Students, key researcher, helipad and robots mark visit by SUNY chancellor
SUNY Chancellor John B. King’s whirlwind tour of all SUNY campuses brought him to Upstate Medical University Friday. His visit to Upstate was his 46th campus visit, and his schedule was chockfull.
Arriving after his visit to nearby SUNY Oswego earlier in the day, King met with administrators, students, toured the busy hospital emergency room and checked out the hospital’s helipad, so vital to ensuring life-saving transports.
Joe Mauro, an MD, PhD candidate, was one of the students who met with the chancellor for a wide-ranging discussion. Among the issues raised was how Upstate could strengthen its outreach and community involvement. Mauro said he appreciated and admired the chancellor’s receptiveness from hearing from students.
Student Allysa Kemraj also was impressed with the chancellor’s visit.
“Chancellor King not only listened to our perspectives and experiences at SUNY Upstate, but also shared his own story of tribulations and achievements,” noted Kemraj, a PhD candidate in Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and vice president of College of Graduate Studies, Upstate Student Government. “I am excited to see how Chancellor King will foster research, community outreach, and education not only at Upstate, but SUNY as a whole as well.”
The chancellor also was introduced to one of the hospital’s TUG robots that are crisscrossing the hospital transporting supplies and other materials so clinical staff can remain at the bedside providing patient care.
So far in New York, Upstate is in good company as one of the few facilities that has deployed TUG robots, including Weill Cornell and New York University, Albany Medical Center and Vassar Brothers Medical Center.
Chancellor King also took part in a brief reception for SUNY Distinguished Professor Steven Faraone, PhD., who was recently ranked as the 80 best scientist in the word, according to Research.com
Faraone, is best known for leading an international effort that discovered the first genes for ADHD and for research that helped shape diagnostic criteria for ADHD In adults.
“Dr. Steven Faraone's exemplary work is exactly what we want the world to think of when they think of SUNY: world-class research and scholarship that centers discovery, knowledge, and innovation at its core,” King said.
Of the chancellor’s visit, Upstate President Dr. Mantosh Dewan said: “We are delighted that Chancellor King visited Upstate and greatly appreciated his open, thoughtful style during the time he spent with our students, faculty and staff. I think the visit highlighted the energy, enthusiasm and excellence with which Upstate uniquely serves the educational and clinical needs of this region as a SUNY regional academic medical center.”
Caption: SUNY Chancellor John B. King, center, and Upstate Medical University President Dr. Mantosh Dewan, right, honor SUNY Distinguished Professor Dr Stephen Faraone on being named the 80th best scientist in the world.