J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, vice president for medical affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean, Daniel Benchimol, PhD, dean of Nice's medical school, and Lewis Landsberg, MD, Irving S. Cutter Professor of Medicine and dean emeritus, celebrate the affiliation agreement between Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Nice-Sophia Antipolis Université of France.

Affiliation with French Medical School Facilitates Feinberg Globalization

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine recently celebrated a formal affiliation with the medical school at the Nice-Sophia Antipolis Université in France. The newly formed relationship offers Feinberg numerous benefits, including the exchange of students for clinical rotations and fellows for research collaborations.

J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, vice president for medical affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean at Feinberg, says the association with one of France's largest medical schools also offers several intangible benefits, such as the exchange of best practices for academic center management and the comparison of healthcare systems. The affiliation also supports his strategic vision for the medical school and its globalization initiative.

"As we aspire to innovate, we can learn from the education and training offered at the Nice-Sophia Université," Jameson says. "Additionally, the French healthcare system has a strong focus on prevention and patient referral to appropriate sites of care for particular clinical problems. We hope to learn from their experiences."

In an effort to make an international impact, Jameson adds, Feinberg strives to share its research and clinical expertise with a broader community — a mission that can be accomplished by connecting with other medical schools.

Lewis Landsberg, MD, Irving S. Cutter Professor of Medicine and dean emeritus at Feinberg, says the Nice-Sophia Université has an outstanding medical school — with an emphasis on preventive medicine and public health — and a forward-thinking dean, Daniel Benchimol, PhD, who holds important political roles as deputy mayor of Nice and member of the Conseil Général of the Alpes-Maritimes area in France.

"We recognize the importance of our students having a broader perspective — observing other healthcare systems and interacting with students from another culture," Landsberg says. "Nice is a place where we can send our students and fellows to have an enriching experience; and this exchange exposes us to their students."

Landsberg says this connection is also expected to expand Northwestern's area of influence, as the reputation of Feinberg is spread abroad.

"This affiliation aids in Feinberg's aspirations to have a global footprint," Landsberg says.