Binghamton Clinical Campus
Established as a branch campus of the SUNY Upstate Norton College of Medicine in 1976, the Binghamton Clinical Campus continues to host approximately 40 medical students each year for clinical clerkships and electives.
The Binghamton campus fosters close working relationships with physicians in community-based (not Upstate-owned) clinical facilities, including the UHS Healthcare System, Guthrie Lourdes, and private practices. Students at both the Binghamton and Syracuse campuses complete the same clinical clerkships: Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Neurology, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Surgery.
A unique feature of the Binghamton Clinical Campus is the longitudinal Family Medicine clerkship, through which students are assigned to one physician office, where they spend a half-day each week for the duration of the clerkship year. The experience is often a highlight of Binghamton students' experience, as it allows for stronger mentoring relationships with preceptors and continuity of care with patients. In contrast, students in Syracuse complete the Family Medicine clerkship in a 5-week block.
Meet some of the outstanding students and faculty at the Binghamton Clinical Campus through the With Distinction blog.
Binghamton Clinical Campus Location
Benefits to completing your clerkship year in Binghamton
Front-line opportunities. Binghamton Clinical Campus students are frequently first assist in surgeries, delivering babies and more. Binghamton students also have excellent opportunities to establish personal relationships with the attending physicians who will write those critical letters of recommendation for residency applications.
Continuity of Care in Family Medicine. The concept of continuity of care is unparalleled at the clinical campus because of the family medicine rotation. For your entire clerkship year you will be placed with an attending physician in their office seeing their (and eventually your) patients. Many program directors will be highly impressed with this unique yet innovative idea to prepare medical students for certain aspects of their residency. Most students find they really enjoy the family medicine rotation setup and welcome that half day per week to focus on continuity of care.
Front-Row Seat for Pathology. The intimate nature of your Clinical Campus experiences means you are often first in line for “weird” diagnoses. In Binghamton YOU are the one sifting through data and making a diagnosis before sending the patient to the tertiary care center. Your Binghamton Clinical Campus experiences will leave you well prepared for your shelf and USMLE Step 2 exams, as well as residency.
Clinical Clerkship Sites
- UHS Wilson Memorial Hospital, a teaching hospital system with over 60 locations, is the regional referral center for cardiac surgery, neurosurgery, neonatal intensive care, trauma care, and physical rehabilitation. The newly-constructed Main Tower at UHS Wilson Medical Center boasts a state-of-the-art Emergency and Level II Trauma Center, 20 single-occupancy rooms with bathrooms and a new MRI suite.
- UHS Binghamton General Hospital includes a center for reconstructive surgery, a renal dialysis unit, a sleep disorders unit, psychiatric and substance abuse services.
- UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich, NY is a 138 bed community hospital where students may choose to complete surgery and/or Ob/Gyn clerkships.
- Guthrie Lourdes Hospital, a 197-bed acute care facility, offers emergency care, a surgery center, breast care center, birthing center, and regional cancer center.
Selection of Students for the Binghamton Campus
All College of Medicine students complete their foundational science coursework at SUNY Upstate Medical University Syracuse campus. Approximately one-quarter of the entering class spend their clerkship - and possibly final - year at the Binghamton Clinical Campus. Soon after the admissions interview, applicants are asked to indicate a campus preference for Binghamton, Syracuse, or no preference. The admissions committee reviews applications, blind to the campus preference. Upon acceptance to the College of Medicine, the applicant's preference will be taken into account and a campus assigned.
For information about admissions to the College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate please visit the Admissions website.
Binghamton Campus Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is the curriculum at the Binghamton Clinical Campus different from that of the Syracuse Campus?
A: No. Clinical clerkships use the same syllabus and have the same educational objectives at both campuses.
Q: Is one campus better than the other for certain specialties?
A: No. Because both campuses have the same curriculum and students complete the same clerkships, neither is better than the other in terms of preparation for specific specialties.
Q: So what ARE the main differences between the campuses?
A: The biggest difference is the structure of the Family Medicine (FM) clerkship. In Syracuse, FM is a 5-week block clerkship, while in Binghamton FM is longitudinal, meaning students spend a half day each week throughout the academic year at their assigned clinical site. This longitudinal clerkship is often a favorite part of Binghamton Clinical Campus students’ experiences, as it allows for deeper relationships with attendings and continuity of care with patients.
Q: Where will I complete my clerkship rotations?
A: Our clinical affiliates include the UHS Hospital System, Guthrie Lourdes Hospital, Endwell Family Physicians, and a handful of other local practices.
- UHS Wilson Medical Center, a 280-bed facility, is designated a 24-hour level-2 adult trauma, stroke and chest pain center and is a regional referral center for a multitude of high-level medical and surgical services. UHS Binghamton General Hospital (BGH) holds 220 beds and provides general medical clinic services as well as 24-hour emergency care. BGH houses orthopedic surgery, chemical dependency treatment service, a behavioral health program, and gastroenterology. Students spend the bulk of their clerkship time at UHS facilities.
- Guthrie Lourdes Hospital is an approximately 200-bed facility and is a Regional Cancer Center. Students rotate at Lourdes for the Emergency Medicine clerkship and some spend time in Guthrie Lourdes facilities for Surgery and Family Medicine clerkships.
- Many of our Family Medicine preceptors are employed by Endwell Family Physicians, a highly regarded, locally-owned practice.
Q: What is the learning experience like in Binghamton?
A: Binghamton Clinical Campus students have ample opportunity for front-row-seats to procedures and treatment. Fewer students and residents means plenty of active learning time and our students have reported being first-assist in surgery, delivering babies, operating a bone saw and more.
Q: Is the Binghamton campus better for students interested in Rural Medicine?
A: While Binghamton is smaller than Syracuse, it is still a city. Both campuses provide opportunities for learning experiences in rural settings for those who are interested in Rural Medicine.
Q: Where would I live as a Binghamton Clinical Campus student?
A: The Clinical Campus staff work hard to provide updated apartment information to each year’s class. There is no University-run housing, but students are able to find affordable options in the Triple-Cities area (Binghamton-Endicott-Johnson City).
Q: What happens after the clerkship year?
A: Once the clerkship year is complete, students may choose to stay in the Binghamton area to complete electives in Binghamton or return to Syracuse. Those who choose to stay in Binghamton for at least 12 elective credits may be eligible for up to 8-weeks of complimentary housing in Geneva Tower to complete electives at the main campus.