News & Events

President of Guatemala Visited NYMC To Explore Possible Collaborations

February 13, 2018

Inspired by the NYMC’s innovation around biotechnology and state-of-the-art medical equipment, President Morales plans to take key learning points back to people of Guatemala.

Valhalla, N.Y. – February 13, 2018 - On Friday, February 9, President Jimmy Morales of Guatemala visited the campus of New York Medical College (NYMC) to tour the school’s biotechnology incubator, the medical simulation facility and the new dental school, Touro College of Dental Medicine. As part of the visit, President Morales discussed a future collaboration between Guatemala and NYMC and praised the school’s incubator program, BioInc@NYMC, as a model for helping startups and inventors break into the biotechnology industry.

President Morales was joined by senior advisors including Minister of Foreign Affairs- Sandra Jovel Polanco, Minister of Defense- Luis Miguel Romero, Minister of Interior - Enrique Antonio Degenhart Asturias, Minister of Economy- Acisclo Valladares Urruela, Minister of Strategic Intelligence - Mario Duarte, Secretary of Political Affairs - Andres Castro, and Guatemala’s Ambassador to the U.S. - Manuel Espina.

After the tour, President Morales said, “New York Medical College’s use of health care simulators could show Guatemala how to provide better care of children and more effective first aid.” He also spoke about the possibility of integrating the technology and services available at NYMC to improve medical care in Guatemala.  

“We were honored to host President Morales and see multiple opportunities for collaboration with Guatemala,” said  Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer of NYMC. “This collaboration could include supporting the growing biotechnology market in Latin America, developing the clinical trial sector in Guatemala, or helping to fight the burden of dental disease.”

“Global collaboration—coming together to share ideas across our distinct milieus—makes us all better healthcare providers,” said Gladys Ayala, M.D., M.P.H., interim vice dean of the NYMC School of Medicine. “We have an exciting opportunity to learn from and teach one another across the globe.”

President Morales and NYMC will continue a conversation around how they can best work together in the future.

View the Visit by the President of Guatamala's photo album; video available upon request. 

New York Medical College

Founded in 1860, NYMC is one of the oldest and largest health sciences colleges in the country with more than 1,400 students, 1,300 residents and clinical fellows, nearly 3,000 faculty members, and 19,000 living alumni. The College, which joined the Touro College and University System in 2011, is located in Westchester County, New York, and offers degrees from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, the School of Health Sciences and Practice, a School of Dental Medicine and a School of Nursing. NYMC provides a wide variety of clinical training opportunities for students, residents, and practitioners.