NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx and Lehman College Unite to Boost the Number of Students Pursuing Careers in Healthcare

NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx and Lehman College Unite to Boost the Number of Students Pursuing Careers in Healthcare

Lehman College partnership creates pathway to healthcare careers through hands-on emergency department experience

Oct 07, 2025

Bronx, NY - NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx has joined forces with Lehman College in an effort to increase the number of students pursuing health-related careers through the Emergency Department (ED) Ambassador program. The initiative provides students with a comprehensive, months-long experience in the emergency department, where they provide direct support to patients while gaining critical insight into healthcare delivery. Nearly a dozen ED Ambassadors have participated in the program since its inception two years ago, with new students enrolling each semester. During their internship, ED Ambassadors engage in hands-on care activities that bridge the gap between medical staff and patients, experiencing firsthand the fast-paced reality of emergency medicine.

Under the guidance of care teams, ED Ambassadors gain practical experience in patient care-listening with compassion, helping patients feel comfortable with small but meaningful gestures, such as bringing blankets, water, or snacks, and alerting medical staff to any concerns. They make regular rounds throughout the emergency department, introducing themselves to patients and actively checking on their comfort levels. They also focus on improving the overall patient experience, including assistance with guest WiFi access and using the patient portal, MyChart.

"The central objective of the program is to increase the representation of our Bronx community in the field of medicine," explained Dr. Frederick Nagel, Chief of Emergency Services at North Central Bronx Hospital. "We are grateful for the opportunity to acknowledge the dedication and vigilance of this incredible team, emphasizing the program's impact on both student development and patient care quality."

"At North Central Bronx Hospital, we are not only dedicated to providing exceptional care but also to nurturing the next generation of healthcare leaders, particularly those from our vibrant Bronx community," added North Central Bronx Hospital Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Chinyere Anyaogu. "The ED Ambassador Program is a testament to this commitment, creating a pathway for young, aspiring healthcare professionals to gain invaluable experience while simultaneously enriching the patient experience in our emergency department. It's an investment in both our community's health and the future diversity of our medical field."

"By providing experiential learning early on, we hope to increase the number of students who go into health-related careers," explained Dr. Lyda Williams, Pre-Health Advisor and Coordinator at Lehman College. "The partnership between NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx and Lehman College provides our pre-health students with valuable insight into the fast-paced and dynamic emergency room environment."

"Working as an ED ambassador at NCB allowed me to be in a position to gain valuable insight into the day-to-day of the ED while also seeing the patient's perspective," recalled Aleena Mathew, now a first-year medical student at Lake Erie College of Medicine in Elmira, who participated in the ED Ambassadors program at North Central Bronx Hospital during her time at Lehman College. "In my role, I was able to make the patients stay more comfortable and helped ease their anxiety during this stressful time by listening or helping them navigate MyChart so that they could get more information about their care. It was also exciting to see the pediatric side of the ED and observe the variety of cases that bring people into the ED. The staff was very friendly, and I learned a lot from them. The fast-paced environment of the ED taught me to adapt quickly and stay alert. This experience reinforced my desire to become a physician and reminded me why I am passionate about serving others."

At the conclusion of their Ambassador experience, many students progress to one-on-one shadowing opportunities with ED providers. The hospital benefits significantly from the program through enhanced patient satisfaction and improved care quality. By having ED Ambassadors available to address non-clinical needs and provide personalized attention, medical staff can devote more time to urgent clinical care, improving efficiency and reducing wait-time frustrations.

The initiative addresses a critical need in healthcare diversity, as Black or African American students account for approximately 10 percent of U.S. medical school matriculants, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), which publishes annual reports on medical education demographics.

"Our goal is to improve care for our NCB patients while teaching Lehman students about how health care is organized and delivered," explained Dr. Nagel. "At the end of their time as an Ambassador, many go on to shadow ED providers one-on-one to gain more insight into medical decision-making and a career in health care."

Lehman College pre-health students who want to learn more should contact Pre-Health Coordinator Dr. Lyda Williams at [email protected] to apply through the Office of Pre-Health Programs at Lehman College.

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Contact: John Doyle, 718-918-4055, 917-553-4642, [email protected]

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/JacobiNYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region's only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi's Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi.

About NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central BronxNYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx is a member facility of the NYC Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women's and children's services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx Hospital is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx.

About NYC Health + HospitalsNYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan-all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.