northwell’sOfficeofCommunityWellnessand PopulationHealth.
Increasedstudentparticipationinhealthfairs,resourceevents,and volunteeropportunitieswithcommunity-basedandfaith-based organizations.
Elementary,juniorhigh,andhighschoolstudentsfromtheHempsteadUnion FreeSchoolDistricthaveparticipatedintheHealthyLivingLongIsland(HLLI) andMedicalScienceYouthPrograms(MSYP) bothofwhichareledbyZSOM students.
Communitycollaborationsinclude:LongIslandAlzheimer'sandDementia Center,CohenChildren'sMedicalCenter,LIJDialysisCenter,HelenKeller ServicesfortheBlind,LongIslandCoalitionfortheHomeless,Bayview AvenueSchool,andHempsteadUnionFreeSchoolDistrict.
ContinuedoperationofStudentRunFreeclinicprovidingprimarycarefor uninsuredpatientsatnocost.
AwardedAssociationofAmericanMedicalColleges(AAMC)-funded curricularinnovationsgrantstotaling$70,000tocreatenovelwaysto educatemedicalstudentstoaddresshealthmisinformationwithpatients. Since2022,10studentsearnedtheGraduationwithDistinctionin CommunityEngagement.
DevelopedMedicalLegalPartnershipthatcombinesresourcesfrom MauriceA.DeanSchoolofLawatHofstraUniversityandNorthwellHealthto providemuch-neededlegalandmedicalcaretocommunitymembers acrossLongIslandandNewYorkCity,regardlessofabilitytopay.
Utilize Hofstra & Northwell Resources to
Engage the Community
MatriculantDemographics
ZSOMmatriculantdemographicsgearedto createphysician-patientbackground concordancetoleadtoimprovedpatient outcomes.
UndergraduateSchoolsRepresented: Matriculatestudentsfrom~50different undergraduateinstitutionsannually,totaling morethan120institutions.
StatesRepresented:Incomingclassesaverage representationfrom14states,withatotalof38states andD.C.represented.
Gender:Genderratioalignswithnationaltrends,with53%womenand46% men(nationalaverage:55%women,44%men).
LowerSocioeconomicBackground(EO1/EO2):26%ofmatriculantsare EO1/EO2,exceedingthenationalaverageof21%.
First-GenerationStudents:13%ofmatriculantsarefirst-generation, surpassingthenationalaverageof11%.
URiMRepresentation:22%ofmatriculantsareURiM,comparedtothenational averageof22.5%.
ResidencyandWorkforceContributions
25%ofZSOMalumnienterresidencyatNorthwellHealth.
ResidenteducationledbycoreScienceEducationfacultymembersinclude:
SummercourseforPhysicalMedicineandRehabilitation(PM&R),which equipsresidentswithadvancedanatomicalinsightsandprocedural expertisetoexcelintheirspecialty.
SpecializedAnatomyRefreshers:DermatologyandNeuropsychology residentsbenefitfromtailoredsessionsthatreinforcekeyanatomical conceptsrelevanttotheirfields,enhancingclinicalcapabilities.
Attain
Distinctive a Identity
ZSOMaimstostrengthenits reputationthroughoutstanding academicperformance,curricular innovation,andbrandrecognition.
Overthelastfiveyears,ZSOMhas consistentlyperformedinthetop10%of medicalschoolsnationally(atorabove the90thpercentileforatleastfourofthe lastfiveyears)inthefollowingareas:
Basic/ClinicalScienceIntegration:Basicsciencecourseworkthathad sufficientillustrationsofclinicalrelevanceandrequiredclinicalexperiences integratedbasicsciencecontent.
FirstOneHundredWeeks(FOW)preparationforSecondOneHundredWeeks (SOW):Biochemistry,Immunology,Microanatomy/Histology,Microbiology. Learningenvironment:EmotionalClimate,Student-FacultyInteraction.*
*ForStudent-FacultyInteraction,ZSOMhasperformedabovethe90th percentileforatleastthreeofthelastfiveyears.
Overthelast fiveyears,ZSOM,onaverage,performedbetweenthe75thand 89thpercentilesnationallyinthefollowingareas:
AdvancedClinicalExperience(ACE)(Neurology,Pediatrics):Mid-clerkship feedback.
ACE(Pediatrics,Psychiatry):Facultyteaching.
ACE(Pediatrics,Psychiatry):Physicalormentalstatusexam.
ACE(Psychiatry):Historytaking.
Facultyprofessionalism:Beingrespectfulofhousestaffandotherphysicians, havingrespectforotherspecialties,showingrespectfulinteractionwith students,providingdirectionandconstructivefeedback,respectingpatient confidentiality,beingrespectfulofpatients’dignityandautonomy.
FOWpreparationforSOW:Genetics,PathophysiologyofDisease,Pathology, Physiology,BehavioralScience,Neuroscience,IntroductiontoClinical Medicine/IntroductiontothePatient.
OverallqualityofACE:Psychiatry,Pediatrics.
PersonalandProfessionalDevelopment:“Mymedicalschoolhasdonea goodjoboffosteringandnurturingmydevelopmentasaperson.”
Attain
Distinctive a Identity
ProgramDirectorThemes
Residencyprogramdirectorsidentify strengthsofZSOMgraduates:
Vastmajorityhitthegroundrunning
Abilitytoworkclinically:historyand physicalexam,clinicalreasoning
Humanistic
Teachingskills
Professionalism
Workautonomously
Strongfundofknowledge
Presentationskills
Abilitytotakefeedback
AlumniThemes
ZSOMalumniidentifythegreateststrengthsofthecurriculumtoinclude:
Curriculumpreparedthemverywellforresidency
Trainedtobeindependent,self-directedlearners
Discoveredhowtheylearnbest
Wellpreparedtopresentpatientcases
Learnedtothinkcritically
Competentatprocedures
PerformingultrasoundsandinterpretingX-rays,CTscans,andimaging Humanities
Communicationskillstoestablishrapportquicklywithpatients
Medicalknowledge
Preparedtoworkonteams
Attain Distinctive a Identity
BrandRecognitionand Influence
Rankedamongthetopmedicalschoolsfor researchanddiversityinU.S.News&World Report. 77%increaseineditorialmentions.
Socialmediaengagementsurpassesindustry averages(7%vs.2%academicaverage). CurrentMS1class’stop5factorswhythey decidedtoattendZSOM:clinicaltrainingsites, curriculum,financialaid,location,and reputation.
GraduationData
*Fromtheclassesof2019–2024
Future Outlook and Goals
Together,wewilldevelopanew strategicplantohelpleadour missionandvisionandpropelus intothefuture.Thisforthcoming strategicplanwillserveasour guidingframework,delineating thetrajectoryforcontinued success,innovation,and excellenceinmedicaleducation, research,andhealthcare delivery.
–Dr.DavidL.Battinelli,Deborahand LawrenceSmithDean,ZuckerSchoolof MedicineatHofstra/Northwell
