New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
Encyclopedia
__notoc__
The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, located at East 14th Street
and Second Avenue
in lower Manhattan
, New York City, is one of the most prominent otolaryngology and ophthalmology hospitals in the world, providing primary inpatient and outpatient care in those specialties. It is affiliated with the New York Medical College
School of Medicine, and is a member of Continuum Health Partners
. Yearly, several hundred medical students compete for entrance into this institution for training but only seven each year are accepted into the ophthalmology training program and four into the otolaryngology program.
As of 2009, the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary is working in partnership with "Project Chernobyl", to diagnose and treat thyroid cancer
associated with radiation exposure from the Chernobyl disaster
, which can take decades to develop. Thyroid cancer is a risk among some 200,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union who now live the New York area.
, and, in London, at the London Eye Infirmary. When they returned to New York in 1818, they made the first survey of eye diseases in the city, and, in response to the lack of eye care provided to the poor except in dire circumstances, opened the New York Eye Infirmary at 45 Chatham Street (which is now 83 Park Row), across from City Hall
and near the Five Points
neighborhood.
Gaining the support of prominent New Yorkers such as William Few
– who became the first President of the Infirmary Board, from 1821 to 1828, Philip Hone
, Benjamin Strong and David Hosack
– the founder of Bellevue Hospital, money was raised for the new charitable venture, rules and regulations drawn up, and a Board of Directors formed on April 21, 1821. The hospital was incorporated by the New York State Legislature on March 22, 1822.
The new Infirmary was a success, treating 436 patients in its first seven months. It soon outgrew its original quarters, and moved, first to Murray Street
across from Columbia College, then, with the help of an annual appropriation from the Legislature, to 139 Duane Street in a building leased from New York Hospital
. This location was sufficient for several years, but the growing institution was forced to move numerous times, finally arriving at Second Avenue and 13th Street on April 25, 1856, in a building which is still in use. In 1890, additional floors were added, and in 1893 new pavilions were built, including the Schermerhorn Pavilion, designed by Stanford White
, one of only structures by White still extant in New York City. In January 1968, the North Building was added to be the Infirmary's primary facility, and the original building was renovated for use as offices, lecture halls, clinics, library and other support services.
The Eye Infirmary had added a department for otology
– problems of the ear
– in 1824, and its annual reports referred to the hospital as the "Eye and Ear Infirmary" as early as 1840, but it was not until 1864 that the institution's name was officially changed to the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary by act of the state legislature.
, for the scenes in which Mafia Don Vito Corleone is in the hospital after being shot, and his son, Michael Corleone, attempts to protect him against gunman who are trying to kill him.
The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, located at East 14th Street
14th Street (Manhattan)
14th Street is a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan. The street rivals the size of some of the well-known avenues of the city and is an important business location....
and Second Avenue
Second Avenue (Manhattan)
Second Avenue is an avenue on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan extending from Houston Street at its south end to the Harlem River Drive at 128th Street at its north end. A one-way street, vehicular traffic runs only downtown. A bicycle lane in the left hand portion from 55th...
in lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
, New York City, is one of the most prominent otolaryngology and ophthalmology hospitals in the world, providing primary inpatient and outpatient care in those specialties. It is affiliated with the New York Medical College
New York Medical College
New York Medical College, aka New York Med or NYMC, is a private graduate health sciences university based in Westchester County, New York, a suburb of New York City and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area...
School of Medicine, and is a member of Continuum Health Partners
Continuum Health Partners
Continuum Health Partners is a hospital network in New York City.It consists of:*Beth Israel Medical Center*St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center*New York Eye and Ear InfirmaryIt was formed initially in 1997 by Beth Israel and St. Luke's-Roosevelt...
. Yearly, several hundred medical students compete for entrance into this institution for training but only seven each year are accepted into the ophthalmology training program and four into the otolaryngology program.
As of 2009, the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary is working in partnership with "Project Chernobyl", to diagnose and treat thyroid cancer
Thyroid cancer
Thyroid neoplasm is a neoplasm or tumor of the thyroid. It can be a benign tumor such as thyroid adenoma, or it can be a malignant neoplasm , such as papillary, follicular, medullary or anaplastic thyroid cancer. Most patients are 25 to 65 years of age when first diagnosed; women are more affected...
associated with radiation exposure from the Chernobyl disaster
Chernobyl disaster
The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine , which was under the direct jurisdiction of the central authorities in Moscow...
