Book provides techniques for improving student outcomes and physician capability through innovative curriculum that replaces traditional teaching methods
NEW HYDE PARK, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Roughly 20 years ago a new medical school turned medical education upside down by reimagining how future physicians are trained. Today, that school, the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, has become a model for other schools around the globe. Its founding physician leaders are now sharing how they closed the gap between advanced medical science and outdated educational methods in a new book, “Revolutionizing Medical Education: Proven Blueprint to Transform Curricula and Prepare Future-Ready Physicians.”
The book, published by Wiley, chronicles authors David Battinelli, MD, the Deborah and Lawrence Smith Dean of the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health’s physician-in-chief, and Lawrence G. Smith, MD, MACP, founding dean emeritus’ transformative approach to medical education — one that has attracted visiting faculty and administrators from over 50 medical schools worldwide — while challenging educators, clinicians and thought leaders to fundamentally rethink how we prepare tomorrow’s physicians.
“Traditional medical education often created a divide between learning science and caring for patients,” said Dr. Battinelli. “Our approach was built on the belief that students learn medicine best by doing medicine connecting with patients early, collaborating with peers, and demonstrating competency through authentic assessments that mirror real clinical practice.”
Since its founding by Hofstra University and Northwell Health in 2008, the Zucker School of Medicine has pioneered an innovative curriculum that aligns with the future demands of the medical profession: more connected to patients, more science-based, more humanistic, and more aware of the varied needs of society. The reimagined medical education is student-centered, rather than faculty-centered, where future doctors connect with patients from day one through required accelerated emergency medical technician training qualifying them to assist in responding to emergency calls. Grades are eliminated, as are class rankings, with traditional multiple-choice exams replaced with essay assessments and high-fidelity simulations with a focus on developing lifelong learners, the only way a physician can keep pace with medical progress.
Now, Drs. Battinelli and Smith share the complete guide for this revolutionary approach, offering medical educators practical strategies to implement evidence-based methods that prepare physicians to diagnose and heal with both scientific expertise and human compassion.
“We challenged nearly every traditional assumption about how to educate physicians,” said Dr. Smith. “The result is a model that enhances student engagement, wellbeing and learning outcomes while producing graduates who are better prepared for the complexities of modern health care. This book shares what we’ve learned so other institutions can adapt these strategies to their own contexts.”
“Revolutionizing Medical Education” details the bold decisions that shaped the Zucker School of Medicine’s curriculum, including replacing rote memorization with authentic assessments, and providing students with hundreds of hours of clinical practice before graduation. Designed for medical educators, administrators, faculty members, and health care leaders committed to educational reform, the book presents both theoretical foundations and practical implementation strategies — offering detailed insights into curriculum design, assessment methods, faculty development, and institutional change management, all grounded in the real-world experience of building and sustaining an innovative medical school.
The Zucker School of Medicine, which welcomed its first class in 2011, was established equally by Hofstra University and Northwell Health, the largest non-profit health system in the Northeast United States and New York’s largest health care provider. The medical school’s innovative approach has been recognized nationally and has influenced medical education reform across the country.
“Drs. Battinelli and Smith have built something truly extraordinary at the Zucker School of Medicine, a model that doesn’t just educate physicians, but transforms how we think about medical training itself,” said John D’Angelo, MD, president and CEO of Northwell Health. “This book captures the innovation and bold thinking that defines Northwell’s commitment to shaping the future of health care. The insights shared in this book have the power to reshape medical education across the country and ultimately improve the health of the communities we serve.”
“The faculty at the Zucker School of Medicine are focused on ensuring their students not only become capable physicians, but also learn to be empathetic communicators,” said Susan Poser, J.D., PhD., president of Hofstra University. “This is one of the reasons the Zucker School of Medicine is thriving and in the top 10 percent of medical schools nationally in quality of medical education.”
Revolutionizing Medical Education is available in hardcover, paperback and digital formats through major booksellers and here.
About the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Established in 2008, the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell was founded by two equal partners: Hofstra University and Northwell Health. The School of Medicine is built upon the strong clinical and graduate medical education programs of Northwell, as well as the robust research and academic programs of both Hofstra and Northwell’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. For eleven consecutive years, the Zucker School of Medicine has been recognized among the top medical schools nationwide for medical research (2016-2026) by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools. The institution comprises more than 4,000 faculty members across 25 academic departments and enrolls a diverse community of over 400 students. For more information, visit medicine.hofstra.edu.
About Northwell Health
Northwell is the largest not-for-profit health system in the Northeast, serving residents of New York and Connecticut with 28 hospitals, more than 1,000 outpatient facilities, 22,000 nurses and over 20,000 physicians. Northwell cares for more than three million people annually in the New York metro area, including Long Island, the Hudson Valley, western Connecticut and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from our communities. Northwell is New York State’s largest private employer with over 106,000 employees – including members of Northwell Health Physician Partners and Nuvance Health Medical Practices – who are working to change health care for the better. Northwell, named a TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025, is making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Northwell is training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us @NorthwellHealth on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Contacts
Laura Lane
516-376-2108
Laura.lane@hofstra.edu
