ABOUT US

HISTORY

An Enduring Partnership

(2008–2010)

The Foundation

On March 26, 2008, Hofstra University and Northwell Health entered into a formal agreement to establish the first allopathic medical school in Nassau County. Founding Dean Dr. Lawrence Smith led the initial team from their first office in the Axinn Library through the rigorous LCME self-study process. By June 2010, the school received Preliminary Accreditation and officially opened its initial building on the site of a former professional sports facility.

(2011–2014)

Inaugural Milestones

The school welcomed its inaugural class on August 1, 2011, marking a new era for medical education in the New York metropolitan area. This period saw the launch of the school’s literary journal and the first Scholarship Day. In 2013, the school received Provisional Accreditation and broke ground on a significant building addition to accommodate its rapid growth.

(2015–2016)

Accreditation and Expansion

2015 was a landmark year as the school opened its expansion building, bringing the total education site to 113,000 square feet. This year also celebrated the first Match Day and the first Commencement for the inaugural class. Following these successes, the school attained Full Accreditation. In 2016, the institution was renamed the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine to align with the health system’s new branding.

(2017–2019)

Philanthropy and Renaming

In August 2017, New York philanthropists Donald and Barbara Zucker made a transformative $61 million gift, with $50 million dedicated to permanent scholarship funds. In recognition of this generosity, the school was renamed the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. During this time, the school rose significantly in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and launched the Zucker Pipeline Program for college students.

(2020–Present)

A New Era of Leadership

Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, the school achieved a continued full eight-year accreditation term in 2020. In July 2022, Dr. David L. Battinelli assumed the role of Dean.

(2023-2024)

Curriculum Renewal

Recent milestones include the launch of a comprehensive Curriculum Renewal project in 2023 and the 2024 integration of advanced robotic surgery training into the undergraduate medical curriculum.

Learn More

From the Beginning

For a detailed look at the evolution of our campus and programs, please explore the following resources:

For archival inquiries or more information about the history of the Zucker School of Medicine, please contact the Dean’s Office.

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