The medical school was founded in 1834 by Edward Cutbush, a physician and naval surgeon who also served as the first dean for the college and professor of chemistry.

[7] Cutbush attended a dinner, hosted by the institute in early January 1825, where he spoke about science and discussed his hope for the future of education in the United States; "May the resources and prosperity of our country be increased by its application to agriculture, commerce, the arts, and manufactures.

[11] Not long after the alliance with Rutgers began, he found himself the target of the New York State Board of Regents, over complaints of excessive fees charged to students.

[10] "The flamboyant personalities (involved) and notoriety attracted students and money away from competing schools and drew animosity to them like a magnet.

The story of the intrigues and political in-fighting of New York City's physicians, their medical societies and institutions during this time period is a complex one.

"[8] Rutgers countered with attacks against the College of Physicians and Surgeons and its supporters for "perpetuating monopoly in medical education.

[9] The second branch was established in New York City under the direction of Dr. Hosack and was known as the Rutgers Medical Faculty of Geneva College.

The doors were opened in early November 1827; "amid a barrage of criticism on the part of the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons.

[13] In September 1834, by action of the board of trustees,[15] the "Medical Institution of Geneva College" was chartered and the school began operation on February 10, 1835.

[9] However, it has already been noted that Rutgers did make use of the Geneva College name in their official corporate title for a period of three years.

"The memory of the New York branch persisted at Geneva, and it was not long before voices were raised advocating the establishment of a local medical college.

"[15] The Medical faculty of the institution announced that the Lecture Term would commence annually on the second Tuesday of February and continue sixteen weeks.

"[15] In order to be eligible for the degree Doctor of Medicine; "He shall have attained the age of twenty one years, and be of good moral character; he must have attended two full courses of Lectures, one of which must have been in this Institution and have studied three years under some respectable practitioner of Medicine, and have an adequate knowledge of the Latin language and of Natural Philosophy.

[17] The medical faculty, largely opposed to her admission but seemingly unwilling to take responsibility for the decision, decided to submit the matter to a vote of the 150 male students.

[18] Blackwell graduated two years later, on January 23, 1849, at the head of her class, the first woman in the history of education in the United States to receive a doctor's degree in medicine.

[19] "The occasion marked the culmination of years of trial and disappointment for Miss Blackwell, and was a key event in the struggle for the emancipation of women in the nineteenth century in America.

The recent establishment of medical school at the University of Buffalo in 1846 took a hefty toll on the number of students enrolled at Geneva.

[9] Bishop DeLancey of the Episcopal Church was against the plan, but when the faculty gathered in the fall of 1853, they discovered that no students had registered in medicine.

He alluded to the intention of its founders to ensure the university was "comprehensive," embracing the post-graduate departments including law, theology, medicine, etc.

[22] "The views, in general, were that medical colleges in country towns were necessarily so destitute of large hospital and chemical opportunities as to fail to furnish the proper condition to success.

"[22] In addition, it was felt that Syracuse was situated a sufficient distance from any other large city, connected by numerous railroads "with the towns and country surrounding, it was the natural center of the state.

A committee was elected to communicate the actions to the trustees of the university and to assist in the transfer and establishment of the college in Syracuse.

[21] Dr. Alfred Mercer, a member of the class of 1843,[23] was chairman of the committee representing the County Medical Society in connection with the transfer of the college from Geneva.

"[21] Temporary quarters were found for the college in the Clinton Block in Syracuse, the site of the current main post office.

[9] By 1847, a few more names had been added to the medical faculty; Dr. James Webster (professor of anatomy and physiology), Dr. Charles Alfred Lee (professor of materia medica and general pathology and dean of the faculty), Dr. Austin Flint (lecturer on the institutes and practice of medicine) and Dr. Corydon La Ford (demonstrator of anatomy).