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NYMC and NYC Health + Hospitals Metropolitan Honor Doctor, War Hero Mathew Francis Olstein, M.D.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan and NYMC share a long, rich tradition of training generations of doctors to meet the needs of the community.

Valhalla, N.Y., November 7, 2016 – New York Medical College (NYMC) and NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan honored the life of physician and war hero Mathew F. Olstein, M.D., today. Dr. Olstein’s legacy as a medical resident and Senior House Physician at Metropolitan Hospital in 1916-17, and service to the U.S. Army in WWI, was commemorated at a dedication ceremony and reception presented by leaders from the medical school and hospital. 

After experiencing an anti-Semitic attack as an intern at Kings County Hospital, in which he was bound and gagged by other interns, put on a train at Grand Central Station, and warned that if he ever returned to Kings County Hospital he would be thrown into the East River, Dr. Olstein accepted an internship at Metropolitan Hospital. Olstein rose at Metropolitan to become Senior House Physician. He was drafted when the U.S. entered WWI in 1917 and served as First Lieutenant in the Medical Section of the Officer's Reserve Corps of the Army, serving in France until his death in October, 1918 at the early age of 24. 

“Dr. Olstein’s life reminds us of the individual values of service to others, patriotism and personal integrity,” said Edward C. Halperin, M.D., M.A., chancellor and chief executive officer of NYMC. “New York Medical College has always modeled itself as a leader in inclusive, progressive education, and I’m proud to honor Dr. Olstein’s legacy in medicine, and in service to our nation. His experiences remind us of the important roles Metropolitan Hospital and New York Medical College have played in providing a pathway to medical education to those too often denied education by others - a role we proudly continue today.” 

“NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan and New York Medical College share a long, rich tradition of training generations of doctors to meet the needs of a culturally diverse and vibrant community,” said Alina Moran, Chief Executive Officer at Metropolitan. “Together, our two institutions have stood in opposition to prevailing prejudices in health sciences education, admitting women and African Americans from our earliest days. We are proud to honor that legacy today and rededicate ourselves to being a beacon of equality for our patients and providers.” 

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is the community hospital of choice for residents of East Harlem, northern Manhattan and neighboring communities. Metropolitan provides culturally-sensitive primary and specialized medical care to patients of all ages regardless of national origin, immigration status, or ability to pay. Since its founding in 1875, Metropolitan has been affiliated with New York Medical College, representing the oldest partnership between a hospital and a private medical school in the United States. Metropolitan is a member of the NYC Health + Hospitals public health care system. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/metropolitan. 

About 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 16,000 living alumni. The College, which joined the Touro College and University System in 2011, is located in Westchester County, New York, and offers advanced degrees from the School of Medicine, the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences, and the School of Health Sciences and Practice. With a network of affiliated hospitals that includes large urban medical centers, small suburban clinics and high-tech regional tertiary care facilities, NYMC provides a wide variety of clinical training opportunities throughout the tri-state region for medical students, residents, and other health providers.