Ribbon Cutting Celebrating Completion of new Far Rockaway Clinical Learning Center

Far Rockaway, New York, September 15, 2023 — Episcopal Health Services, in partnership with Ross University School of Medicine, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 14 to mark the completion of a new Clinical Learning Center (CLC). The CLC, located at 19-09 Plainview Avenue on the St. John’s Episcopal Hospital Campus, will provide an innovative learning environment, including the latest teaching technologies and much-needed meeting space for medical students who train at the hospital.

The CLC features state-of-the-art simulation labs to support medical training. Each Sim Lab is equipped with standard furniture and equipment found within a hospital facility, from computer technology to diagnostic tools. There are sophisticated mannequins controlled by an operator to emulate situations our medical students will face in the real world. There is also a skills lab where students can learn the basics and hone their skills and a Scrub Sim area to teach good practices for the OR.

In addition, to being a teaching facility, the Clinical Learning Center will be home to the St. John’s Ambulatory Clinic, currently located on the 5th floor of St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, a Medical Library, and the organization’s Information Technology Department.

“This building is extremely important to EHS.” said the CEO of Episcopal Health Services, Jerry Walsh. “We are a growing organization and expanding not only in terms of care but by educating tomorrow’s medical leaders. When looking at our strategic priorities, we look at how we can enhance the experience of patients, our students, and our team members. This building reflects this priority!”

In attendance at the ceremony was Jerry Walsh, CEO of Episcopal Health Services; Renee Hastick Motes, VP & Chief External Affairs Officer & President of St. John’s ICARE Foundation; Dr. Donald T. Morrish, EVP & Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Heidi Chumley, University Dean at Ross University School of Medicine; Pedro L. Delgado, MD, the Dean of the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC); Christopher Callahan, Head of Healthcare for M&T Bank; Queens Borough President, Donovan Richards Jr.

“Anytime I can wake up to come to an event like this where we are improving healthcare opportunities and outcomes, creating jobs, and eliminating disparities for our families is a good one, and there’s no better place to do that than right here in the Peninsula.” says Donovan Richards, Queens Borough President. “Congratulations, Jerry, you had a vision, and vision is the act of seeing what is invisible to others.”

“At Ross Med, we exist because there are inequities in access to quality medical education in healthcare. Our role is to expand access to quality medical education and support our students through graduation and residency.” said Heidi Chumley. “We believe that fostering a diverse position pipeline begins in prospective students’ home communities. We want our students to return to their communities and to the very people who inspired them to be physicians in the first place.”