Sophie Davis

School of Biomedical Education

Thirty years ago, The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education of the City University of New York Medical School began as a unique program to increase access to medical and health training for inner-city youths, particularly under-represented minorities, from the City's communities and schools. A major part of its mission is to train primary care professionals who will practice in medically under-served communities of New York. The School has remained firmly committed to this original mission. There are more than 1,400 graduates of whom more than 80% from the past ten years have continued in primary care.

• Headquartered at the City College, The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education offers an innovative five-year program that integrates undergraduate education with the first two years of medical school.
• Students receive a B.S. from City College and then transfer to one of six medical schools in New York State (SUNY at Stony Brook, Downstate, and Syracuse, Albany, NYU and New York Medical College) for the third and fourth years of medical school training. Graduates must sign a pledge to serve for two years as a primary care physician in an under-served area after they complete their residencies.

Pre-College Program

The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education sponsors two pre-college programs to prepare students for entrance to Sophie Davis and high-level college programs.

The Bridge to Medicine Program

• The Bridge to Medicine is a one-year intensive academic program which prepares highly motivated minority and disadvantaged high school seniors for Sophie Davis and other selective colleges and premedical programs. Qualified students participate twenty-five hours each week for one year at York College in Queens. The rigorous college curriculum in English, calculus and chemistry, combined with special enrichments, helps students prepare for medicine and science careers. There is an application and admissions process.
• Eligibility requirements are: top 10% of graduating class, successful completion of high school chemistry and 11th year mathematics, strong motivation for medicine or science careers.
• Each year some Bridge students are admitted to Sophie Davis and many others eventually attend traditional medical schools.

For further information call Mr. Wesley Pitts at 718-262-2637 (or e-mail to bridge@med.cuny.edu) at York College in Queens.

The Gateway to Higher Education Program

• A comprehensive four-year high school program which prepares inner city minority students, beginning in ninth grade, for college and careers in medicine, science, engineering and technology. Students must be at grade level in mathematics and reading, must have an overall 80-85% average in junior high school, must show consistent attendance and must be motivated for careers in science, medicine, engineering or technology. The program currently exists in seven New York City high schools.
• Call Ms. Elisabeth Iler at 212-650-7710 (or e-mail to eiler@ccny.cuny.edu) for more information.

Read a more detailed profile of Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education

Sophie Davis' Office of Admissions