(APN — Governor Kathy Hochul has announced that the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Medicine will become an independent institution, a move aimed at expanding educational programs and addressing healthcare inequities.

The transition, which separates the medical school from City College and places it under the CUNY Graduate Center, will enable the addition of master’s, doctoral, and residency programs while maintaining its holistic admissions process that does not require MCAT scores.

Founded in 1973 to recruit underrepresented students and serve underserved communities, the CUNY School of Medicine trains 20% of Black medical students in New York City. Nearly 70% of its students identify as Black or Latino, with 75% practicing locally after graduation, often in areas facing healthcare shortages.

The school’s efforts to improve healthcare access have been supported by recent investments, including a $19.3 million National Institutes of Health grant to establish a health equity center in Harlem and the South Bronx, and $4 million in dedicated state funding in the 2024-2025 budget.

The transition aims to strengthen the school’s ability to address disparities in health outcomes and increase the diversity of the healthcare workforce in New York City and beyond.