, which can take decades to develop. Thyroid cancer is a risk among some 200,000 immigrants from the former Soviet Union who now live the New York area.
History
The hospital was founded on August 1, 1820 by Edward Delafield and John Kearney Rodgers, both surgeons who were graduates of the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons who did their clinical training at New York HospitalNew York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
, and, in London, at the London Eye Infirmary. When they returned to New York in 1818, they made the first survey of eye diseases in the city, and, in response to the lack of eye care provided to the poor except in dire circumstances, opened the New York Eye Infirmary at 45 Chatham Street (which is now 83 Park Row), across from City Hall
New York City Hall
New York City Hall is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. The building is the oldest City Hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as...
and near the Five Points
Five Points, Manhattan
Five Points was a neighborhood in central lower Manhattan in New York City. The neighborhood was generally defined as being bound by Centre Street in the west, The Bowery in the east, Canal Street in the north and Park Row in the south...
neighborhood.
Gaining the support of prominent New Yorkers such as William Few
William Few
William Few, Jr. was an American politician and a farmer, and a businessman and a Founding Father of the United States. William represented the U.S. state of Georgia at the Constitutional Convention....
– who became the first President of the Infirmary Board, from 1821 to 1828, Philip Hone
Philip Hone
Philip Hone was Mayor of New York from 1826 to 1827. He was most notable for a detailed diary he kept from 1828 until the time of his death in 1851. His recorded diary is said to be the most extensive and detailed of his time in 19th century America.Son of a German immigrant carpenter, Hone became...
, Benjamin Strong and David Hosack
David Hosack
Dr. David Hosack , a noted physician, botanist, and educator, is perhaps most widely known as the doctor who attended to Alexander Hamilton after Hamilton's deadly duel with Aaron Burr. Born in New York City to parents Alexander and Jane Hosack, David was the first of their seven children...
– the founder of Bellevue Hospital, money was raised for the new charitable venture, rules and regulations drawn up, and a Board of Directors formed on April 21, 1821. The hospital was incorporated by the New York State Legislature on March 22, 1822.
The new Infirmary was a success, treating 436 patients in its first seven months. It soon outgrew its original quarters, and moved, first to Murray Street
Murray Street
Murray Street may refer to:* Murray Street album by Sonic Youth, a band from New York City* Murray Street, Perth, Western Australia...
across from Columbia College, then, with the help of an annual appropriation from the Legislature, to 139 Duane Street in a building leased from New York Hospital
New York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
. This location was sufficient for several years, but the growing institution was forced to move numerous times, finally arriving at Second Avenue and 13th Street on April 25, 1856, in a building which is still in use. In 1890, additional floors were added, and in 1893 new pavilions were built, including the Schermerhorn Pavilion, designed by Stanford White
Stanford White
Stanford White was an American architect and partner in the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White, the frontrunner among Beaux-Arts firms. He designed a long series of houses for the rich and the very rich, and various public, institutional, and religious buildings, some of which can be found...
, one of only structures by White still extant in New York City. In January 1968, the North Building was added to be the Infirmary's primary facility, and the original building was renovated for use as offices, lecture halls, clinics, library and other support services.
The Eye Infirmary had added a department for otology
Otology
Otology is a branch of biomedicine which studies normal and pathological anatomy and physiology of the ear as well as its diseases, diagnosis and treatment....
– problems of the ear
Ear
The ear is the organ that detects sound. It not only receives sound, but also aids in balance and body position. The ear is part of the auditory system....
– in 1824, and its annual reports referred to the hospital as the "Eye and Ear Infirmary" as early as 1840, but it was not until 1864 that the institution's name was officially changed to the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary by act of the state legislature.
In popular culture
The interior of the old infirmary was used in The GodfatherThe Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American epic crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the 1969 novel by Mario Puzo. With a screenplay by Puzo, Coppola and an uncredited Robert Towne, the film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard...
, for the scenes in which Mafia Don Vito Corleone is in the hospital after being shot, and his son, Michael Corleone, attempts to protect him against gunman who are trying to kill him.