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Albany Medical College Welcomes Incoming Freshmen

ALBANY, N.Y., August 20, 2007 - One-hundred fifty first-year students arrived at Albany Medical College today (Aug. 20) to begin their educational pursuit in medicine. A highlight of the students' first day was the 'White Coat Ceremony,' during which the aspiring physicians were helped into their traditional white coats by second-year students and then recited the Hippocratic Oath. 

Drawn from more than 8,000 applicants, the new medical students represent 28 states, with 55 students hailing from New York. This year's class ranges in age from 20 to 34 years old, with women accounting for 50 percent of the students.

The new medical students hold degrees from 74 undergraduate institutions including Brown, Princeton and Yale Universities. The highest number--19--graduated from the institution's joint degree program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, followed by 15 from Union College and 14 from Siena College. Thirty-two students hold Master's degrees and three hold doctoral degrees.

Among the class is a philosopher, an electrical engineer and a studio artist. According to Joanne Nanos, director of admissions at Albany Medical College, just under half of the incoming students--73--hold the traditional degree in biology. "It is not uncommon for students to have diverse educational backgrounds. In fact, the Medical College welcomes this diversity because it enriches the educational experience of each student as they pursue their medical degree."

Albany Medical College, founded in 1839 as one of the nation's first private medical schools, trains medical students and provides continuing medical education programs for area physicians. In addition to medical degrees, the College also offers Master's, doctoral and postdoctoral programs in the basic sciences as well as Master's programs for nurse anesthetists, physician assistants and bioethicists.

Albany Medical Center is northeastern New York's only academic health sciences center. In addition to the College, it consists of one of New York's largest teaching hospitals, Albany Medical Center Hospital; and one of the Capital Region's most active fundraising organizations, the Albany Medical Center Foundation, Inc.