New York State Department of Labor Presents $200,000 Award to Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon today presented a $200,000 award to Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine as part of Governor Cuomo’s historic $175 million Workforce Development Initiative. (Photos)

The grant will assist Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in launching a new Master of Science Physician Assistant program to train individuals and provide them with the medical knowledge and skills to support physicians and other health care professionals in the Hudson Valley. Touro’s program places an emphasis on graduates entering the rural medicine field, which is a current need in the Hudson Valley.

“This Physician Assistant program is a wonderful example of our mission at the Department of Labor,” noted Commissioner Reardon. “That is to make sure we have a trained and ready workforce to meet the needs in our local communities. This program is going to be critical in filling a real void in the Hudson Valley while providing well-paying jobs to underemployed New Yorkers.”

Commissioner Reardon presented a ceremonial check to Dr. Jerry Cammarata, Chief Operating Officer and Dean of Student Affairs at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine. She also toured the campus and met with administrators, faculty and staff as part of today’s event.

Since opening their doors in 2007, the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine (TouroCOM) has been attracting students and training physicians who are committed to helping their patients and the medical profession. TouroCOM is equally committed to working to correct diversity disparities in our health care delivery system, so physicians can best meet patient needs. Their medical curriculum is one of the first of its kind to take full advantage of today’s medical and classroom technologies. Touro provides a flipped classroom that allows students to learn the material at home and for professors to track the students’ grasp of the material in class. Their graduates find residencies and placements at top hospitals across the country.

“We are fortunate to have a Governor in New York State who recognizes the importance of a prepared and trained workforce,” said Commissioner Reardon. “Because of his support of workforce development, and his forward-thinking vision, our New Yorkers are skilled and ready to meet the needs of a growing economy and everchanging workforce.”

Governor Cuomo's Workforce Development Initiative
Governor Cuomo announced a $175 million statewide investment for the Workforce Development Initiative in May 2019 to support strategic regional efforts that meet businesses' short-term workforce needs, improve regional talent pipelines, enhance the flexibility and adaptability of local workforce entities, expand apprenticeships and address the long-term needs of growing industries. These funds will also support efforts to improve the economic security of women, youth and other groups facing significant barriers to career advancement. The State's Regional Economic Development Councils play a critical role in recommending projects that align with their region's economic and workforce development plans. Since launching in May 2019, more than $13 million has been awarded through the Workforce Development Initiative, which will provide training to more than 9,200 New Yorkers. More information about the Workforce Development Initiative and the awards announced to date can be found at workforcedevelopment.ny.gov.

About NYS Department of Labor
The mission of the New York State Department of Labor is to transform New York’s world of work. We empower and protect New York’s workforce by administering unemployment Insurance to those out of a job and looking for work, ensuring minimum wage and other labor laws are being followed, and educating all workers about their rights. We build and support businesses by helping them recruit workers, manage their workforce, develop apprenticeship programs and find tax credits and hiring incentives. We help workers find the career they love at our 96 career centers across the state, which provide free services such as job placement, resume and cover letter writing assistance, interview preparation and referrals for on-the-job training for those looking to find a job, change careers or advance in a current career.