MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. – The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation (MCHF) announced Thursday (Jan. 16) that it has awarded SUNY Orange a grant for $212,450 to support expansion and relocation of the College’s radiologic technology degree program to the Newburgh campus.

The award to SUNY Orange was among 539 grants, totaling $208 million, announced by MCHF Thursday to support nonprofit organizations and initiatives that meet community health needs and achieve equitable health outcomes across New York State. With this new round of grants, the Foundation surpassed $1 billion in grantmaking since its first year of operation in 2019, resulting in more than 3,000 grants to New Yorkers most in need.

“SUNY Orange greatly appreciates the support of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation,” said Dr. Kristine Young, SUNY Orange president. “Expanding our radiologic technology program, much like our recent nursing program expansion in Newburgh, will help the College address a shortfall in licensed healthcare practitioners in the Hudson Valley and across New York State. We are happy to know that our desire to train and educate more radiologic technologists aligns with the Foundation’s mission.”

The MCHF grant will allow the College to purchase two new x-ray machines in support of the program’s planned expansion. Next up, the College is working to identify space on the Newburgh campus, assessing full costs of the program relocation, and investigating additional funding sources to complete the project.

Young explained that the College is working on the details of an expansion and relocation timeline, including how many additional students the program will accept. There is no suitable expansion space for the program on the Middletown campus, where it currently operates within the Bio-Tech Building, so the College has been exploring space on the Newburgh campus.

“This is an initiative the College has been considering for a while,” Young added. “Funding is key to this project and the Cabrini Foundation grant gives us a great start on acquiring the significant equipment we need. It also allows us to take a measured approach to the relocating our program and assuring we can suitably complete this project.”

“This year our Foundation hit a milestone in our impact and continued responding to key issues across the state – from maternal health and childhood hunger to immigrant healthcare workforces and mental healthcare for our senior citizens. Our grantees and their commitment to the health and well-being of New Yorkers inspire our grantmaking processes and focus areas year after year. We’re looking forward to another year of the collaboration and community engagement that motivates our work,” said Daniel Frascella, chief programs and grants officer of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

Presently, SUNY Orange is one of only two community colleges in the Mid-Hudson region of New York that offers a radiologic technology program. The College’s highly competitive program, accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT), admits 24 students each year from among approximately 125-150 applicants on average. The program learned very recently that, during its latest accreditation cycle completed in December, it was accredited for an eight-year span, the maximum duration that may be awarded by JRCERT. Additionally, all 13 of the program’s 2024 graduates passed their licensure exam on the first try, marking the second consecutive year the program enjoyed a 100 percent pass rate.

Radiographers work as part of the healthcare team in a variety of areas such as operating and emergency rooms, urgent cares, orthopedics, private practices and many other locations. Radiologic technologists provide patient care, use technical equipment, and position patients to obtain quality images of various body parts using radiation (x-rays) with the least dose possible.

Projections from the New York State Department of Labor show the statewide growth rate for radiographers between 2020 and 2030 to be 16.4%. The five-year average job placement rate of SUNY Orange rad tech graduates within six months of graduation is 97.1%, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks radiologic and MRI technicians as the 12th highest-paying career with an associate’s degree.

For more information about enrolling in the Radiologic Technology program, contact the Admissions Office at (845) 341-4030, email apply@sunyorange.edu or visit www.sunyorange.edu/getstarted.

About the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children, and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information, visit www.cabrinihealth.org.

About SUNY Orange

Orange County Community College (SUNY Orange) enrolls approximately 4,000 full- and part-time students across nearly 40 degree and certificate programs. With campuses in Middletown and Newburgh, the College has grown to meet the needs of its students, while also addressing the demands of a growing and diverse population in the Hudson Valley. In addition to its traditional for-credit degree courses and programs on both campuses, the College is growing its non-credit/workforce programming under the newly branded umbrella of “SUNY Orange Plus” (formerly known as CAPE). Consistent with its mission to provide high-quality and accessible educational and enrichment opportunities, the College is noted for its commitment to ensuring student success. Since its founding in 1950, the College has earned its reputation as a pioneer and innovator in meeting the needs of its students and contributing to a vibrant and thriving community. Learn more about SUNY Orange at www.sunyorange.edu.