Delegation of Russian physicians to tour SUNY Upstate April 17

Nine Russian medical doctors and a psychologist will get a close-up look at American medicine, medical education and research during a visit to SUNY Upstate Medical University Wednesday, April 17.

During the visit the delegation will learn firsthand about treatments for diabetes, asthma, observe pediatric care, examine various research projects under way at the Institute for Human Performance and meet with students. They also will attend a luncheon hosted by Gregory L. Eastwood, M.D., president of SUNY Upstate Medical University.

The schedule for their visit is as follows:

• 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Visit Joslin Diabetes Center at University Health Care Center (UHCC), 90 Presidential Plaza, Syracuse.
• 11:30 to 12:15 a.m. Visit asthma/allergy clinic at UHCC.
• 12:45 to 2 p.m. Attend lunch with Eastwood; Kenneth Barker, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs and research; Susan Bastable, Ed.D., associate professor in the College of Nursing; and Max Mozell, Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Lunch will be held in the Ninth Floor Board Room of Weiskotten Hall, 766 Irving Ave.
• 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Visit pediatric floors at University Hospital
• 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Visit with researchers and tour Institute for Human Performance.

SUNY Upstate students from Russia and the Ukraine will serve as interpreters.

The visit by the Russian delegation to SUNY Upstate further underscores the state university's desire to strengthen its academic and cultural ties with Russia. SUNY recently established a University Center on Russia and the United States located in Albany, N.Y., to further promote education exchanges, research and other initiatives between SUNY and Russian institutions of higher learning. Barker was a visiting scientist at the Institute for Molecular Biology in Moscow in 1973.

The SUNY Upstate tour is coordinated through Broome Community College's Community Connections Program, which, in past years, has hosted visits to the Southern Tier by Russian business leaders. The program promotes the sharing of business and professional ideas and offers opportunities to learn more about Russian and American culture. Bastable assisted in the coordination of the tour.