October 09, 2007
Queens, N.Y. -
New York City Council Member John Liu (20th Council
District-Queens) recently visited St. John’s Dr. Andrew J.
Bartilucci Center and helped to observe National Physician
Assistant Week and American Pharmacists Month by praising
the University for its rich tradition in educating physician
assistants, pharmacists and other members of the allied health
professions.
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Gallery
Council Member Liu was joined by the Dean of the College of
Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Dr. Robert Mangione; Mr.
Niels Schmidt, Executive Director for Allied Health Professions
Programs; and Assistant Vice President for Government Relations,
Brian Browne.
St. John’s officials gave Council Member Liu a guided toured of
the facility, which culminated with a classroom visit to extend
greetings to faculty and students. He praised the University
for its ongoing commitment to excellence in education and to
providing opportunities and meaningful career paths to the growing
and diverse population of Queens County, the second-most ethnically
diverse county in the entire United States.
Dean Mangione also had words of praise during the visit: “We are
honored to have Council Member Liu visit the Bartilucci Center and
witness the exciting learning that is taking place here. Because so
many of our students are from the neighborhood and will continue to
serve this same community upon completion of their studies, it is
vital that they be recognized, engaged and challenged by our local
elected officials.”
The Dr. Andrew J. Bartilucci Center is situated in the 20th
Council District represented by New York City Council Member John
Liu, the first and currently only Asian-Pacific American elected to
citywide office in New York.
Council Member Liu remarked: “The work of pharmacists, physician
assistants and members of the allied health professions is critical
to every neighborhood but it is most important in a community,
county and country as diverse as ours.” He added: “St. John’s
has a great tradition of providing educational excellence as well
as real opportunities for rewarding careers in the allied health
professions. I applaud their commitment to excellence, salute their
student diversity and am proud to have the Bartilucci Center as a
part of the 20th Council District.”
“Council Member Liu’s visit is a wonderful tribute to the
importance of the allied health professions and his encouraging
words to our students are appreciated,” added Schmidt.
“It is vital for our local elected officials to not only know
where we are in the community but to understand and witness the
important contributions that the University and our students make
in service to the community-at-large,” said Browne.
In early March, St. John’s University acquired the St. Vincent’s
Catholic Medical Centers School of Allied Health Professions and
re-named and re-dedicated the 40,000 square foot facility located
at 175-05 Horace Harding Expressway in Fresh Meadows over the
summer. The Bartilucci Center located just 1.5 miles from the
Queens Campus is now part of the College of Pharmacy and Allied
Health Professions and continues to offer the Saint Vincent’s
certificate, degree and non-degree academic programs that have been
accredited and affiliated with St. John's since 1975.