Jul 15, 2015 01:19 PM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

City College of the City University of New York announced Tuesday that it is collaborating with Bronx-based St. Barnabas Hospital to establish a medical school.

The Harlem-based CUNY School of Medicine at City College, whose first class is scheduled to begin fall 2016, will be an expansion of City College's Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. City College's existing program "provides an undergraduate education and the first two years of medical school, but the new program will be a full medical program," Inside Higher Ed reported.

According to City College President Lisa Coico, the newly established school was created to build on the strong record of achievement of the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.

"The need for more physicians in many communities in our city, particularly in the communities surrounding City College, remains dire," Coico said in a statement. "By establishing this resource, City College is both helping to address this critical need and fulfilling a vital community service."

Maurizo Trevisan, provost of City College, believes the Sophie Davis School is the perfect foundation for the new medical school.

"The new medical school will continue the unique mission by providing young students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to pursue a medical career that focuses on providing health care to the underserved communities of New York State," Trevisan added.

Scott Cooper, president and CEO of SBH Health System, is excited about the partnership with City College.

"Like City College, we have a congruent mission to provide quality care to underserved communities," he said in a statement. "With our combined resources and commitment, those facing health disparities will have more than good reason to hope."

The new medical school will focus on recruiting underrepresented people of color into medicine, increasing medical care in historically underserved communities, and boosting the number of primary care physicians.

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